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| Teladoc connects you anytime, anywhere via phone, web or mobile app to a national network of board-certified doctors. |
Haven’t tried Teladoc® yet? Here’s a great opportunity — AEP medical plan participants who register and complete their medical history with Teladoc before December 31 will be entered into a drawing to win an Apple iPad.
Between October 1 and December 31, AEP medical plan participants and their covered dependents can talk to a Teladoc physician for just $10, which represents a 75 percent discount off the normal consultation fee of $40.
NOTE: Only employees and under-65 retirees are eligible to participate in the drawing.
What is Teladoc?
Teladoc connects you anytime, anywhere via phone, web or mobile app to a national network of board-certified doctors who average 15 years’ experience. Within minutes, a doctor will call you back ready to listen and resolve your issue. If medically necessary, a prescription will be sent to your pharmacy of choice. Note: Teladoc consultations are not permitted in Arkansas.
Some examples of minor health conditions Teladoc physicians can treat include: sinus problems, bronchitis, allergies, poison ivy, cold and flu symptoms, urinary tract infection, respiratory infection, and more. Unfortunately, they cannot provide flu shots.
Why Teladoc?
Convenience! You don’t have to leave your home or office to connect with Teladoc physicians, who can diagnose and prescribe treatment for many minor health conditions. The service is especially convenient for night time, weekend, travel and holiday situations.
To register or request a consultation:
Go to Teladoc.com/AEP; 1-800-TELADOC (835-2362), or text “Get Started” to 469-844-4546. Also, mobile apps for both iPhone and Android are available; visit the app store to download. Corporate iPhone users can go to Apps @ Work, then go to AEP Benefits to install or update the Teladoc app.
Great news — if you have already completed Teladoc registration and medical history, you are automatically entered in the drawing for the iPad.
AEP River Operations
David Bays, 78, River Transportation Division, died August 2.
AEP Service Corporation
Joseph Graham, 73, Telecommunications, died August 22.
Bill Harbour, 81, retired, AEP Headquarters, died August 6.
Pamela Jordan, 59, AEP Headquarters, died July 31.
Atleatha Knight, 63, Central Operations Center, died July 20.
Kala Seidu, 72, retired, AEP Headquarters, died August 12.
Appalachian Power Company
James Alford, 91, retired, Central Machine Shop, died July 29.
Thelma Hairston, 71, retired, Princeton Service Center, died August 3.
Kathryn Harris, 52, Hurricane Call Center, died August 16.
John Jones, 71, retired, Kanawha River Plant, died August 19.
Adalee Lynch, 78, retired, Mountaineer Plant, died August 12.
Columbus Southern Power Company
Glen Miller, 91, retired, 850 Tech Center, died July 8.
Phyllis Yurjevic, 86, retired, Conesville Plant, died August 4.
Indiana Michigan Power Company
Keith Boros, 36, Cook Nuclear Plant, died August 26.
Leonard Grossman, 79, retired, Tanners Creek Plant, died August 7.
Robert Hill, 92, retired, Marion Service Center, died July 20.
Wayne Thompson, 87, retired, Spy Run Service Center, died July 20.
Paul Wiegand, 94, retired, Tanners Creek Plant, died August 26.
Ohio Power Company
Russell Duncan, 89, retired, Kammer Plant, died August 21.
Gene Hill, 77, retired, Findlay Office, died July 18.
Walter Schaad, 68, Muskingum River Plant, died August 21.
Alyce Welsh, 88, retired, Zanesville Office, died August 25.
Public Service Company of Oklahoma
Gary DeVore, 60, Tulsa Power Station, died August 16.
Allan Haugen, 78, retired, Tulsa General Office, died August 1.
Joe Houtz, 71, Lawton Operations Center, died August 27.
Southwestern Electric Power Company
James Downs, 86, retired, Shreveport General Office, died August 5.
Walter Mitchell, 75, retired, Fayetteville Service Center, died August 2.
William White, 89, retired, Shreveport General Office, died August 13.
Texas Central
Lupe Garcia, 85, retired, Corpus Christi Office, died August. 11.
