Vets get close-up view of careers offered by AEP Transmission, Distribution

Scott Smith (right), senior vice president-AEP Transmission and a former Army combat engineer.addresses military veterans during the recent open house event. Looking on at left is Lisa Barton, AEP executive vice president-Transmission.

(Story by Stephen Ostrander)

Military veterans got a close-up view of the daily activities of AEP linemen, station technicians and other employees during an open house at the A. Ray King Transmission Training Center in Pataskala, Ohio, June 27.

Lisa Barton, executive vice president – AEP Transmission, greeted the former servicemen and encouraged them to pursue careers in the electric utility industry.

“Your skills, leadership, discipline and pursuit of excellence match up well with the careers we offer at AEP,” said Barton.

The event, co-sponsored by the AEP Military Employee Resource Group and AEP Distribution, was more of an orientation about the types of careers available at AEP than a recruitment rush.

“We’re a big company, spread out across the country, with jobs available in every category of work,” said Scott Smith, senior vice president – AEP Transmission and a former Army combat engineer. “The pride you had serving your country, whatever uniform you wore, you’ll find that here at AEP.”

Two groups of veterans took turns visiting the training center’s mock substation, drop-in control module and outdoors facilities.

While outdoors, an AEP Transmission crew showed veterans how they worked on extra-high voltage lines atop a 150-foot crane, and AEP Distribution line mechanics demonstrated operation of a bucket truck.

Todd Patterson (left), an engineering technologist for AEP Transmission, explains the workings of a substation to military veterans.

“In the military, these people showed that they could be trained to use high technology equipment,” said Smith. “They have the aptitude to take on these jobs; and they aren’t intimidated by technology.”

Military veterans bring several key assets to the workplace, such as:

• Teamwork
• Reliability, responsiveness
• Respect for procedures
• Ability to work safely under duress, and around dangerous equipment.

AEP Transmission leaders, along with selected AEP military veterans, encouraged veterans to actively seek AEP jobs that match their skills. The common messages among the speakers? AEP Transmission and AEP Distribution have jobs; veterans should apply.