A Michigan native, Journeyman Lineman Tyler Rhoades is glad his journey landed him here in northeast Indiana at Noble REMC.
Initially, his plan was to go into aviation, attending college on an Air Force ROTC scholarship. But when he started getting restless in the classroom, he pulled a 180 and went to line school instead.
He started applying all over the U.S. soon after as a first-year apprentice lineman. He found a job in the area but sent an email to Noble REMC with his interest in the co-op. Years passed, and he tried again, sending another email with his resume to the co-op. Luckily, about two years ago – and six months after his second email – it was all worth it when he got a call back and secured his spot here.
Let’s learn more about Rhoades:
WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THE CO-OP THAT ATTRACTED YOU HERE?
Everybody talked about the co-op when I first started working. Coops were the place to be. “When somebody’s at a co-op, they never leave.”
In this industry, there’s not a ton of different options. You can go work for an IOU (investor-owned utility) like AEP, you can work for a municipal utility, a union contractor or an electric co-op. I’ve tried them all — this is my favorite by far.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
Camaraderie, which I’m sure is what everybody says. It really is an awesome place to work, and I’m super grateful. It sounds crazy, but I still have nightmares of working at previous jobs.
WHAT IS AN AVERAGE DAY LIKE?
I would say 90% of the time you walk in here in the morning, you get your cup of coffee, and you have no idea what you’re going to do that day. You get a packet of paperwork each morning and you read it, and that’s what you’re doing for the day.
One day you’ll be doing an underground; next day, we’ll be in the substation working; and then maybe a whole line rebuild the next day.
WHAT’S SOMETHING PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT THE JOB?
This trade is unique. People don’t understand what we actually do. They don’t understand the time away from home, birthday parties missed, the dedication you have to put in to do the job.
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH YOUR TIME OUTSIDE OF THE CO-OP?
I try to be a big hunter. I’m time restricted — I have three kids who are very young — but I love hunting deer and duck.
We kind of have like, I wouldn’t say a hobby farm — we don’t have chickens or goats or anything like that — but we have horses and kids. I don’t think I’d call it a farm; I’d probably call it a zoo.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY.
I’m from Howell, Michigan. When I came down here, I met Kasidy in Auburn. We live in Kendallville. We are now in our second house with our three kids.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN YOUR LIFE?
My kids, seeing them grow up. They’re 6, 4 and 2.
WHAT MOVIE OR SHOW DO YOU THINK YOU’VE WATCHED THE MOST?
“Band of Brothers.” I’ve seen it like 40 times.
WHAT WAS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ?
“American Buffalo” by Steven Rinella. It’s a hunting book. He’s a world-renowned hunter who is also from Michigan. I didn’t start hunting until I was 12 or 13. It just continued from there.
WHAT’S SOMETHING THAT MAY SURPRISE PEOPLE TO LEARN ABOUT YOU?
I have a twin sister. We’re polar opposites. She’s into choir and drama — theater stuff. She’s shorter, blonde hair, blue eyes. I’m dark and tall. I mean we used to have classes like in elementary school and our teachers didn’t even know we were related until parent/teacher conferences.
