Conway Corporation Electric Department employee Joe Bingham was promoted to Journeyman Lineman in February after successfully completing a four-year apprentice program through the Missouri Public Utility Alliance.
The program requires classroom, correspondence and hands-on training 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.
In addition, Bingham was required to attend hands-on immersion skills training workshops including a week-long session for pole climbing, pole top rescue and bucket truck operation at the National Utility Industry Training Fund facilities in Kansas City. Workshops included the fundamentals and experience necessary to qualify lineworkers in pole climbing as well as bucket truck essentials.
Having completed the program, Bingham logged more than 7,200 hours of on-the-job training and is now a certified United States Department of Labor Power Journeyman Lineman. Bingham’s commitment to the intensive program helps give Conway Corporation the ability to provide a high-level of dependable electric service.
Dedicated and highly-trained employees like Bingham are one of the reasons Conway Corporation has been recognized by the American Public Power Association with the Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) designation. An RP3 designation recognizes Conway Corporation 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.
RP3 designations are awarded based on four key disciplines: reliability, safety, workforce development and system improvement. Criteria within each category are based on sound business practices and represent a utility-wide commitment to safe, reliable and forward-thinking operations.
Before entering the program, Conway Corporation requires candidates serve as a groundman for at least two years. Bingham started with Conway Corporation in May 2006 and entered the program in 2010.
Currently, four additional employees are going through the certification process. Apprentice Lineman Nathan Ball, Jake Ballard and Travis Lauer are in the third year of the program, and Groundman Cory Cox has started his first year.
