 |
|
|
March 30, 2007 | AECI honors seven New Madrid Power Plant employees with Excel Awards Contact : Nancy Southworth Photos available electronically. Contact ceoff@aeci.org. Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. presented the following employees at New Madrid Power Plant with its prestigious Excel Awards during its annual employee recognition event March 29: Larry Binion, Richard E. “Dickie” Bodi, David A. Childers, Steve Cummins, Joseph L. Johnes, Darryl L. Minner and Evelyn J. Williams. E. Dewayne Hawkins also was recognized at the 2006 Safety Person of the Year at the plant. The recipients of the Excel Awards are nominated by their peers for excelling in their work and demonstrating the attributes that enable the cooperative to meet its mission of providing economical and reliable power to 51 member cooperatives that provide electricity to more than 850,000 customers.
Johnes receives Distinguished Service Award Joe Johnes’ comprehensive knowledge of New Madrid Power Plant, acquired during 27 years of service, coupled with his enthusiasm and technical skills earned him the 2006 Excel Award for Distinguished Service. "Joe has become not just a resource for operational, electrical and mechanical instrumentation issues but in fact for any issue about the operation of the plant in general or its boilers, turbines and generators in particular,” said one of his nominators. A look at some of the critical projects he’s worked on through the years to improve efficiency and environmental performance of the generating units demonstrates the breadth and depth of his knowledge. For example, Johnes has been involved with the plant’s conversion to low-sulfur coal to reduce emissions; implementation of additional environmental equipment; and upgrading of a data acquisition system to record measurements from as many as 1,000 sensors, to name only a few projects. Johnes began his New Madrid career as an instrument repairman in August 1979. According to a nominator, his technical expertise and tireless work ethic soon earned him a promotion to instrumentation supervisor in November 1981. In July 1992, he was promoted to instrumentation superintendent, his current position with the cooperative.
Childers recognized as Supervisor of the Year David Childers is the recipient of Associated Electric Cooperative’s Excel Award for Supervisor of the Year. He has served as a supervisor for 24 of his nearly 26 years with AECI and is currently the materials management supervisor in charge of the warehouse at New Madrid Power Plant. His department is responsible for buying, storing and issuing parts – more than 14,000 of them – for the maintenance, electrical, instrument, lab and coal yard departments. His department also handles big shipments of parts for planned maintenance outages. Through the years, the department’s record of inventory counts has had less than 0.5 percent variation. As a nominator wrote about Childers, “David’s staff is motivated to perform and work well together as the result of Dave’s people skills.” The nominator added that Childers treats each employee with the “respect and courtesy that everyone deserves. David is quick to acknowledge contributions made by each employee in the warehouse and often offers a heartfelt ‘Thank you; you did a good job.’” Childers also spearheads AECI’s peregrine falcon restoration program at New Madrid Power Plant. Young falcons are raised and released at the plant, with the goal of “imprinting” them to return with mates. In addition, Childers participates in AECI’s mentoring program, which provides one-on-one coaching to employees.
Williams keeps power plant clean and safe Evelyn Williams, custodian second period, received the 2006 Excel Award for Employee of the Year in a Vocational Field for her positive attitude, initiative and dedication to making the power plant clean and safe. Williams puts forth extra effort to also make the power plant pleasant, nominators said. She has accomplished this by putting up wallpaper borders, painting the kitchen, rearranging furniture and hanging pictures – as well as the more traditional tasks of keeping floors clean and degreased. As her supervisor commented, “You only have one chance to make a good first impression. Evelyn helps Associated make a very good first impression.” Williams’ nominators also praised her for her special cleaning efforts for large gatherings at the plant, including training, meetings and tours by area high school students. She contributes an “Evelyn’s Corner” column to the plant’s Hot Line newsletter and is a volunteer on the Relay for Life Committee for New Madrid County and the organizer of AECI’s “Electrifiers” team. She also serves on the plant’s recreation committee and helps plan the Christmas parties for adults and children.
Employees put their emergency training to work Larry Binion, journeyman mechanic; Dickie Bodie, maintenance planner and emergency response team fire chief; and Steve Cummins, journeyman mechanic/HVAC, are recipients of the 2006 Excel Award for Commendation for Courageous Response. The employees used their emergency training to respond to a potentially hazardous situation and prevent injury or property damage. Last spring, when high unburned carbon in the ash was causing an unsafe condition in the precipitator building, where the ash was being stored, the men donned protective gear, entered the building, found and corrected the problem. As their nominator noted, training – and more than a little bravery – helped these men respond when needed. All three have been active members of the plant’s emergency response team for years and have completed fire, search and rescue, hazardous-material technician and other related training. All three also are long-term employees: Binion since 1982, and Bodie and Cummins since 1974.
Minner recognized for community service AECI encourages employees to give back to their communities and recognizes those contributions with its Excel Award for Outstanding Community Service. Recipient of the 2006 award is Darryl Minner, the human resources coordinator at New Madrid Power Plant. Nominators praised Minner for helping to make the community a better place to live and work by dedicating his time and energy to organizations that help meet the employment needs of area businesses and youth. Minner’s approach to community service is to use the power of organizations to effect positive change. Professionally, he’s president of the Southeast Missouri Human Resources Association, which works with area business addressing human resources issues. He’s also a member of the Bootheel Regional Training Group, which assists companies with writing grants to help pay for training. Minner also serves on the advisory board of the Missouri Bootheel Healthy Start, which works to provide disadvantaged youth and parents with skills and resources to better their futures; and on the advisory board of the New Madrid County Missouri Mentoring Partnership, which matches 12- to 17-year-olds with employers who help them with resumes, interviewing and other job skills. Minner also serves on the executive board of the Sikeston Booster Club and is active in Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church. He serves as president of the Southeast Missouri Chapter of the Lincoln University Alumni Association, which helps recruit students, raise money for the Lincoln University Foundation and offer scholarships and care packages to area students. Minner joined AECI in 1984 as a general utility first period and worked his way through the organization to auxiliary operator, assistant control room operator, warehouseman, trainer and in 2004 to human resources coordinator. AECI is owned by and provides wholesale power to six regional and 51 local electric cooperative systems in Missouri, southeast Iowa and northeast Oklahoma that serve more than 850,000 customers. AECI’s mission is to provide an economical and reliable power supply and support services to its members. AECI is a Touchstone Energy Cooperative. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V ### Released: 30 March 2007 |
|
|||
 |