Speakers

Brent Jeffries has been with Bierer Meters for 12 years as the VP of Field Operations and Safety and Training. He's also the founder and facilitator of the nationally recognized Electrical Culture of Safety (ECO's) Linemen Safety Webinars. ECO's, now 9,500 members strong, is a monthly national Linemen Safety Webinar consisting of a grass roots nationwide coalition of Safety Professionals, freely giving back their expertise, knowledge, understanding, and experiences, all at no cost.

Danny Raines is a veteran lineman, safety professional, trainer, and consultant with 57 years of experience in the electrical industry. He spent 40 years with Georgia Power as a journeyman lineman, supervisor, and safety consultant before continuing his work in safety consulting, training, accident investigations, and expert testimony related to tort liability and OSHA cases. Throughout his career, Danny has remained committed to sharing his knowledge with the industry to help educate utility workers, prevent future accidents, and strengthen safe work practices in hazardous environments.

Kenneth is Vice President and General Manager for T&D PowerSkills, LLC and is a Director of SMI, LLC. Responsible for daily management and operations of T&D PowerSkills, Kenneth’s 16 years of service has allowed him to create and maintain the most effective lineworker training program in the industry. He also oversees the different delivery models for the training materials, including high definition delivery through the Learning Management System. Kenneth is a Certified Occupational Safety Specialist.

Jerry is the Director of Sales for T&D PowerSkills, LLC and works with utilities, contractors and colleges on helping to establish lineworker training programs using the T&D PowerSkills program. Jerry is also instrumental in developing and updating the video-based components of the units, using his background in broadcast media. Jerry is a Certified Occupational Safety Specialist.

Experienced Journeyman Ironworker with over 20 years of experience working at heights. Currently serving as Sales and Marketing Manager at Bashlin Industries specializing in product development through close collaboration with end users and engineering team. Passionate about innovation and safety in the utility and general industry.

Jeremy Gee, Jackson EMC Safety and Training Specialist, is a former United States Marine Corps Infantry Sergeant and Journeyman Lineman with 20+ years of experience in the electric distribution industry. He’s spent the last seven years in the Safety and Training Department educating and Training employees on safety and facilitating Jackson EMC’s comprehensive Lineman Training Program.

Jon Spencer is an electrical engineer with 20 years of experience in fuses, switchgear, load-break, fiberglass, and training.  Jon brings an engineer's perspective to listen to customers' pain points and find solutions.  Finding real-world, actionable solutions is foundational and drives Jon's passion for safety and training discussions.

Heavy distribution background, specializing in grounding, URD, transformer banking, and operations. Limited transmission experience due to being utilized as a first responder. Over 25 years of involvement with the International Lineman’s Rodeo and currently the event coordinator. My current role at Hastings Fiberglass as a demonstrator allows me to travel the country and share my knowledge and experiences.

Mack is Executive Director of ISPC and a Director of both SMI, LLC and T&D PowerSkills, LLC. Mack is a past Chairman of the Board for USOLN and helped to create the Certified Utility Safety Professional (CUSP) program and credential, earning him the distinction. He has been actively involved in training and safety, on-staff for investor-owned utilities, and in safety management for a large powerline contractor. Mack recently received the John McRae Safety Leadership award by USOLN. For the past several years, through ISPC, Mack has helped hundreds of utilities and contractors become more effective in lineworker safety.

Chris Beach is a Technical Safety Advisor at Principle Services LLC, where he is leveraging his industry knowledge and experience to grow others in a new way. After nearly 20 years of service at CenterPoint Energy, Chris built a career grounded in field experience, safety leadership, and workforce development. Beginning as a meter reader, he advanced through high-line transmission, quality assurance, and journeyman head line mechanic roles before stepping into leadership. As a former Skills Trainer and a current Certified Utility Safety Professional, Chris designed and led training programs that prioritize safety, technical excellence, and the development of future linemen. Now in a new role, he is focused on industry knowledge and experience to foster growth in others.

Wayne Bonner retired from Oncor Electric Delivery after more than 42 years of service in the electric utility industry. He spent 32 years in field operations as a lineman and operations technician, working with capacitors, reclosers, regulators, power quality, and power factor management.

For the final 10½ years of his career, Wayne served in Oncor’s Operations Training Department, retiring as Manager of the Operations Training Group. He has also served on the Advisory Boards of T&D PowerSkills and ISPC, as well as the Southeast Electric Exchange Training Committee.

Throughout his career, Wayne has been passionate about developing employees beyond technical skills by emphasizing leadership, personal responsibility, communication, initiative, and professional growth.

Micah Thompson Micah is a loss control training director with The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina. After graduating from Airport High School in 2002, Micah began career working 3 years as a residential & commercial electrician for Mallard electric and then M&M Electric he then transitioned to another three years working for the University of South Carolina in the high voltage department. In 2008, Micah began employment at Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative in Lexington, SC. He was a lineman for the cooperative for ten years and then a crew foreman in the substation dept another three years. In January 2022, Micah joined the SC Cooperative statewide association, he is currently enrolled in John Brown University, studying Psychology. He is married to his bride of 19 years, Ashley Thompson, and they have 3 sons together, Graham (17), Hudson (16), and Grayson who is 7.

Dynamic utility professional with over three decades of experience in operations, safety, training, storm restoration, and workforce development. As Director of Field Operations, at Principle Services, LLC, my contributions include enhancing electric utility processes, optimizing field operations, maintaining client relations, QA/QC oversight, and fostering technical training programs that prioritize safety and efficiency. Previous experiences refined a focus on operational excellence and comprehensive training solutions for distribution, transmission, substation, major underground, and primary metering departments. I will always consider myself a lineman and take great pride in the industry. I am truly passionate and have the upmost respect for all those in the craft and their commitment to advancing industry standards.