Ignacio Hernandez, 64, Pharr North Service Center, died August 11.
Texas North
Sandra Huskey, 71, retired, Grant Building, died August 6.
Jack Price, 61, Rotan Office, died August 18.
AEP Service Corporation
Tammy Evans, AEP Headquarters, retired August 5 after 12 years of service.
Ray Kackley, AEP Headquarters, retired August 13 after 30 years of service.
Corky Lambert, John E. Dolan Lab, retired August 3 after 45 years of service.
Olga Montes, Renaissance Tower, retired August 20 after 32 years of service.
Michael Orr, Arena Building, retired August 19 after 43 years of service.
Jeff Parlet, AEP Headquarters, retired August 6 after 36 years of service.
Cheryl Thirtyacre, Central Operations Center, retired August 12 after 21 years of service.
AEP Ohio
Linda Morgan, Athens Service Center, retired August 27 after 32 years of service.
Sally Sisson, Energy Delivery Headquarters-Gahanna, retired August 13 after 31 years of service.
Appalachian Power Company
Dan Drayer, Glade Spring Service Center, retired August 17 after 40 years of service.
Terry Temple, Wheeling Service Building, retired August 20 after 13 years of service.
Thomas Trotter, Christiansburg Service Center, retired August 6 after 31 years of service.
Generation
Allen Bruner, Rockport Plant, retired August 30 after 32 years of service.
Thomas Festavan, Lieberman Power Plant, retired August 26 after 33 years of service.
Terry Forrester, Cardinal Plant, retired August 20 after 39 years of service.
Marc French, Mountaineer Plant, retired August 27 after 37 years of service.
John Garnes, Gavin Plant, retired August 11 after 29 years of service.
Larry Miller, Mitchell Plant, retired August 30 after 40 years of service.
Michael Parsons, Cook Coal Terminal, retired August 1 after 16 years of service.
Wilbur Roden, Dolet Hills Lignite Mine, retired August 2 after 14 years of service.
Mark Rouk, Northeastern Station 3&4, retired August 20 after 31 years of service.
Gordon Shaw, Dolet Hills Lignite Mine, retired August 11 after 32 years of service.
Wayne Staats, Sporn Plant, retired August 27 after 40 years of service.
Raymond Wallace, Rockport Plant, retired August 24 after 32 years of service.
David Yonley, Mitchell Plant, retired August 13 after 35 years of service.
Indiana Michigan Power Company
Edward Owens, St. Joseph Service Center, retired August 5 after 30 years of service.
Public Service Company of Oklahoma
Dean Franklin, Alsuma Meter & Substation, retired August 30 after 35 years of service.
Randel Manry, McAlester Operations Center, retired August 27 after 36 years of service.
Transmission
Charles Matthews, Shreveport General Office, retired August 17 after 39 years of service.
James Mendenhall, Muncie Service Center, retired August 1 after 35 years of service.
Bennett Williams, System Control Center, retired August 13 after 41 years of service.
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| Appalachian Power line mechanic Bubba Smith delivers gift bags and buckets for young victims of domestic and/or sexual violence during last year’s Make a Difference Day. |
(Story by Barry Schumann)
America celebrates the spirit of volunteerism this year on Make a Difference Day, Saturday, Oct. 22. The 25th annual “national day of doing good” is sponsored by USA Today in partnership with Points of Light and is the largest national day of community service.
AEP again is making a difference through a mini-grant program that encourages employees and retirees from around the System to become involved in community projects in their locales Oct. 22.
AEP’s Make a Difference Day grants range up to $300 to help fund local projects that involve at least five AEP active or retired employees in partnership with a school or nonprofit organization on Oct. 22 as part of the nationwide event.
Each year, around 20 local projects coordinated by AEP employees are funded through the Make a Difference Day grant program.
Projects can be as simple as helping a family in need or may be a coordinated effort serving an entire community.
Application deadline for mini-grants is Sept. 22, 2016.
Complete an on-line application at AEP.com/MDDgrant.
