Search
Insights > Journeyman Lineman Corey George Fires up Fourth Graders
Journeyman Lineman Corey George Fires up Fourth Graders
03/02/2016
Air Force veteran Corey George once spliced and maintained cable for critical military communications. The no-nonsense 34-year-old is now a seven-year (and counting) veteran on Entergy Arkansas’ team and recently deployed on a critical communications mission for the utility: visiting his son Caden’s elementary school for a safety show-and-tell during career awareness month.
“I was pretty blunt with the kids,” about picking a career early in life, George said. “I mean, they’re only in the fourth grade but Fountain Lake Elementary is a charter school and they’re serious about education.”
After five years in the military, George thought he’d go to college, but soon he looked within and to some of the men in his family for direction.
His uncle was a lineman in Missouri for 35 years. His dad worked as a supervisor with Texas Power & Light, the predecessor to TXU Energy, an electric utility headquartered in Dallas.
“It’s good to have a Plan B,” George said.
George asked the students what they wanted to be when they grow up.
“An NBA basketball player!!”
“A football player in the NFL!”
George listened and nodded and then described the path to becoming a lineman doesn’t necessarily mean earning a college degree, but, instead, may include a tour of duty at Entergy’s Linemen Boot Camp followed up with on-the-job training alongside senior craft workers. With children gathered around him, George explained Entergy’s priority number one working with energized line requires special safety procedures and equipment to manage the job’s hazards.
“Choose a career that makes you happy,” George said. “Being a lineman makes me happy and provides for my family.”
School counselor LeAnn Robertson is a pro at getting folks to visit Fountain Lake to share personal reflections about their careers. The “Counselor’s Corner” has featured a banker, a basketball coach, a chiropractor and an occupational therapist.
“It was apparent that Corey wasn't just there to show the materials and bucket truck,” Robertson says, “but he really wanted to get through to them that it is important to do something in life that makes you happy.”
With the support of management, George stepped outside of his day job to educate and engage with young people, demonstrating a commitment to providing sustainable value for our communities, one of Entergy’s four key stakeholders.
As an Entergy brand ambassador, George delivered a message that echoes that of incoming president and CEO Rick Riley. Riley has been visiting service centers throughout the Entergy Arkansas territory to meet employees and share his business philosophy as the transition nears when he takes over from Hugh McDonald, who’s retiring next month.
“If you don’t love coming to work and have a little bit of fun at what you do,” says Riley, “maybe it’s time to consider hitting the pause button and realize what you do here every day is a noble cause.”
Did Corey George’s spirited presentation make an impact on young Caden and his classmates?
“Well, after it was all said and done, by the end of the day, I heard, ‘I want to do YOUR job!’”
