PWC Connections: The Podcast

Electricity helps make our lives easier, but its potential for shock and fire-related hazards is real and often underestimated. National Electrical Safety Month raises awareness of potential home electrical hazards, the importance of electrical fire safety, and the safety of electrical and non-electrical workers. Two PWC lineworkers (David Bailey & Landon Locklear) joined us to share their perspective on safety hazards related to their careers and general electric safety advice while at home. Tune in, get connected, and remember safety FIRST, never second.

National Work Zone Awareness Week (April 17-21) is an annual campaign held at the beginning of construction season to emphasize the need for safe driving through traffic work zones. The main message is for drivers to use extra caution while in work zones. Mark Niswonger, PWC Sr. Safety Health & Environmental Project Coordinator, joined us this episode to share his background, highlight some of the deadly dangers of inattention at highway work zones, and remind us that everyone plays a role in work zone safety.

It's March and National Procurement Month once again! PWC takes advantage of this opportunity to celebrate the efforts of our Procurement, Purchasing, Supply Chain, and Small Local Supplier (SLS) Program professionals and the value this area brings to our organization. Candice Kirtz, Director of Supply Chain, and Nikole Bohannon, SLS Program Manager joined us in "The Bucket" to chat about their career, doing business locally, upcoming business events, as well as being recently recognized by the NC Association of Governmental Purchasing with the Sustained Professional Purchasing Award. This is the 3rd time PWC has received this honor.

PWC is committed to supplying safe water that meets or surpasses state and federal standards and achieves the highest standards of customer satisfaction. Our communities as a whole can take an active role in being aware and protecting their water sources from contamination. PWC Operations and Maintenance staff at our Water Treatment Facilities are committed to providing safe, high quality water for our customers. Rhonda Locklear, W/R Environmental & Compliance Manager and Kim Chavis, W/R Lab Supervisor, joined us this episode to discuss the upcoming Annual Water Treatment Changeover and the overall process of monitoring and maintaining safe water resources for the City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County.

Since PWC’s first water reclamation facility was built in 1959, the growth of Fayetteville/Cumberland County has increased the demand for quality wastewater services annually. PWC continues to meet the needs brought on by residential expansion and economic development as well as be instrumental in the installation of wastewater services in developed areas that were built without the benefits of public utilities. However, our consumers can assist with the reduction of issues by properly disposing of grease, wipes, and other non-flushable items to avoid their entry into the wastewater system. Thomas Urbanek, Water Resources Field Supervisor, joined us to share some field experiences and advice that could potentially help customers save money in the long run. Click "Play" for another informative, fun episode!

Extreme cold or hot weather affects your energy usage – and your monthly bill. When the forecast calls for temperatures below freezing and for extended durations of cold --- you need to be prepared. Did You Know ... when adjusting the thermostat on a HVAC system, adjust by no more than one-two degrees at a time to prevent your system from automatically forcing the auxiliary/emergency heat system to start running. PWC Conservation Specialist Chad Groves shared this conservation tip and a few others to provide some simple ways to save money on your utility bill without losing comfort in the winter.

Veterans Day (Nov. 11) honors the service of all U.S. military veterans. PWC recently added this federal holiday to our observances and hosts a fellowship gathering to honor our employees who served in the armed forces. There are several employees at Fayetteville's Hometown Utility that transitioned from military careers. In this episode, Andre Couture (Project Manager) and Sonja Whiteside (Electric Construction Planner/Scheduler) joined us to discuss their time in the military, their current careers at PWC, and share some advice for other veterans on civilian career transition. Happy Veterans Day to all that have honorably served in our U.S. military!

September 2022 has already been a transformative time at PWC. Our previous CEO made a fast transition and Mick Noland has been appointed the interim CEO / General Manager. He joined us for this episode to discuss his new role, overall expectations, and some future plans for the organization. 

June has been designated as Automotive Service Professionals Month by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). PWC has an impressive Fleet Division that keeps our vehicles on the road and manages several other assets for Fayetteville's Hometown Utility. Jim Scaccia (Fleet Manager) and Seth Wagoner (Fleet Shop Supervisor) joined us in "The Bucket" to chat about the overall Fleet environment, their career paths, changes in the automotive industry, and measures taken by PWC to reduce fuel emissions now and for the future. Tune in as we salute our own Automotive Service Pros!

Get to know the variety of opportunities and the diversity of people here at PWC through our Personnel Profile Series! We're starting the series with Kevan Meltzer, Innovations Manager. Kevan joined us in "The Bucket" to discuss his job responsibilities, the Power-I Team, his career journey and why he doesn't speed on Friday the 13th. Tune in to learn more about the Kevan and the role of an Innovations Manager.

