TWO AT THE TOP

The dessert table looked too good to pass up.

Mark Dixon, United Cooperative Services’ safety and loss control director in the Burleson office, said he remembered looking at the pumpkin pie in particular and was thinking  he should grab a piece before the other attendees finished it off.

He admitted he never even heard his name called out as the 2019 recipient of the Volt Award until his wife broke the spell. He was one of two award winners honored during United Cooperative Services’ annual Christmas party.

The Volt Award is an honor reserved for employees who have promoted and demonstrated the co-op’s continuing commitment to safety, leadership, productivity, innovation and teamwork, as well as portrayed a professional representation of the cooperative in his or her daily work.

Thomas Smith, a journeyman lineman at the cooperative’s Granbury office, became the 2019 recipient of the Lineman of the Year award. This award symbolizes a United lineman’s commitment to safety in hazardous work environments and the proud heritage of service and dependability the cooperative’s operations crews provide daily to United members.

Both honorees received standing ovations as they went up to the podium to be recognized.

“I was about to get up and go get some pumpkin pie, and my wife yelled, ‘They’re calling your name! That’s you! Get up,’” Dixon said. “So, I got up and headed toward the stage. I was stunned.  Never had the thought even crossed my mind about me winning that award. I was in total shock. I mean, I had someone else in mind who was probably going to get it. When I started my career in this industry, I never dreamed I would end up working at a place as amazing as United .”

United CEO Cameron Smallwood said the coveted employee awards serve as the annual highlight and observance of the cooperative’s goal to surpass member expectations for service reliability and value.

“In many ways, 2019 marked a special time in United’s history, especially with the membership approving the broadband project,” Smallwood said. “With so many employees working so hard to deliver the promise of exceptional service and value to our members and succeeding with that delivery, I know that choosing this year’s recipients was especially difficult for those charged with doing so.

“However, both Mark and Thomas have personified this commitment this year and throughout their careers at the co-op. Tonight, we recognize both of them for their consistent hard work and dedication.”

Following a 29-year career at Navarro County Electric Cooperative, Dixon began at United as a field safety coordinator in October 2008. He joins previous winners Jason Dillard, Patty Holleman, Jerry Scott, Johnny Hazzard, Robert Bernhoft, Seth Rosser, Robert Sherman, Cory Menzel, Wes Burton, Denise Robertson and Michael Huston, as the 13th winner of the Volt Award.

“I’m so honored and humbled by it,” Dixon said. “Even the fact that someone would nominate me just blows me away to even think of that. I hope this inspires others to find something they like to do at this company and do it well. That’s my message to everyone.”

Smith recalled listening to a coworker’s story and enjoying the end of dinner as he heard his named called as Lineman of the Year.

“I was just completely shocked, and I wasn’t expecting it,” Smith said.  “I appreciate it greatly. It does mean a lot to me, especially when you have people you look up to for a long time and respect, and you see them do these things through the years. When they recognize that you’re trying to set an example for people to do the right thing, that means everything to me. I’m always just making sure I’m doing the right thing and so are the people who help me along the way.”

Starting as a groundman in October 1991, Smith joins Ed Nuñez, Mike Fergason, Mark Buckner, Robert Rejcek, Jeremiah Esquell, Gary Sims, Jerry Don Robinson, Jeff Pannell, Travis Ashworth, Joe Ponce, Jim Young, Arick Wienecke, Carlos Martinez , Josh Koopmann, Ben Perry and Trey Carper as the 17th recipient of the award.

“I’m very appreciative to everyone I’ve worked with over the years who was a part of it,” Smith said. “When I changed my career as an equipment operator to give me the opportunity to be a lineman, it changed my career tremendously and how much I enjoy my job. I can’t express how lucky I feel to be a part of this organization. I’ve been blessed. It continues to amaze me the steps we take for safety. It’s great to work for a place as awesome as United. I mean that 100 percent.”