POWERGRAMS

17 INNOVATION Alabama Power linemen and electrician and wiremen (E&W) journeymen have some new instructors: Alabama Power linemen and E&W journeymen. That's not double vision. It's another in a long list of win-win scenarios between the company and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) that have made the partnership a national model of success. Traditionally, linemen and E&W journeymen (who build and maintain substation equipment) were trained at the General Services Complex in Calera by training analysts. From time to time, the company needed extra temporary instructors, and would recruit IBEW linemen and E&W journeymen from the field. "The extra help would be for short periods of time," said Bill McGough, manager of Power Delivery Training, "which means we had a lot of turnover in the help provided." Then the lightbulb came on: Why not make them permanent? A three-way discussion ensued among McGough and his manager, Power Delivery Safety and Training Manager Roger Marbu, and Casey Shelton, business manager, IBEW System Council U-19. The proposal was to bring IBEW linemen and journeymen on as full-time instructors for two years. And the idea took off from there. "We have gained a reputation on a national level for always taking an innovative approach to everything we do," Shelton said. "Our partnership has brought many advances to our trade. And with this addition we are set for the future to maintain the safest, most productive, knowledgeable tradesmen in the utility industry." "It wasn't hard to find support," McGough said. "It was a decision that makes sense for everyone involved. Casey and his leadership team were commied to find the best of the best to help us teach our newer employees as they develop in their careers." The selection process for the new IBEW training analyst role was very competitive. Eight employees were chosen from 146 who applied and 48 who were interviewed for the role. One of them was former E&W journeyman, and now instructor Josh Harbison, an IBEW training analyst. He said the new two-year training stint – instead of a week every now and then – is a major improvement. "As with any new job or position, human nature will cause someone to hold back and evaluate or contemplate his or her position within the group," said Harbison, who is teaching advanced- TWO-YEAR PROGRAM BENEFITS STUDENTS, TEACHERS, COMPANY TWO-YEAR PROGRAM BENEFITS STUDENTS, TEACHERS, COMPANY IBEW Substation Training Analyst Josh Harbison assists student.

• Cover