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| Gavin Plant |
(Story by Rachel Hammer)
AEP has signed an agreement to sell four competitive power plants totaling approximately 5,200 megawatts (MW) to a newly formed joint venture of Blackstone and ArcLight Capital Partners LLC for approximately $2.17 billion. The plants involved in the transaction are Darby, Gavin, Lawrenceburg and Waterford. The sale is expected to close in the first quarter of 2017.
“AEP’s long-term strategy has been to become a fully regulated, premium energy company focused on investment in infrastructure and the energy innovations that our customers want and need. This transaction advances that strategy and reduces some of the business risks associated with operating competitive generating assets,” said Nick Akins, chairman, president and chief executive officer.
“Our employees have done an incredible job operating these power plants, and I’m confident they will contribute to the future success of Blackstone and ArcLight. We will continue to operate these plants safely in the coming months while working closely with the Blackstone and ArcLight teams to obtain the regulatory approvals necessary to complete the sale. We will also be working with employees and community leaders to ensure a smooth transition,” Akins said.
The sale directly impacts nearly 400 AEP employees. Approximately 360 employees at the four plants and another dozen employees from Supply Chain are essential to plant operations and will transfer to the new owner upon transaction completion.
Some employees in Engineering Services and AEP Energy Partners who directly support these facilities also are impacted by the transaction. AEP will work with these individuals to evaluate the options available to them which may include transfer to the buyer, reassignment, other employment within AEP, retirement or severance.
These employees are being advised of their status in a series of employee meetings.
“These assets, both the physical generating assets and the people who operate and maintain them, have provided tremendous value to AEP and its customers. I know I speak for leaders across AEP when I say that we greatly appreciate all they have done to provide reliable and efficient electric service in the most professional manner. The joint venture is acquiring an outstanding team,” said Mark McCullough, executive vice president – Generation.
McCullough noted that AEP is working with Blackstone and ArcLight and with employees to assure as smooth a transition as possible. “I recognize that this has been, and for yet a bit longer continues to be a period of uncertainty. There will be several meetings and communications over the next several weeks for the purpose of answering employee questions at the plant sites, as well as for affected support employees. In this interim, it will be very important for absolutely everyone to focus on the task at hand and to work safely at all times,” he said.
The company is evaluating options and will share details about its plans for investment of the proceeds from this transaction at a later date. These plans may include reinvestment in its regulated businesses, including transmission; new renewable projects; debt retirement; share buybacks; and other alternatives.
Blackstone and ArcLIght are two of the leading private equity funds focused on energy infrastructure with significant investments and experience owning and operating power generation in North America and Europe. Combined they have owned and operated more than 38,000 megawatts of power generation globally, including operations in the PJM Interconnection, New York ISO and Electric Reliability Council of Texas competitive markets in the United States.
AEP owns 2,677 MW of additional competitive generation in Ohio (Conesville, Cardinal, Stuart and Zimmer) and is continuing an independent strategic evaluation of that generation while also working on the restructuring of Ohio electricity regulations to allow those assets to be acquired by AEP Ohio for the benefit of its customers. AEP also is continuing a strategic review of its 48-MW hydroelectric Racine Plant in Racine, Ohio.
Darby Plant is a 507-megawatt natural gas simple cycle combustion turbine facility located near Mt. Sterling, Ohio. The plant has six generating units. Units 1-4 went into service in 2001; Units 5 and 6 went into service in 2002. AEP purchased the plant from DPL Energy in 2007.
Gavin Plant, 2,665 MW, is a two-unit coal-fired generating facility located at Cheshire, Ohio. Its two units went into service in 1974 and 1975, respectively. At the time they were built, these were the world’s largest generating units. The plant is fully equipped with environmental control equipment including flue gas desulfurization systems, selective catalytic reduction systems, low-NOx burners and electrostatic precipitators.
Lawrenceburg Plant is an 1,186-MW natural gas plant located at Lawrenceburg, Ind. Its two units went into service in 2004. The combined-cycle facility has four gas turbine generators, four heat recovery steam generators (HRSGs) and two gas turbines. AEP purchased Lawrenceburg in 2007 from an affiliate of the Public Service Enterprise Group.
