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March 11, 2010 | Gregory Woods honored as Thomas Hill Energy Center Safety Person of the YearContact : Nancy Southworth 417.885.9246 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Associated Electric Cooperative has recognized Gregory M. Woods, journeyman electrician specialist, Moberly, as Thomas Hill Energy Center Safety Person of the Year for 2009. Employees are nominated by peers for the honor. Woods was nominated for his action in preventing a likely fire on a tar roof. Aware of an unusual problem in a boiler, Woods took it upon himself to check the boiler ventilation fans on the roof. The unit was immediately taken off line so repairs could be made. “It was an unusual condition because we don’t usually have that much heat up there. I’ve been here 31 years and had never seen it,” he said. A nominator praised Woods for his long record of safe practices: “As lead electrician, Greg is involved in a lot of the training of step-electricians and even journeymen. His first concern is always the safety of his apprentice, himself and others in the area. His second concern is equipment safety and proper procedures for checking the equipment. Greg stresses awareness and safety to all employees and follows that up with leading by example.” Woods came to Thomas Hill in 1979 by way of a teaching degree in social science from Northeast Missouri State University, now Truman University. After being a substitute teacher part of a semester and realizing there wasn’t much financial security in teaching, he applied at Thomas Hill at the time it was hiring to staff the new Unit 3. As it has turned out, though, Woods is still teaching. Instead of students in a classroom, he now teaches apprentice journeymen, preparing them for exams, going over schematics and explaining safe practices on the job. “It’s almost like being a tutor,” he said. “I still get to teach.”
Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. 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 875,000 customers. AECI’s mission is to provide an economical and reliable power supply and support services to its members, including its “Take Control & Save“ energy efficiency program, www.TakeControlAndSave.coop. AECI is a Touchstone Energy Cooperative. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V Released: 11 March 2010 |
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