Each year, Sumter Utilities recognizes outstanding employees through the President’s Safety Professional of the Year (PSPY) Award. To be eligible, a crew must complete all four quarters of the year without a single safety incident. From that distinguished group, leadership selects those who have gone above and beyond in their commitment to safety.

This year’s celebration was held on May 28, 2026, in Columbia, South Carolina. The evening brought together award recipients and their families for dinner, dancing, and remarks from leadership, a fitting tribute to the dedication these individuals bring to their work every day.

Scroll through the crews and photos below to meet the 2025 PSPY honorees. Names marked with a ◊ denote previous award recipients.

Our 2024 Safety Professionals of the Year are: 

Crew 649

Donnie R McKenzie, Foreman
David M Morris, Lead Lineman
Cody R Lively, B-Lineman ◊
James G Turner Jr, C-Lineman Dewey T Powell, Operator

Crew 835

Kyler D Lee, Foreman
Alexander B Wilcher, A-Lineman Thomas L Scribner Jr, A-Lineman John A Cox, A-Lineman
Joshua A Smith, B-Lineman
Clay R Cabe, B-Lineman
Eric L Irish, C-Lineman
Ridgely D Erickson, C-Lineman
Brian G Carter, Operator
Michael P Shaver, Truck Driver

Crew B56

Dock E Kirby, Foreman ◊
Johnathan M Daley,
Lead Lineman ◊
Dustin T Nelson, B-Lineman
Arlis D Nobles, Operator
Damon L Nelson, Operator

On May 2, 2026, Sumter Utilities employees joined community members in Columbia, South Carolina, for the annual 5K-Aden race benefiting the Jordan Thomas Foundation. The nonprofit organization helps provide prosthetic devices and support for children living with limb loss, empowering them to live active, confident lives.

The race holds special meaning for the Sumter Utilities family, as it is named in honor of Kaden, the stepson of Sumter Utilities President Derek O’Bradovich, who lost his leg in a boating accident several years ago. What began as a way to support one child’s journey has grown into an event that impacts countless families across the country.

Proud to continue its support of the event, Sumter Utilities sponsored this year’s race and rallied a team of employees, family members, and friends to participate in the 5K. Despite the rainy weather, the event brought together strong community support and an inspiring atmosphere to help raise critical funds for an important cause.

Sumter Utilities is honored to support organizations like the Jordan Thomas Foundation that make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families across America.

October 15, 2025 was PATH Expedition Project Day at Liberty STEAM Charter School — one of our favorite annual traditions! Each year, we partner with a third-grade class to bring hands-on learning to life. This year, we had the pleasure of working with Ms. Greenwood’s class, where Corey Blackmon led the students through an exciting demonstration: building an overhead power line to light up a house.

The students rolled up their sleeves to help construct the main model, then teamed up to create their own smaller versions. Throughout the activity, safety was the top priority. Corey emphasized the importance of rubber hoses and blankets for insulation and ensuring every project included a clearly marked “drop zone” to protect against potential falling hazards.

Next month, each class will showcase their projects to a panel of local dignitaries — and one winning design will be crowned this year’s PATH Expedition Champion!

We’re excited to continue partnering with Ms. Greenwood’s class throughout the school year to share more about our trade, helping students understand how power is delivered to their homes and inspiring the next generation of skilled tradespeople.

On August 18, 2025, a highly select group of individuals from across Quanta Services operating companies gathered at the Lazy Q Ranch to be recognized as Quanta Elite. Among the 73 men honored were Sumter Utilities’ own Wade Childrens, Joshua Parson, and Gregory Godwin.

The Quanta Elite program honors exceptional foremen across all Quanta companies and represents the highest level of professional recognition in our organization. These three individuals join an exclusive group of only 125 people to ever receive this distinction in the program’s history. In a company of 68,000 employees, this is truly elite recognition.

Sumter Utilities’ Elite were chosen for this distinction based on their exceptional leadership skills, field experience, and work ethic — qualities that truly exemplify the Sumter way.

This recognition celebrates both individual excellence and Sumter Utilities’ dedication to developing top industry talent. We’re so proud of these achievements and what they represent for the growth opportunities available to our crews. Congratulations Wade, Joshua, and Gregory!

Crews on the job face hazards day in and day out – it’s an expected part of the job. The Energy Wheel helps us understand these hazards and create controls on our job sites to protect us from the inevitability of something happening with that energy. One interesting spoke on The Energy Wheel is “Biological” hazards – anything that’s living on our job sites and could cause harm.

It’s all part of building capacity for failure. We’re lucky when, on occasion, those biological hazards make our days interesting, fun, and or even a little bit cute.

Dexter Allen had an interesting run-in with a bear cub on his job site in Salem, SC. Crews were working on the Jocassee Hydro Station for Duke Energy when a young black bear cub began exploring the area surrounding their truck.

Crews kept their distance while the little guy stuck around for about an hour.

And remember this encounter with a black bear in the mountains from 2023?

My son is turning 14 and recently told me he wants to start working and earning his own money. This year, he began mowing and weed eating around our farm.

Earlier this week, after a long Monday at work, I came home Tuesday evening and he met me at the door, ready to get started. I took him out on the porch and walked him through everything he needed to know before weed eating the property. I pointed out every obstacle—holes, creek banks, bee nests, snakes, ticks—and reminded him to watch his footing near water. I even told him to stop every hour to drink a bottle of water, and I asked his mom to help make sure he did.

Then we went inside, and I fitted him with the right safety glasses and PPE. It wasn’t until I was in the shower later that night that it hit me: I had just done a full JTSA (Job Task Safety Analysis) with my own son—at home. I even assigned my wife as the hydration monitor.

That moment made me realize something powerful. I’ve never worked anywhere that not only prioritizes my safety, health, and well-being, but also equips me to extend that same care to my family. The training and culture at SUI aren’t just changing how I work, they’re changing how I live. They help me keep my family safe and teach them how to protect themselves too.

And without even thinking about it, we did a post-job review that evening. I asked him how it went, if anything unexpected happened. He said everything went smoothly—he finished the job safely and without incident.

I’m incredibly grateful for the time and effort SUI invests in each of us. It’s not just about safety at work—it’s about creating a mindset that follows us home. When we truly buy in, safety becomes second nature. It becomes part of who we are—at work, at play, and at home.

This story is a powerful reminder that the capacity model is more than a workplace tool—it’s a way of life.

Thank you, Jeremy, for sharing this meaningful experience.

To learn more about The Capacity Model, visit learning.thecapacitymodel.com