Waterford Plant is an 840-MW natural gas combined cycle generating facility located at Waterford (Washington County), Ohio. The plant has three General Electric 7FA combustion turbines that exhaust into heat recovery steam generators (HRSGs). The steam from the HRSGs feeds a 400-MW GE steam turbine. AEP purchased Waterford from an affiliate of Public Service Enterprise Group in 2005. The plant began commercial operation in 2003.
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| The land for sale includes areas with mixed hardwoods, pines, and agricultural. |
ZANESVILLE, Ohio — Approximately 524 acres of largely undeveloped Ohio land owned by AEP’s Ohio Franklin Realty, LLC, will be offered at auction Thursday, October 13. The land, located in Meigs County, will be offered in 16 tracts ranging from 7 to 50 acres.
AEP originally purchased the land for mining purposes and no longer needs the land for company operations. The land includes areas with mixed hardwoods, pines, and agricultural.
Bidders may make offers on any combination of tracts as well as the entirety.
Schrader Real Estate and Auction Company, in cooperation with Murray Wise Associates, will manage the auction. There are two inspection dates: Wednesday, Sept. 14, from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. and Wednesday, Sept. 21, from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. at the Salem Township Fire Station #6, located at 28854 State Route 124, Langsville, Ohio 45741. At that time, potential buyers can talk with an auction representative with questions about the properties and the bidding process.
The auction begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, October 13, at the Albany Café Event Center, 5196 Washington Rd., Albany, Ohio. Online bidding is available by prior arrangement.
More information is available at www.schraderauction.com or by calling 1-800-451-2709.
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| AEP CEO Nick Akins discussed strategic issues on the “Bloomberg Markets” program Sept. 1. |
Nick Akins, AEP chairman, president and chief executive officer, discussed the impact of oil and natural-gas prices on the company’s business and its growth strategy with Bloomberg’s Vonnie Quinn and David Gura Sept. 1 on “Bloomberg Markets.”
When asked if AEP would continue to move toward more renewable energy in the future, Akins replied, “There is a transition in the industry, AEP is part of that transition, and you’ll continue to see a migration to solar, wind, renewables and energy storage, along with natural gas to support that transition.”
He also noted that low oil and natural gas prices continue to have an effect — both positive and negative — across the U.S.
“When you see oil and natural gas prices come down, it has an impact on the economy,” Akins said. “On the one hand, you see economic benefits from gasoline prices being lower, but at the same time it affects manufacturing, particularly in the oil and gas and mining sectors. In gas extraction and mining, we’re seeing 22,000 fewer jobs in those counties year-over-year, so it’s always good to have an increasing oil price and natural gas price so we can see more production come online.”
Turning to the situation in Ohio and the possible sale of AEP’s unregulated generation in the state, Akins said, “That process is ongoing, it’s moving toward its final stages, we’ve had robust interest in those resources, we’ll continue to evaluate that from a strategic perspective, and hopefully have a result very soon. Being unregulated as far as generation is concerned in Ohio really doesn’t fit our investors’ views of consistency and quality of earnings.
“With the Ohio legislature,” he continued, “we’re actually pursuing ‘restructuring,’ not ‘re-regulation.’ Restructuring is really focused on the future and how we are able to build more renewables, how we’re able to put natural gas in the state. It’s really focused on Ohio defining its energy consumption in the state and the resources that supply that energy, so it’s extremely important for Ohio to take matters into its own hands. If you have a clean energy plan or another mechanism for a transition, Ohio can take a look at that and define its own energy future in terms of jobs, taxes and the creation of infrastructure.”
AEP River Operations
Alah Darst, 95, retired, River Transportation Division, died June 5.
AEP Service Corporation
Tanya Cannon, 60, Central Operations Center, died June 27.
Robert Gillett, 85, retired, Central Operations Center, died July 12.
Robert Oakley, 89, retired, AEP Headquarters, died June 10.
Robert Peters, 79, retired, AEP Headquarters, died June 20.
Brendan Ware, 83, retired, AEP Headquarters, died June 24.