March is National Procurement Month, celebrated by PWC and public purchasing departments across the country. This episode, we took time to highlight and thank our procurement professionals, as well as share information with thousands of buyers, purchasing agents and supply chain officials. Candice Kirtz (PWC Director of Supply Chain) and Mark Cannady (Risk, Contracts, & Procurement Analyst) joined us in "The Bucket" to discuss the goal of PWC Procurement, current and upcoming resources, and the overall difference they strive to make within our organization and the local business community.

Engineering is a profession in which scientific knowledge and mathematics is used and experimented with to develop ways that benefit mankind, making engineers extremely important to society for several reasons. Two PWC engineers (Misty Manning, Engineer Manager / John Prevette, Engineer II) from our Water Resources area joined us in "The Bucket" to discuss how they discovered engineering, their job responsibilities, and the importance of inspiring future engineers in this episode.

The money spent on utilities rises dramatically in the summer and winter months when temperature control sees the highest use. Winter can be especially problematic, as heating costs are a matter of survival. When the forecast calls for snow, below freezing temperatures, and lengthy durations of cold --- you need to be prepared. Fortunately, PWC Conservation Specialist Chad Groves shared some time with us in "The Bucket" to provide a few simple ways you can reduce your heating costs, prep your plumbing and water pipes, and save money on your utility bill without losing comfort in the winter.

Every January many of us decide to get healthy by eating better and/or exercising more. That’s a great resolution, but perhaps you should consider making some positive changes to your utility usage this year too! Sharon Carvin and Oji Sinceno, PWC Customer Service Supervisors, joined us for the 1st episode of 2022 to discuss some energy/water conservation, general utility, and safety tips for the new year and beyond. 

Jump in "The Bucket" with us as we cover the events of 2021 from our perspective. Hear about some of the highlights from Fayetteville's Hometown Utility which occurred throughout the year; including leadership changes, community events, awards, and much more. This has been one of the most memorable years at PWC ... tune-in and hear why!

PWC truly understands that our people are our greatest assets! As the largest municipal public power system in North Carolina, Fayetteville’s Hometown Utility takes pride in being a good neighbor who is committed to quality services, reliability, conservation, safety and the environment. Bobby Russell, PWC HR Officer, discussed the employee environment, upcoming events (Veteran's Day Employee Breakfast) and why PWC has been named one of the Best Employers in NC in this episode --- get connected!

October celebrates Customer Service Week (Oct. 4-8) and PWC celebrates the importance of Customer Service and the people who serve and support our customers on a daily basis. Bevan Grice, Director of Customer Service, joined us in "The Bucket" to chat about his career journey, customer service changes since COVID, and the various account options we offer our customers. Tune in and get connected!

Individuals and communities as a whole can take an active role in protecting their water sources from contamination. PWC operations and maintenance staff at our Water Treatment Facilities are committed to providing safe, high quality water for our customers. Rhonda Locklear, PWC Water Resources Environmental & Compliance Manager, joined us this episode to discuss the process of monitoring and maintaining safe water resources for the City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County. Also get tips on what you can do to protect our water supply. 

To help prepare your home and/or business facility in the event of a hurricane, there are a few preparation steps necessary. Ike Copeland, PWC Director of Legal, Risk, & Procurement Services, joined us to discuss his time with PWC, lessons learned from previous emergency situations, and hurricane preparation from a risk management perspective. With hurricane underway, this episode is a great resource to be prepared.

Building better business relationships is important to PWC! Our Procurement/Purchasing Department proactively attends events to spread awareness of the business opportunities available with Your Hometown Utility. Mark Cannady (Risk, Procurement, & Contract Analyst) and Lexi Hasapis (Local Vendor Procurement Analyst) joined us to discuss the upcoming Building Business Workshop, the new vendor portal iSupplier, and ways to grow your business locally and beyond. 

May is National Electrical Safety Month. PWC participates in this annual effort by continuing to educate our customers and community about the steps that can be taken in order to reduce the number of electrically related fires, fatalities, injuries and property loss. Lance Gray, PWC Electric Substation Crew Leader and seasoned electric professional, joined us in "The Bucket" to discuss the importance of electrical safety, practicing safety measures, and tips to be mindful of at home or in the workplace. 

Fayetteville PWC has received national recognition for achieving exceptional electric reliability and a huge part of that is our lineworkers. Lineworkers build and maintain the electric system that keeps our nation running! Two of our Hometown Heroes, Ben Raynor and Ricky Cyrus, joined us to discuss their roles on the electric line crew and share some insightful advice for anyone who might be interested in a career as a lineworker. There are two Lineworker Appreciation days in April, but there is appreciation for the courage, commitment, and service demonstrated by our lineworkers every day. 

