Billing Services Manager Edie Turner is retiring this month after dedicating 30 years of service to Conway Corp and the Conway community.
Edie was hired in July 1993 as a Customer Service Specialist. She was promoted to Billing and Customer Service Supervisor in 2012 and to her current title in 2013.
“Edie quickly became a valued colleague to all at Conway Corp. Her wisdom and strong work ethic will certainly be missed.” Chief Financial Officer Tracy Moore said. “What we will miss the most about her is how she not only spoke but lived everyday a life in line with the Golden Rule. Edie certainly treats others as she would be treated.”
Conway Corp Production Coordinators Ashtyn Brown and Javan Massey have successfully completed the training and examination required to earn their Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) license from the Federal Aviation Administration.
“I’m proud of the time Ashtyn and Javan put in to prepare for the UAG exam,” Video Production and Local Programming Manager Jeff Matthews said. “Adding them as licensed drone pilots increases our ability to capture video from the unique perspectives that only drones can provide.”
Brown joined the Conway Corp in 2019 and Massey joined the company in 2021.
Safety Coordinator Brent Fason recently earned the credential of Certified Utility Safety Professional (CUSP) with an endorsement in utility line clearance from the Utility Safety & Ops Leadership Network (USOLN).
He successfully earned the green level certification, the highest available, that establishes him in the industry as a utility safety professional.
The CUSP certification program is the only program that offers safety credentials to utilities, related contractors and communication providers.
It is designed to create a uniform standard of understanding utility safety regulations, competencies and task directed skills for both utility companies and their contractor partners, as well as encouraging continual professional growth in the practice of utility safety leadership.
Brent was hired in June 2003 as a utility worker apprentice in the water department. He was promoted to safety coordinator in 2019.
Conway Corp recently announced the promotions of several employees in the Cable Department.
Telecom Construction Technician 2 Alex Bethea has been promoted to Telecom Construction Technician 3. Alex joined the company in 2018 as a Cable TV Field Worker.
Telecom Installer Trainee Lane McNew has been promoted to Telecom Installer Technician 1. He joined the company in 2020 as an Installer Trainee.
Telecom Construction Technician 4 John Spotts has been promoted to Telecom Construction Technician 5. John joined the company in 2018 as an Installer Trainee.
Telecom Installer Trainee Matt Stephens has been promoted to Telecom Installer Technician 1. He joined the company in 2020 as an Installer Trainee.
Conway Corp recently announced the promotion of Electric Department employees Blake Henderson and Kolt Weatherley to Apprentice Lineman 3.
The employees are enrolled in a four-year apprentice program to become journeyman linemen and metermen though the Missouri Public Utility Alliance. The program requires classroom, correspondence and hands-on training with monthly and annual exams on electric curriculum. They must attend hands-on immersion skills training workshops including pole climbing, pole top rescue and bucket truck training at the National Utility Industry Training Fund facilities in Kansas City.
“These guys have been valuable members of our department for years,” Electric Department Distribution System Manager Henry Mason said. “Going through this program is another example of their dedication to the company and our community.”
Both men began their careers with Conway Corp as a Groundman. Blake was hired in March 2017 and Kolt joined the company in August 2015.
Conway Corp Water Systems Senior Engineer Mark Ferguson was among 35 individuals awarded graduation certificates during the graduation of the 2021 class of the Central Arkansas Leadership Institute (CALI) at UCA’s McCastlin Hall Ballroom.
CALI is a program that prepares emerging leaders to serve in the Conway community through an eight-month curriculum inspired by Conway2025, a long-range strategic plan developed by Conway Area Chamber of Commerce with the input of more than 1,400 area residents.
Class participants experienced first-hand how community leaders, businesses and organizations make a difference in Conway every day while developing their own leadership skills and role in the success of the community.
“We are proud of Mark and the work he does for Conway Corp and the community,” Chief Executive Officer Bret Carroll said. “Conway Corp is committed to enhancing the quality of life in Conway and CALI prepares employees like Mark to do just that.”
Conway Corp Employees earn National Journeyman Certification
Conway Corp Electric Department employees Trey Brown and Paul Langley were promoted to Journeyman Lineman recently after successfully completing a four-year apprentice program through the Missouri Public Utility Alliance.
The program requires classroom, correspondence and hands-on training workshops with monthly and annual exams on electric curriculum including overhead and underground systems; safety; pole climbing, installing and mounting; conductors, transformers and substations and equipment operation.
The pair were required to attend hands-on immersion skills training workshops including a week-long session for pole climbing, pole top rescue and bucket truck operation. Workshops included the fundamentals and experience necessary to qualify lineworkers in pole climbing as well as bucket truck essentials.
Having completed the program, they logged more than 7,200 hours of on-the-job training and are now certified United States Department of Labor Power Journeyman Lineman. Their commitment to the intensive program helps give Conway Corp the ability to provide a high-level of dependable electric service.
“Conway Corp has been recognized by the American Public Power Association with the Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) designation because of dedicated and highly-trained employees like Trey and Paul,” Chief Executive Officer Bret Carroll said.
“The RP3 designation recognizes Conway Corp as one of the best electric providers in the nation for consistently providing Conway residents with the highest degree of reliable and safe electric service.”
Conway Corp Names Tom Watson Construction 2021 Energy Smart Builder of the Year
Conway Corp has named Tom Watson of Tom Watson Construction the 2021 Energy Smart Builder of the Year for their dedication to building energy-efficient homes in the Conway community. The company recognized 14 homes built by Tom Watson Construction as being Energy Smart in 2021 and 50 homes built in the last three years.
Energy Smart homes use less energy than standard-built homes and help save homeowner’s money and energy for years to come.
“Tom has been committed to building homes that meet or exceed Conway Corp’s Energy Smart New Home Program criteria since the program was developed in 2009,” said Conway Corp Major Accounts and Energy Efficiency Manager David Avra. “He and his wife, Cindy, along with the office manager Jennifer Butler are a joy to work with and take great pride in providing their customers with an Energy Smart Home.”
Tom, along with his brother Kevin of Watson Homes, have built more than 200 Energy Smart homes since the program began with a calculated energy savings of over $300,000 to date, and a projected energy savings just over $1,000,000 for the combined life-expectancy of all homes. The pair have been recognized previously as Conway Corp Energy Smart Builders of the Year, in 2016 and 2018.
Energy Smart specifications are based on the United States Department of Energy recommendations. Energy Smart homes can save 20 to 30 percent energy use over a standard built home thanks to a variety of energy-efficient features including insulation, high-performance windows, tight ducts and efficient heating and cooling equipment.
Pictured left to right: Cindy Watson, Tom Watson and Jennifer Butler, Tom Watson Construction; David Avra, Conway Corp Major Accounts and Energy Efficiency Manager (retired)
We’ve come a long way since we began operating Conway’s electric light plant in 1929, and we owe much of our success to our employees – the men and women who proudly serve this community 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
This month, Conway Corp would like to recognize Dispatcher/System Operator Keith LaPlante who is celebrating 35 years of service to the company and the community.
Keith was hired in January 1987 as a Dispatcher and was promoted to his current role in 2020. Keith works weekends, overnight hours and holidays to notify appropriate employees of emergency and after-hours outage situations while also providing technical support to customers with video, internet and telephone services.