Appalachian Power Company
Virgil Boeh, 84, retired, Roanoke Main Office, died June 22.
Hobert Byrnside, 90, retired, Amos Plant, died July 24.
Donald Gerber, 79, retired, Glen Lyn Plant, died July 11.
Glenn Johnson, 69, Sporn Plant, died July 17.
David Porter, 61, Amos Plant, died June 28.
Dallas Spraker, 90, retired, Smith Mountain Hydro, died June 5.
Gene Stepp, 75, retired, Logan Service Center, died July 25.
Donald Warner, 84, retired, Amos Plant, died July 4.
Bessie Wilson, 91, retired, Pt. Pleasant Service Center, died June 30.
Columbus Southern Power Company
Arthur Atwood Jr., 51, Mound Street Service Center, died June 29.
Clayton Bookman Jr., 86, retired, Athens Service Center, died July 18.
Curtis Daniel, 90, retired, 850 Tech Center, died July 6.
Ronald Dean, 81, retired, 850 Tech Center, died July 16.
Maurice Grover Jr., 73, retired, Marion Road Service Center, died July 17.
Sally Maneely, 77, retired, Coshocton Office Building, died June 18.
Indiana Michigan Power Company
Frank Crosby, 83, retired, Tanners Creek Plant, died June 27.
Jack Dukes, 70, retired, Rockport Plant, died July 18.
John Spiekhout, 37, Cook Nuclear Plant, died July 12.
Kentucky Power Company
Anna Markham, 90, retired, Pikeville Office, died July 9.
Ohio Power Company
David Acree, 70, retired, Southern Ohio Coal Company, died July 2.
George Binegar, 83, retired, Muskingum River Plant, died July 7.
James Farnsworth, 82, retired, Muskingum River Plant, died June 21.
John Haugh, 68, Canton South Service Center, died June 30.
Robert Hill, 92, retired, Marion Service Center, died July 21.
Baird Kloss, 90, retired, Steubenville Service Center, died July 18.
Edward Lehotay, 100, retired, Zanesville Office, died July 13.
Stelsa Lewis, 77, retired, Cardinal Plant, died May 14.
Terry Naughton, 83, retired, Cardinal Plant, died July 28.
David Roberts, 78, retired, Muskingum River Plant, died July 6.
Frederick Schifer, 92, retired, Bucyrus Service Center, died June 25.
Lowell Swartzwelder, 81, retired, Portsmouth Service Center, died June 30.
Allen Taylor, 59, Wheeling Service Building, died June 30.
Edward Thomas, 84, retired, Southern Ohio Coal Company, died July 5.
Public Service Company of Oklahoma
Mark Calvert, 64, Tulsa General Office, died July 2.
James Henry, 42, Tulsa General Office, died July 10.
Southwestern Electric Power Company
Henry Bankston, 92, retired, Shreveport General Office, died June 27.
Floyd Brigdon, 87, retired, Shreveport General Office, died July 16.
Joseph Carter, 95, retired, Shreveport General Office, died June 28.
Billy Smith, 90, retired, Shreveport General Office, died July 8.
Texas Central
W.P. Allen, 90, retired, Corpus Christi Office, died June 30.
Silvester De Leon, 93, retired, Corpus Christi Office, died July 16.
Andy Heines, 61, Corpus Christi Office, died July 25.
James Laforge, 91, retired, Corpus Christi Office, died July 11.
Henry Neumann Jr., 83, retired, Corpus Christi Office, died July 22.
Texas North
Joe Fielder, 79, retired, Abilene General Office, died July 1.
Duane Gooden, 82, retired, Abilene General Office, died July 13.
AEP Ohio
James Anthony, Mound Street Service Center, retired July 9 after 36 years of service.
Franklin Dresbach, Central Operations Center, retired July 15 after 46 years of service.
Donald Fannin, Bucyrus Service Center, retired July 6 after 31 years of service.
Eugene McPeek Jr., Canton General Service Center, retired July 30 after 38 years of service.
Jeff Rennie, 850 Tech Center, retired July 30 after 31 years of service.
Pamela Sanford, Lima Service Center, retired July 1 after 39 years of service.