PWC reminds everyone that it's important to make the proper tree selection and to plan ahead to protect the utility lines (electric, water, and sewer) in our community, as well as lines that provide other services. Mark Falcon (PWC Urban Line Clearance Program Supervisor) joined us in "The Bucket" to discuss removing undesired vegetation, protecting overhead electric lines' right-of-way, and other details of his career. This episode has some great info to help you plan smart to avoid tree and utility conflicts. PWC Tree Planting Guidelines: https://www.faypwc.com/tree-planting-guidelines/ 

March is National Procurement Month, and PWC utilizing this time to celebrate the efforts of our procurement and purchasing professionals as well as educate the taxpaying public on the value this division brings to our organization. Lexi Hasapis, Local Vendor Procurement Analyst, joined us in "The Bucket" to discuss bid opportunities, focusing on doing business locally, and upcoming business growth events. She also shares a ton of resources and a great bacon story! Special thanks from Your Hometown Utility to the professionals creating better procurement processes and solutions for our community.

Engineers Week (3rd week of February) is dedicated to building a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing the understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers. Misty Manning (PWC Water Resources Engineer Manager) and Joel Valley (PWC Electric Service Support Service Manager) joined us in "The Bucket" to discuss their discovery of engineering and how they arrived at their current professionally role. Our guests also emphasize the importance of learning math, science, and technical skills to pursue an engineering career. 

When temperatures drop, it takes more energy to heat your home. The more difference there is between the temperature outside and the thermostat setting inside, the harder your heating system will work and the more energy it will use, even if you don’t turn the thermostat higher. Homes that don’t have enough insulation, homes with single-paned or aluminum-framed windows, and homes with a lot of air leaks around windows, doors, and plumbing & electrical boxes add more stress to your HVAC (heat pump). Mark Brown (Sr. Customer Programs Officer) joined us in "The Bucket" to explain how colder weather impacts energy costs and shared some advice on maintaining control of your usage.

Before the holidays arrive and we close out the year, Your Hometown Utility wanted to be sure to share and discuss some helpful customer tidbits. So in this edition, hosts (Courtney and Lamont) chat about Time-of-Use Winter Peak, Community Solar, new Customer Call Center hours, 2021 Connected to Conservation Calendars, the new CEO and more. This is a good ole conversation of good information. Get connected!

October is Energy Awareness Month, an opportunity to promote the importance of energy for our sustainability and environmental well-being. Chad Groves from our Customer Programs Department joined us in "The Bucket" to discuss on conservation tips, thoughts on ENERGY STAR appliances, and common inefficient habits that usually drive your energy costs up! Tune in for some insight and "awareness" on energy use.

We kept the conversation with PWC Electric Field Supervisor Britten O'Quinn and 2nd Class Lineman Marshall Jackson going a little longer after our episode about storm prep tips and safety. Listen to some "hot mic" dialogue on what it's Really like being in the field.

With today’s competitive business environment, organizations have to go above and beyond in order to recruit and retain top talent. In Business North Carolina’s 2020 list of Best Employers in the state, Fayetteville PWC was recognized as one of the companies in the Large Employer Category that is thinking outside of the box to offer creative perks in addition to compensation and a benefits package to maintain a thriving workforce. Portia Daniels (Information Technology) and Zach Hall (Electrical Engineering) joined us in "The Bucket" to discuss what makes PWC one of the best places to work in North Carolina.

Fayetteville PWC have aggressive and proactive emergency response plans, ready to implement when faced with a hurricane or other disasters. Our crews are always prepared to swing into action, as soon as it's safe, and work around the clock to restore service. We sat and chatted with experienced PWC Electric Field Supervisor Britten O'Quinn and 2nd Class Lineman Marshall Jackson about storm prep tips, safety, and their various experience as lineworkers. 

Each March, PWC  temporarily stops adding ammonia to its water treatment disinfection process.  The NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources requires all water systems that add ammonia to their drinking water to discontinue its use for a one-month period annually. Angela Hillis, PWC Water Resources Senior Treatment Plant Operator, joins us in "The Bucket" to discuss the water treatment process, changeover, and that time the Cape Fear River was very angry.

We give a month-to-month recap of Fayetteville's Hometown Utility in 2019. 

Get the inside scoop on Fayetteville PWC's Community Solar Program! PWC's solar farm is a large-scale, ground-mount solar array, and the first of its kind in North Carolina. Our municipal community solar farm offers PWC electric customers a shared renewable energy option and an alternate to rooftop solar. Enroll in the Community Solar Program and help provide cleaner, greener power for our community.

{Episode guests: Jon Rynne, COO-Electric Systems}

September 14-22, 2019 has been designated at National Drive Electric Week! So PWC is joining in to heighten awareness of about the benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles as well as highlight the availability of EVs and local charging stations. EVs are reportedly fun to drive, less expensive and more convenient to fuel than gasoline vehicles, and better for the environment. Are you considering going electric? Before you do, get connected to this episode! {Episode guests: Denise Bruce, Sustainable Sandhills & Laurie Shrauger, Fayetteville PWC}

Brief overview about PWC Connections: The Podcast ... coming soon