F EATURED S TORIES

After more than eight years working with his 'little,' the Big Brothers and Big Sisters (BBBS) of Oklahoma recently presented one of AEP's own with a prestigious honor. Brandon Webber, manager, station system services (TFS Station, Energy Delivery) was awarded the 2022 Matt Burtelow Award. Each year one outstanding volunteer is selected. 

Appalachian Power's Rob Arnold, distribution system manager, will tell you that 17-year-old Connor McMillian isn’t your average teenager. 

McMillian is taking college courses year-round to complete high school in three years; has a mowing business; helps his friends on their farms; is a traveling musician and is working as a line mechanic intern in the Kingsport District for ten weeks this summer. 

Rockport, Texas – population 10,000 – sits on the beautiful water of the Gulf of Mexico. Known for its sleepy fishing town vibe, breathtaking sunsets, and as the home of Texas’ only Blue Wave Beach, it's a coastal gem that continues to rebuild after taking a hit from Hurricane Harvey in 2017. One of the most unique and hopeful things about Rockport is that its location attracts the most beautiful migratory birds in the world as they fly south for the winter. The most famous, and most endangered guest, is the whooping crane.

For Scott Welker, manager, TFS Station (East), teamwork has built the foundation of his life. He has worked on teams throughout his professional career at AEP, and in his local community, was recently honored for giving back. Welker was inducted into the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Officials Hall of Fame for his 33 years of service as a high school official in Muskingum Valley. 

This year's Veteran Champions of the Year in Corporate America includes a familiar face. Craig Mason, financial controls business analyst senior, has been featured in G.I. Jobs magazine as one of 30 Veteran Champions of the Year, noted as "advocates (who) work tirelessly to help veterans succeed in the civilian workplace." 

Utility poles are a critical part of energy infrastructure, but what happens when they’ve seen better days? American Electric Power is helping give old utility poles a new lease on life, while also reducing its environmental footprint. 

Russell Pitts had every intention of retiring from Pirkey power plant.

"I grew up there. I had 20 years there,” said Pitts, who started as an electrician at the coal-fired plant in Texas and rose to instrument supervisor. “When they announced the plant would close in 2023, I figured I had a lot of years left.”

As Scott Smith and Don Wolford got off the bus at the World War II memorial, a woman walked by and thanked them for their service.

The army veterans were wearing “Honor Flight” polos, which made them easily recognizable as veterans. Honor Flight is a non-profit organization dedicated to recognizing American veterans from World War II through the Vietnam War with trips to Washington, D.C. to visit service and war memorials.

Birds of prey love Transmission substations. They’re places that don’t get a lot of foot traffic and they have lots of high places to perch. That’s why as a Transmission construction representative, Vic Fischer has learned to walk his construction sites every morning.

All roads at AEP lead to Sara Martinez Tucker. She’s the new lead director of AEP’s Board of Directors, a role that links together other board members, AEP’s executive leadership team and outside stakeholders.