James Stankey, 850 Tech Center, retired July 2 after 35 years of service.
Janet Swanger, Canton Eastern Regional Office, retired July 1 after 21 years of service.
AEP River Operations
Edward Shaffer, River Transportation Division, retired July 1 after 29 years of service.
AEP Service Corporation
Rick Akers, AEP Headquarters, retired July 16 after 35 years of service.
Judi Brown, AEP Headquarters, retired July 1 after 32 years of service.
Russell Burton Jr., AEP Headquarters, retired July 9 after 29 years of service.
Dan Duellman, AEP Headquarters, retired July 30 after 36 years of service.
Larry Foust, AEP Headquarters, retired July 2 after 39 years of service.
Joanne Goza, Arena Building, retired July 30 after 16 years of service.
Alan Graves, AEP Headquarters, retired July 16 after 35 years of service.
Gary Hatcher, Arena Building, retired July 1 after 34 years of service.
Stevie King, Renaissance Tower, retired July 7 after 34 years of service.
Steve Kiser, AEP Headquarters, retired July 1 after 33 years of service.
Susan Mangold, AEP Headquarters, retired July 30 after 10 years of service.
John Mazzone, Arena Building, retired July 19 after 32 years of service.
Glenn Moreland, AEP Headquarters, retired July 30 after 47 years of service.
Philip Nelson, AEP Headquarters, retired July 30 after 37 years of service.
Jeff White, AEP Headquarters, retired July 2 after 38 years of service.
Cheryl Williams, AEP Headquarters, retired July 8 after 37 years of service.
AEP Texas
Timmy Jacobs, Edna Business Office, retired July 30 after 31 years of service.
Danny Jurado, Marfa Service Center, retired July 1 after 36 years of service.
Randy Lewis, Stamford Service Center, retired July 1 after 30 years of service.
Ronald Miller, Harlingen Service Center, retired July 2 after 29 years of service.
Appalachian Power Company
Jessie Ashburn, Glade Spring Service Center, retired July 12 after 36 years of service.
Carmen Prati-Miller, Wheeling Service Center, retired July 1 after 26 years of service.
Louis Prunesti, Bluefield (W.Va.) Service Center, retired July 30 after 30 years of service.
Candace Rulen, APCO Headquarters, retired July 26 after 30 years of service.
Generation
Billy Adams, Wilkes Plant, retired July 6 after 40 years of service.
James Amsbary, Mountaineer Plant, retired July 1 after 36 years of service.
Bruce Artimez, Mitchell Plant, retired July 12 after 10 years of service.
Gary Beebe, Cardinal Plant, retired July 1 after 35 years of service.
Stephen Boyd, Cardinal Plant, retired July 30 after 39 years of service.
James Best, Rockport Plant, retired July 14 after 32 years of service.
Samuel Brown, Cardinal Plant, retired July 30 after 34 years of service.
Ronald Cobb, Amos Plant, retired July 13 after 39 years of service.
Harold Cray, Cook Nuclear Plant, retired July 2 after 25 years of service.
Mary Beth Depuydt, Cook Nuclear Plant, retired July 1 after 22 years of service.
Jimmie Evans II, Gavin Plant, retired July 23 after 36 years of service.
Ray Fields, Mountaineer Plant, retired July 30 after 36 years of service.
Robert Haglock Jr., Mitchell Plant, retired July 1 after 25 years of service.
Michael Hague, Cardinal Plant, retired July 1 after 27 years of service.
Georgeanne Hammond, Dresden Plant, retired July 30 after 21 years of service.
Jeffrey Long, Cook Nuclear Plant, retired July 1 after 35 years of service.
Robert Omaits, Cardinal Plant, retired July 5 after 35 years of service.
John Lasher, Rockport Plant, retired July 26 after 38 years of service.
John Moore, Sporn Plant, retired July 1 after 38 years of service.
Jeffrey Payne, Conesville Plant, retired July 1 after 36 years of service.
Michael Reed, Dresden Plant, retired July 1 after 36 years of service.
