Careers in Construction Month: Spotlighting CarolinaPower Team Members
For Careers in Construction Month (October), we conducted mini-interviews with a cross section of people in various roles within our company to put the spotlight the variety of career opportunities available in the electrical contracting sector of the construction industry. We spoke with Edson Moo, VDC Manager; James Whitcomb, Superintendent; Joey Jose, Project Manager; Gage Schatz, Assistant Project Manager; and Jeff Poston, Estimator. Following is a compilation of all five Q & A-style interviews that were featured individually on our LinkedIn page.
Jeff Poston, Estimator
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱?
It happened by chance. I started a family and felt like it would be a good opportunity. I liked the fact that it gave me the ability to travel and to meet new people.
𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 – 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁, 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲, 𝗲𝘁𝗰.?
There’s so many! But probably just the people and the relationships. There are many who became long-term friends. People from years ago that I still stay in touch with. It’s like a family.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴?
This was by chance too. I had always enjoyed putting jobs together and seeing them from start to finish. I had arm surgery, so during the recovery I worked in the office for three months estimating because they needed help. In that time, I landed the job! I went back out for a little bit, but then came back to estimating and have been doing it ever since.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿?
Almost 9 months.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿?
The culture and the people. I have never worked for a company like this. Management truly cares about their people. They “walk the walk” when others just “talk to the talk.”
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸?
Definitely time with family and camping. I guess you would call it glamping now that we have an RV.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂?
I have an artificial leg. I lost it in a hunting accident when I was 12 years old.
Gage Schatz, Assistant Project Manager
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱?
It wasn’t my original plan. I grew up in the construction field; my dad is a plumber and millwright. I went to school for Industrial Engineering but went to a Clemson Career Fair and that’s when I spoke with CarolinaPower.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 – 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁, 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲, 𝗲𝘁𝗰.?
Working on Clemson’s campus, specifically the Stadium renovations and the new Tiger Walk. One time, I was on site and saw someone on Tiger Walk prior to completion. I went up to him and it turned out to be Dabo Sweeney!
𝗔𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁?
Being on site every day. It's great being in the field with our project team.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿?
The culture. CarolinaPower feels small even though it’s big. Everyone acts like family, close knit in both the office and the field.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸?
I like to take care of my fish tanks and reptiles. I have 6 freshwater tanks, 4 snakes and 5 geckos.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂?
I’m from Pennsylvania... but because of my big, lifted truck, most people think I’m from the South.
Joey Jose, Project Manager
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱?
Honestly, I wasn’t specifically pursuing a career in the construction field, but was looking for an opportunity to further hone my craft and to mentor the newer generations of tradesmen. The Department of Defense and private contractors simply would not significantly invest in the latter, which I believed was extremely short-sighted for the long-term health of the industry.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁?
Closeout. There’s nothing like getting to the finish line of a successful project.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿?
I like Carolina Power’s ethos. “Servant Leadership” is a principle I adopted while I was still in the military. It aligns perfectly with how I manage projects. I believe it is the keystone to Carolina Power’s success and continued recognition as one of the best places to work in South Carolina.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸?
I love foreign travel. Experiencing other places and cuisine is an adventure like no other.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂?
I’ve been on the big screen in a movie with Jim Carrey.
Edson Moo, VDC
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱?
I always dreamed of working in construction, even as a kid. I thought it was cool to build things. Having a family member already in the industry gave me an opportunity to get involved. Plus, I was looking for a way to bring more income to my family. At that time, construction – especially the electrical field – was known for better pay than most other industries.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲?
The first challenge I had to overcome was the language barrier (I’m originally from Merida Yuc, Mexico). It was tough trying to understand a language I couldn't speak fluently. One of my greatest career successes as a superintendent was working at Greenville Memorial Hospital, where I ran all healthcare projects successfully for five years.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗩𝗗𝗖?
I have a deep love for technology, and I’ve always enjoyed creating 2D layouts to hand over to my electricians on site. 3D modeling is the best. Every project is unique and comes with its own set of challenges. The sense of accomplishment, knowing I contributed and gave my all to helping the team, is hard to describe. My VDC team is the best!!
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿?
I’ve been working with CarolinaPower for the past 18 years, and I’m super grateful for everything the company has done for me and my family.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿?
The people I work with every day and the company culture make it a great place. The opportunities – from internships to career paths – are incredible. The employee shares are a great investment too. We have great leadership, and the future looks bright!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸?
I’ve been coaching youth soccer for the past nine years, and it’s always nice to see kids I’ve coached over the years all grown up, playing at a higher level, and still remembering me. I’m a big fan of MLS, Premier League, and international soccer – honestly, anything soccer-related! I also love playing video games with my kids and spending time outdoors.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂?
I recently became a U.S. citizen, which is a huge milestone for me. I met my wife when I was just 18, and at the time, she didn’t speak my language, and I didn’t speak hers. We actually used dictionaries to translate our conversations throughout the day! Now, all these years later, we’re both bilingual.
James Whitcomb, Superintendent
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱?
Being in the military, I worked in the Communication field, which dealt with electronics and security. Knowing that the electrical field was a strong trade for a career choice, I chose to apply for a position with Albany Electric (now CarolinaPower’s sister company, MetroPower) and pursue a career as an electrician.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀?
Most notable was the ability to train my son, Nathan Whitcomb, in the same electrical field (underground division). Watching him become successful has been a great honor. I’m all about training others to be successful and build careers. I had the honor of training Bradley Michie, Columbia Branch Manager, in the underground field back when he was a Management Trainee. It’s very rewarding to see his advancements and success at CarolinaPower.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁?
The best part of being a superintendent is teaching those under my supervision about work ethics, how to be professional, how to do a quality job, and how to complete a job in a timely fashion. I really enjoy building relationships with other supervisors and vendors. Through this relationship-building, they often reach out to us for other projects.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆?
I’ve been with the company nearly 30 years – more than 25 years with MetroPower and its predecessor company, and a little over three years with CarolinaPower.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿?
I value the new relationships I’ve built and the positive encouragement I have received. I know that I am heard by my manager and supported.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸?
I enjoy football, golf, spending time with my family, and being Pop’s to my growing family.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂?
I served in the United States Army. I also represented the State of Georgia in the Coca-Cola Youth National Bowling Tournament, in Memphis, TN in 1986.