Apprentice Lineman Trevor Harlan thought he had found his career job as a welder in a fabrication shop. He worked for three years, some of that in high school, to make his way up the ladder in his field. But that’s where he said he topped out, so he started searching for somewhere else to climb.
That’s when he made his way to Noble REMC, beginning with a spot on our right-of-way crew and making his way onto our line crew.
He’s now an apprentice, and last year, earned first place overall apprentice lineman at the statewide lineman rodeo. But more than that, he’s found the career he always wanted — one to last a lifetime.
Let’s learn more about Harlan:
WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO APPLY TO NOBLE REMC?
I didn’t know anything about the co-op. I knew Brian (Hawk) worked there, and he was a family friend. He had said it’s a really nice place to work. I wanted a long-term career at that point where I was going forward. So, I applied for the tree crew, and it didn’t go anywhere for a year. Then, Raymond (former Right-of-Way Foreman Ray Burns) called me one day a year later about the tree crew, and I’m like, “Heck yeah.”
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
Definitely turning people’s lights back on and getting to work outside when it’s really nice. Also having a pretty fun working environment.
ARE THERE ANY MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOU DO?
The time it will take to turn somebody’s lights back on. Say, for example, 200 people are out of power. Members may wonder, “Why are you not focusing on me first?”
There’s an order in which we restore service. People also don’t realize that we were home or outside the office when we get the notice to come into work, and that’s why it took an hour or so for us to get out there. We work as fast as we can to safely restore power to our members.
It’s hard to describe just how large our territory is. It could take 40 minutes to an hour to get to some places from the shop, and that’s not counting, you know, the 20 minutes it might take you to get up in the middle of the night, change your clothes, come to the shop and gather any necessary equipment.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO WITH YOUR TIME OUTSIDE THE CO-OP?
This past year I got a boat. From the earliest part of spring to the very end of fall, I like to be on my boat fishing.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY.
I came to Noble County in late elementary school. Me and my mom moved to Albion and I went through all my schooling here. I met my wife in high school and got married in 2018 — actually the weekend after I started here. I started here on a Monday and then got married on a Saturday.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF IN YOUR LIFE?
I guess where I am at my age. I didn’t come from very much, and now I’m pretty proud of what I’ve accomplished.
WHAT MOVIE DO YOU THINK YOU’VE WATCHED THE MOST?
“Step Brothers.” Definitely a classic.
WHAT’S THE LAST SHOW YOU BINGE WATCHED?
Our favorite TV show we’ve watched, it’s been a while ago, was probably “You” on Netflix. It was a good one. We enjoyed that one a lot.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT?
Man Cave Brewing Company in Syracuse is probably my favorite. The restaurant always has a fresh fish or it has poutine and some sort of schnitzel.
WHAT’S SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT WOULD SURPRISE THEM?
I like to cook. I like to grill and smoke stuff. I don’t like cooking inside. If I can cook something on my Blackstone or on my smoker, I’ll do that.