Donald Roberts, Cardinal Plant, retired July 1 after 31 years of service.
Gerry Smith, Weleetka Plant, retired July 30 after 39 years of service.
William Steen, Tulsa Power Station, retired July 6 after 36 years of service.
Gary Thomas, Cardinal Plant, retired July 1 after 10 years of service.
Albert Valles Jr., Cardinal Plant, retired July 5 after 10 years of service.
Indiana Michigan Power Company
Patricia Jackson, One Summit Square, retired July 1 after 41 years of service.
Kenneth Muller, Buchanan Nuclear Office, retired July 30 after 16 years of service.
Mark Walls, Northeast Service Center, retired July 1 after 35 years of service.
Kentucky Power Company
William Fraley Jr., Robert E. Matthews Service Center, retired July 1 after 37 years of service.
George Johns Jr., Robert E. Matthews Service Center, retired July 1 after 24 years of service.
Public Service Company of Oklahoma
Robert Sorrels, Tulsa General Office, retired July 10 after 25 years of service.
Michael Still, Chickasha Service Center, retired July 2 after 33 years of service.
Lloyd Young, Tulsa General Office, retired July 1 after 40 years of service.
Southwestern Electric Power Company
Franklin Crockett, Shreveport General Office, retired July 16 after 28 years of service.
Richard Preteroti, Longview Operations, retired July 16 after 34 years of service.
Cassandra Williams, Shreveport General Office, retired July 1 after 38 years of service.
Texas Central
John Flowers, Corpus Christi Office, retired July 1 after 35 years of service.
Richard Miller, Corpus Christi Office, retired July 1 after 37 years of service.
Richard Pratt, Corpus Christi Office, retired July 1 after 33 years of service.
Transmission
Richard Hackman, Transmission Operations Center, retired July 9 after 16 years of service.
Thomas Lowe, Steubenville Service Center, retired July 1 after 34 years of service.
Calvin Moore, Transmission Operations Center, retired July 1 after 42 years of service.
Joseph Voytecek Jr., Belmont Service Center, retired July 1 after 39 years of service.
Robert Wolford, John W. Vaughan Center, retired July 30 after 33 years of service.
AEP cares about the safety, health and well-being of its employees. All employees are invited to share their stories about the changes they are making to live healthier lives. This “Wellness Journey” is from Lori Stedman, IT support technician sr., New Albany Data Center. These articles represent only the views and opinions of the employee and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of AEP.
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| Lori Stedman, prior to (left) and after (right) a more healthy lifestyle by using what she learned in the Mission Nutrition Challenge. |
Where I was and how I got there:
I was overweight. I had gained a lot of weight in the last two to three years. And I found that weight was not as easy to take off as it was when I was younger. I tried diets and exercise programs, even joining a gym close to my home. Nothing was working and that realization became a reason for “emotional eating.”
My turning point:
I decided to try the Mission Nutrition Challenge in March of this year, through the AEP Wellness Program and Healthways. The four-week program provided education about reading food labels’ nutritional information, including serving size, calories, fats and carbohydrates.
Significant changes:
I began to pay more attention to labels, ingredients, healthy ways to prepare food and what was considered a healthy snack. If the weather was nice, I would take a walk. In the beginning those walks may have only been 5 or 10 minutes, but at least I was moving.
Staying on track:
The biggest takeaway for me was portion size. This is something I had never really paid attention to in the past. Growing up, we were always taught to clean our plates. What an eye-opener! A normal portion of food is actually quite small in comparison to the plates of food I used to get served at home or in restaurants! Before I knew it, I had lost 25 pounds.
Paying it forward:
I think you have to be in the right mindset to be successful. For me, it was telling myself that if I quit dwelling on being unsuccessful at weight loss, I might just end up being successful after all! Maintaining the weight loss consists of reminding myself to only eat if I am hungry – not because I’m bored and not because I have the blues that day – and when I do eat, to try to make healthy choices.
Do you have a wellness journey you’d like to share? Your story can be about weight loss, overcoming an illness or condition, maintaining good health habits or some other topic related to well-being. Just send an email to dpwaitkus@aep.com.
