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Congratulations go out to 2009 Exceptional Service Award winners

Four of Western’s finest employees will be honored for exceptional service in June. “Our employees make up the heart and soul of our organization and are the key to our success," said Western’s Administrator Tim Meeks. ”The individuals I have selected inspire us through their outstanding contributions, commitment and service. I appreciate their strong work ethic, persistence, determination and dedication to helping us succeed.”

UGP honored Dickey June 11

Jim Dickey

Jim Dickey, Upper Great Plains’ Procurement manager, has distinguished himself as a Procurement expert in Western. He is an anchor for the Procurement community and is one of the charter members of the Acquisition Collaboration Team. He serves on a team to develop a Western process and templates for negotiated construction contracts and is completing numerous contracts under the strategic sourcing initiative. Dickey and his staff have consistently gone the extra mile to voluntarily help other Western procurement offices with their workloads when needed.

The UGP Procurement team has proven to be innovative to meet customer needs, which are sometimes urgent and/or unique. “Jim Dickey is a team lead who truly values each of us in the UGP Procurement office, which is demonstrated by his active communication and acceptance of each of us. He is open to suggestions and ideas, asks for our input on most issues and even has the time and patience for us on the rare occasion we may need to vent,” said Cheryl Jones, UGP contract specialist. Last year, the UGP Maintenance and Construction managers recommended that Jim receive an outstanding performance rating based on the way he handled complex contractual issues and worked with them to get things done despite tight timeframes.

He and his wife Jane live in Woonsocket, S.D., and have eight children and five grandchildren. He is a Science Bowl volunteer and participates on Western’s bowling team.

DSW honored Spencer June 25

Stan Spencer is the Manager of Transmission Lines and Substation Maintenance. Spencer is recognized across Western as an expert in the transmission line field. For 27 years, he helped develop transmission line projects, including the scope of work, design and installation requirements and transmission system maintenance procedures.

His accomplishments also include developing new processes for the Western Apprentice Program. He has helped to lead the Western Joint Craft Training Committee since its inception and to redirect the committee to be a much more effective group for craft training. “His dedication and support of craft training is a key element of the revamped training program,” stated Chuck Cooper, SN Maintenance manager. His efforts helped make a successful program for the large number of apprentices hired over the last few years.

Spencer has provided outstanding leadership by demonstrating daily core competencies at the highest level. He demonstrates his ability to listen, understand issues and concerns, pass on his knowledge and to coach and mentor fellow employees. Through brainstorming sessions, he finds new ideas and ways of performing business and dealing with difficult situations. “Stan’s experience as a craftsman and as a former steward helps him to be a good boss. He’s easy to talk to and backs us up when we need it,” said Mark Depoe, a foreman III lineman.

He and his wife Carol live in Peoria, Ariz. He enjoys flying aircrafts and volunteering for the Civil Air Patrol, as well as sand drag racing, hunting and fishing.  

SN honored Larson June 26

Norine Larson

Norine Larson has demonstrated a dedication to Western and accurate financial reporting that many recognize. Her commitment to Western has been instrumental in SN’s ability to obtain and sustain alternative financing for projects that are essential to Western’s mission and strategic goals.

As Sierra Nevada’s Financial Program Analyst, Larson’s outstanding work and professional approach to her job are greatly appreciated and noticed.

She has become an expert using Western’s accounting and financial management system and is known as the region’s financial management representative for the Central Valley Project Operation and Maintenance Funding Agreement Committee. She developed and implemented several Westernwide financial initiatives. She also spearheads the annual maintenance and capital improvement budget for the California-Oregon Transmission Project. She is a key presenter of SN’s budget at the Transmission Agency of Northern California Project Management and Engineering and Operation’s committee.

Anyone who works with Larson immediately notices her willingness to jump into any financial activity even if it is something with which she is unfamiliar. “She is always willing to explore new ideas, which is the key to her success in alternative financing and computer system enhancements,” said Janice Nations, SN Financial manager.

Outside of work Larson enjoys walking, beadwork and reading a good mystery or a biography of a person she admires. She and husband Don live in Folsom, Calif., and have a 29-year-old son named Justin.  

CRSP honored Loftin June 29

Carol Loftin

While serving as Rates Manager for the Colorado River Storage Project Management Center, Carol Loftin developed numerous training classes on rate and repayment issues. She has sponsored and led several Western-wide technical working groups, such as technical upgrades of the final 2008 Power Repayment Study—an improved formula-driven product to maintain historical information and provide increased data integrity for power repayment studies.

She played a key role in developing an issue paper among Western, its firm power customers and the Bureau of Reclamation that delayed $150 million from being included in the power repayment study until Reclamation completed a necessary report. The agreement saved customers from a substantial rate increase. She and other members of the Western Human Capital Team received an award in 2002 from the Department of Energy for the training they presented to Western’s managers and supervisors. This was an accomplishment that made Loftin particularly proud, since she wrote and delivered a module entitled “A Key to Building a Cohesive Work Group.”

Loftin has served as a rate expert and team member of the Operations Consolidation Project and is currently the co-lead for the OCP Cost Allocation Team.

She plans to retire later this year to devote more time to her ministry at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Copperton, Utah. “Western will be losing an outstanding employee, but we wish her the best,” said Brad Warren, CRSP manager.

She enjoys reading, needlework, gardening and traveling. She and husband Samuel have three grown children and three grandchildren.