What's your background?
I was born in Iowa in 1947, so I proudly wear the tag "baby boomer." I left home as many young men my age, and joined the Navy. College was not an option for me until after my military duty. I used my GI-bill to further my education, receiving a BS and MS in engineering from the University of Tennessee (UT). After finishing my graduate work, I was awarded a faculty position at UT as a research associate. I joined Duke Power in 1983 as an engineer in the Construction Department. At that time, McGuire was in start-up and Catawba was about 80 percent complete. I was transferred to Duke’s General Office in Charlotte, N.C., where I held several engineering positions. I eventually landed in the Major Projects group in Duke Engineering & Services (DE&S). When Framatome ANP acquired DE&S, I was Project Director at a combustion turbine power plant project. At the end of that project, I was offered a position in CR&R in Lynchburg, Va., as an advisory engineer.

What's your job like on a daily basis?
I receive a lot of assignments to solve problems. Some of them are technical, some are people-related, so I am usually not able to predict the solution, nor the path. That makes each day something different, as few of the assignments are long term.

What do you like about your work?
The most rewarding aspect of working here is being part of a great team! The talent in this company is beyond comparison. Our work is at the cutting edge of technology. That's what draws me each day. When you are at the cutting edge, then there are always many ways to approach and solve the challenges. The satisfaction comes when your idea or your collaboration helps to create success.

And outside of work?
I've been married to Barbara for 36 years, and we have three grown children, four grandchildren, with a fifth on the way. Now we are "empty nesters." Barbara and I have a busy life, horses, dogs and an acreage that takes a good bit of time to tend. We moved to Lynchburg from North Carolina and really enjoy our life here. We fill our time visiting and hosting our children and their children, trail riding in the mountains, and visiting our Lynchburg friends. We have made lots of friends in this area, and see ourselves staying right here. Everyone comes to our house and stays to enjoy the outdoors.