The ElectriCities Safety and Training team brings several careers’ worth of experience and expertise to help lineworkers, meter technicians, and substation technicians throughout ElectriCities member communities gain the skills and expertise needed to work safely and advance their careers.
Over the next several months, we’ll introduce you to each of our instructors.
We learned a bit about Senior Safety & Training Specialist Mark Todd in his article, “‘It’s a Wonderful Life’: Acknowledging and Safeguarding Our Blessings,” published in Incident Prevention magazine.
Now let’s find out a bit more.
Mark has been an ElectriCities instructor for 12 years and a lineworker for over 30. He’s a Navy veteran who grew up in Rockingham, North Carolina. Mark’s best friend is his wife. They have four children and four grandchildren.
How did you get into linework?
I never wanted to be average. For me, this means performing a job or having a career that the average person could not do, and most people would not do. As a young boy growing up and having a father who was a lineman, I saw how people respected what he did. I remember how family and friends would call the house to check on him during a major storm. I was hesitant about trying to follow in his footsteps at first. I knew I would never be the lineman that he was. My father taught me to take pride not in the career I chose, or the title I may hold, but in how well I did the job.
What do you like best about teaching?
Being given the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life and career. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing former students become successful in their career and to think I may have had something to do with that.
Do you have a favorite class or school to teach? I enjoy teaching all the schools, but Climbing School has always been a favorite because the students are young and eager to learn.
What’s a favorite moment from class? When I began teaching, I incorporated “Words of Wisdom.” On the last day of every school before everyone goes home, we instructors share last words of wisdom that we feel may help the students work safely throughout their careers.
What’s the most important thing you want students to take away from class? Do not get distracted, stay focused, and stay safe. Accidents and injuries that we think could never happen to us happen all the time to SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE.
Anything else you’d like to share? I believe that getting a person to follow the safety rules cannot be enforced. It must be inspired. In my class, whether you like it or not, that’s exactly what you’ll will get.
Mark will be teaching Basic Electric Meter School Feb. 20-22, in Newberry, South Carolina.
View the full training schedule here. If you have questions about classes or registration, contact Susanne Taylor, Member Training and Engagement Specialist at ElectriCities.