Maggie Herman is a Talent Development leader with 20+ years building enterprise learning strategy, leadership development programs, and capability frameworks for hyper-growth, acquisition-driven organizations. Her work spans professional services, manufacturing, technology, industrial and wholesale distribution, and 10+ years in the utility industry. During her 11-year tenure at Southern Company, an electric and gas utility, she led multiple enterprise level talent management projects. Maggie is the founder of Be A Better Leader™, where she designs AI-enabled leadership training and coaches executives on integrating AI into HR and talent strategy. She holds an MS in Leadership & Organizational Development from the University of Texas at Dallas, an Executive Coaching Certification, and is Microsoft Certified as an AI Transformation Leader. A Georgia native, she resides in Cumming, GA with her family and dogs.

Carl is an experienced electric utility professional with more than 20 years in the industry. Having served in frontline operational and leadership roles, Carl brings extensive knowledge of electrical systems, field operations, and worker safety. He is recognized for his practical, experience-based approach to training and his ability to connect technical electrical principles with real-world field applications. Carl is passionate about helping utility workers develop a deeper understanding of how electricity behaves in unexpected situations so they can make safer and more informed decisions in the field.

Ben is the Health, Safety, Environmental & Sustainability Manager for S&C Electric Company and a former Journeyman Lineman with more than 20 years of experience in the electric utility industry. Throughout his career, Ben has worked across transmission, distribution, substations, and electrical safety programs, leading safety audits, developing training programs, and helping organizations improve both worker protection and operational performance. He is passionate about translating complex electrical concepts into practical lessons that help workers understand how electricity behaves during re-energization, backfeed, induction, and other real-world situations.

Higher education and learning evaluation professional with 10+ years of experience leading complex evaluation projects, managing client portfolios, coordinating cross-functional teams, and strengthening partnerships across postsecondary education, workforce development, apprenticeship, and training ecosystems. Experienced in evaluating courses, examinations, apprenticeship programs, and other nontraditional learning for alignment with postsecondary academic standards. Skilled in client relationship management, project planning, quality assurance, data and process integrity, stakeholder engagement, change management, and operational improvement. Experienced people manager and project leader with demonstrated ability to manage complex workflows independently, identify risks and opportunities, and develop scalable processes and resources. Proficient in collaborative technologies, learning management systems, CRM platforms, project management tools, and responsible use of generative AI to improve workflow efficiency and service delivery.

Travis Proffitt is a seasoned electrical industry professional and safety advocate with over 25 years of experience in utility construction, workforce development, and leadership. Currently serving as a Technical Training Advisor at Service Electric Company (SEC), Travis is known for his deep field expertise combined with a strong commitment to safety, training, and organizational excellence. A native of the foothills of East Tennessee, Travis began his career in 2000 as an electrical apprentice with a union contractor, earning his Journeyman Lineman certification in 2004. Over the years, he progressed through the ranks, ultimately serving as a Line Foreman, where he developed his leadership skills while managing crews and complex field operations. Travis continued advancing his career at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), where he worked for seven years as a Journeyman Lineman. He later transitioned into an Electrical Planner role within Electrical Utilities, further expanding his technical knowledge and operational planning expertise. His passion for safety led him to join the Institute for Safety in Powerline Construction (ISPC) as a consultant, where he played a key role in advancing industry safety practices. At SEC, Travis leverages his extensive background to develop and deliver training programs that enhance workforce performance, safety awareness, and technical competency across the organization. Beyond his professional career, Travis has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to public service. He has served as the Fire Chief of the Washburn Volunteer Fire Department for over 20 years, where he has provided leadership, emergency response coordination, and community support. This role highlights his dedication to service and further strengthens the leadership qualities he brings to his professional work. Travis’s unique combination of field experience, safety expertise, and leadership makes him a respected figure in both the electrical industry and his local community.

Britt Holley began his over 40-year career with Oncor Electric Delivery by achieving an Associate in Applied Electronics degree through a cooperative program for Texas Power & Light Company, a predecessor company of Oncor. He also successfully completed a technical metering progression program, resulting in the achievement of Senior Meter Technician certification. Britt subsequently assumed Lead Meter Technician and then Meter Technician Supervisory responsibilities. In 2012, Oncor established a commitment and focus to train and develop technical metering personnel. As such, Britt took on the role of Senior Technical Training Rep. In this role, he led the development and administration of the Meter Technician Training Program. In this program, employees learned technical metering skills for all classes of metering, from residential through commercial and industrial applications. Additional achievements that Britt is proud of include being awarded Oncor’s first Customer Service Star Award, given to only one employee annually for customer service excellence. He also taught classes at the Southwest Electrical Metering Association Meter School and led the school task force for two years, being honored by induction into SWEMA’s Circle of Honor in 2019.

Ron Schenk is a founding member of T&D PowerSkills, LLC, and serves as President and Corporate Director of Safety Management International, LLC. He is also the President of the Institute for Safety in Powerline Construction (ISPC), a role he has held since 2004. Ron’s career in the utility industry spans more than 27 years and includes 14 years on staff with large powerline contractors, where he served as Director of Training for more than 1,800 lineworkers. His background includes leading training operations at Red Simpson, Inc., one of the top five powerline contractors in the U.S., as well as Universal Electric Construction, and earlier serving as a Senior Consultant and Trainer with FMI Management Consultants. Ron has helped dozens of contractors and smaller utilities develop and implement internal lineworker apprenticeship programs, many of which have gone on to achieve certification through the U.S. Department of Labor. His expertise includes supervisory development for field leaders and comprehensive safety training for powerline crews. Ron holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, is a Certified Utility Safety Professional (CUSP), and served as an Executive Board Member of USOLN, the founding organization for the CUSP credential.