Conway Corp has promoted Henry Mason to Assistant Manager, Electric Distribution System. The promotion is in anticipation of him moving to manager following the retirement of Electric Distribution System Manager Jim Moore who will retire December 31, 2020.
Mason will assist Moore for the next six months in directing and coordinating activities concerned with the operation of the electric department, including assigning manpower, materials and equipment as appropriate during emergency situations.
“Henry is respected by his fellow employees in the electric department and companywide,” Chief Operating Officer Greg Dell said. “His professional life has been dedicated to the company and the community, and he will do a great job in this new leadership role.”
Mason celebrates 40 years of service with the company this year. He began his career with Conway Corp in 1980 as a groundman and earned multiple promotions before being named senior foreman in 2015.
Broadband Services Technician II Brandon McNew recently earned his certification as a CISCO Certified Networking Professional (CCNP).
This certification validates Brandon’s ability to plan, implement, verify and troubleshoot local and wide-area enterprise networks while working collaboratively with specialists on advanced security, voice, wireless and video solutions.
“The CCNP is prestigious and can take years to obtain,” Network Engineering and Operations Manager Roy Grubb said. “I’m proud of the work that Brandon has put into earning this certification that accurately demonstrates his skill level for Conway Corp.”
Brandon joined Conway Corp in August 2006 as an Installer Trainee in the cable department. Since then he has been an Installer Technician, Service Technician and Fiber Technician before transferring to the technology department in 2014. In December 2016, he was promoted to Broadband Services Technician II, the position he currently holds.
The Conway Corp Board of Directors approved a 20-year purchase power agreement with Lightsource BP, a global solar leader, at its April 3, 2020 meeting. The agreement is for the development of a 132 MWdc solar energy project in White County, Ark.
Lightsource BP will finance, build, own and operate the facility and will deliver the solar energy it generates to Conway Corp under the fixed-rate power purchase agreement.
The Conway Solar project is located on 700 acres near Happy, Arkansas, approximately 55 miles northeast of Little Rock. It will supply clean energy to Conway Corp’s customers in the city of Conway and will generate enough electricity to power more than 21,400 homes. The project will also play a role in reducing the city’s carbon footprint by the equivalent of CO2 emissions from 35,270 fuel-burning cars.
“We are committed to providing safe, reliable, affordable and innovative and environmentally sound service to our customers. This solar project checks all of those boxes.” Conway Corp Chief Executive Officer Bret Carroll said. “We know this project is a great long-range strategy in our continued efforts to serve our customers with excellence.”
In addition to providing fixed, low-cost power, the project will create 250 jobs during the construction of the facility.
Kevin Smith, Chief Executive Officer of the Americas for Lightsource BP said “We applaud Conway Corp for taking the lead in delivering the many benefits of solar energy to its customers and look forward to our continued collaboration as we work to bring this exciting project online. We believe renewable and affordable solar energy is an important part of the state’s future energy mix, and we’re dedicated to making it a positive contribution to local communities.”
With Lightsource BP’s model of developing, owning and operating their projects, the company is committed to be a long-term partner of the local communities in Arkansas. Their approach includes community engagement, maximizing local economic benefits, and development of a site-specific long-term land management plan that will optimize environmental benefits of the project in order to help improve the land. The project is expected to go online at the end of 2022.
Conway Corp names 2019 Energy Smart Builder of the Year
Conway Corp has named Rush-Hal Building Management the 2019 Energy Smart Builder of the Year for their dedication to building energy-efficient homes in the Conway community.
Energy Smart homes use less energy than standard-built homes and help save homeowners money and energy for years to come.
Conway Corp recognized more than 30 homes built by Rush-Hal as being Energy Smart in 2019 with an additional 10 homes under construction currently.
“Rush-Hal has been committed to building homes that meet or exceed Conway Corp Energy Smart criteria since the Energy Smart New Home program was developed in 2009,” Conway Corp Major Accounts and Energy Efficiency Manager David Avra said.
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 plus efficient heating and cooling equipment.
“More than 1,000 Energy Smart homes have been built since the program began with an estimated energy savings to the homeowners of more than $1.6 million dollars annually,” Avra said.
Rush-Hal Properties began in 1990 as a partnership between Hal Crafton and Rush Harding III with the development of St. Charles Place.
“Building Energy Smart homes is a way for us to help our customers get the most out of their homes,” Crafton said. “We are proud to build to these standards.”
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 Mechanic Shop Laborer Stanley Bradley who is celebrating 25 years of service to the company and the community.
Stanley was hired in January 1995 in the materials and fleet operations department. He has spent his career taking care of Conway Corp’s fleet of vehicles including assisting with repairs and maintenance of vehicles, machinery and mechanical equipment.
Without Stanley’s dedication, our crews would not have the vehicles and equipment they need to keep the lights on, the water running and the cable working. Thanks, Stanley!
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 Chief Operating Officer Greg Dell who is celebrating 35 years of service to the company and the community.
Greg was hired in January 1985 and was promoted to installer/load control in September 1994. The following year he was promoted to Water/Wastewater Designer I in the engineering department and held various roles in the department before being promoted to engineering and planning manager in May 2005. In October 2017, Greg was promoted to his current position as the company’s chief operating officer.
As chief operating officer, Greg is responsible for overseeing the electric distribution system, the water/wastewater system, the CATV distribution system, materials and fleet operations, facilities and emergency management and engineering and planning departments.
Water Systems Senior Foreman Mike Credit retired December 31, 2019 after dedicating more than 43 years of service to Conway Corp and the Conway community.
Mike was hired as a laborer in the water department in June 1976 and was promoted to foreman in July 1987. He was promoted to his current position in March 2005.
“When I was a brand-new employee in our engineering department, I absolutely relied on Mike’s experience and knowledge to help me,” Chief Operations Officer Greg Dell said. “Mike is a dedicated employee, a patient teacher and a skilled construction expert. He will be greatly missed for his hard work, his expertise, his mentoring of employees and as a friend.”
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 Chief Plant Operator Mike McKaskle who is celebrating 40 years of service to the company and the community.
Mike was hired in December 1979 as a water plant operator and was promoted to his current position in September 1998.
As chief plant operator, Mike is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Roger Q Mills Water Treatment Plant and ensures Conway residents have safe, clean drinking water 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Conway Corp recently promoted several employees across the company:
Natalie Arnold was promoted to Engineering Project Coordinator and Data Specialist. Natalie started with Conway Corp August 2018 as an administrative assistant.
Aaron Reynolds has been promoted to Broadband Premises Expert in the Cable Department. Aaron was hired by Conway Corp in 2014 as an installer trainee and was most recently a broadband premises technician.
Terry Stewart was promoted to Senior Lineman in the Electric Department. Terry was hired by Conway Corp in 1997 as a groundman and was most recently a journeyman lineman.
