For Love of Country & Construction
Each November, CarolinaPower salutes all veterans who have served our great country – including those who now serve our customers!
“We are proud to be a military friendly employer,” said Amy Jenkins, Human Resources Manager. “Construction can be an ideal career fit for veterans on many levels. At CarolinaPower, we know this firsthand. We have employees at all four of our locations who are former military. In fact, our electrical apprenticeship program is a big draw for veterans – whether they are just leaving the military or looking for a rewarding career change a few years later.”
Jenkins also has a personal connection to veterans. “As the mother of a soldier, I am forever grateful for my son, who unselfishly served and protected our nation. To all the soldiers who so bravely enlisted to serve and protect our country, I thank you for your courage, strength, and dedication to keeping us safe.”
Be sure to watch the video tribute to our 11 veterans at the end of this article.
Meet CarolinaPower’s Veterans
The following CarolinaPower employees selflessly served their country before joining our work family.
Lowcountry | Charleston
Joey Jose, Project Manager. (U.S. Navy)
James Whitcomb, Foreman. (U.S. Army)
Tyler White, Foreman. (U.S. Marine Corps)
Midlands | Columbia and North Augusta
David Beidler, Foreman| Columbia. (U.S. Marine Corps)
Terry Way, Electrician| North Augusta. (U.S. Marine Corps)
Upstate | Greenville
David Atherton, Preconstruction/Project Manager. (U.S. Army)
Matt Johnson, Project Manager. (U.S. Army National Guard)
Bryan Moore, Electrician. (U.S. Navy)
Will Price, Superintendent. (U.S. Army)
Michael Quinones, Corporate Accountant. (U.S. Navy)
Sean Shriner, Management Trainee. (U.S. Army)
We recently caught up with a few of these veterans, gaining insight into their military backgrounds, what inspired them to choose the construction industry for their next chapter, and why they love what they do.
In their Own Words
Matt Johnson, who served in the U.S. Army National Guard for six years, was stationed at North Georgia Military College for two years, then just served on weekends. When asked how he got into the construction industry, Johnson explained, “A family friend hired me, and I never left. I love the industry. During the military training and environment, you learn very valuable life skills. You develop a mission-first attitude. You also learn the value of each member of a team and how to fulfill your roles and responsibilities. I love that CarolinaPower offers several different career paths and avenues for development.”
Joey Jose, aviation electrician in the U.S. Navy for eight years, was active in Operation Iraqi Freedom and served on F-14 fighter squadrons in San Diego and Virginia Beach. “After completing my active-duty service, I started as an electrician for a Department of Defense contractor working aboard submarines. Using my GI Bill, I earned my associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees, and through career progression climbed the ladder to become the submarine program manager. As a Project Manager for CarolinaPower, I love interacting with the superintendents, foremen, and all of the tradesmen to accomplish a common goal.”
Sean Shriner served in the U.S. Army for seven years at Fort Carson, Colorado, and Fort Stewart, Georgia. “Construction has allowed me to perform hands-on work on a daily basis, not sit behind a desk all day. The military teaches you that attention to detail is paramount and I believe that translates into construction. For us specifically, working with electricity, the details can be lifesaving.”
Terry Way, U.S. Marine for four years, was stationed at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina. “I was a cook while I was in the Marines. When I got out of the service, I worked at Applebee’s for a while, but I wanted a career change. I started attending Okefenokee Technical College back in 2010. At that time, a recruiter from MetroPower (CarolinaPower’s sister company) visited the college looking for young individuals interested in the electrical trade. I signed up and never looked back.” Way went on to say, “I think veterans are a good fit for the construction industry due to their training, discipline, and their technical skills. I love what I do because of all the electrical applications I come across, the different locations/jobsites and all the good people I get to meet.”
Tyler White, who spent three years in the U.S. Marine Corps, said “I chose a career in construction because it is almost identical to being a grunt in the Marine Corps infantry. You have to be tough and have some grit in you. You also must learn to adapt to and overcome constantly changing situations daily.” Asked why he believes veterans are a good fit for construction, White explained, “Regardless of the weather or the situation, we’ve all been expected to perform our jobs at the highest standard. We are effective leaders who set the example andtake responsibility for our actions.”
Citing some of the reasons he enjoys his job so much, White likely spoke for many of his colleagues when he said, “There’s no better feeling than going through the planning process to the rough-in and trim out, and finally just flipping those breakers and seeing the lights pop on. Most of all, I love passing my love for the trade and my knowledge to others, teaching them and watching them grow.”
Salute to CarolinaPower Veterans