All posts by Lilly Lawson

Celebrating National Intern Day

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This summer, we’ve had the privilege of welcoming several interns across our various office locations. They have worked diligently all summer, gaining valuable industry insights and making impactful contributions for our team.

Our internship program offers hands-on experience and learning opportunities, allowing interns to enhance their skills, challenge their strengths, and achieve their full potential. Throughout the summer, they apply classroom knowledge to real-life projects, maximizing practical learning. Additionally, they interact with senior leadership and industry experts during their time at job sites. Our internships cover various fields, including engineering, project management, IT, finance, and more.

In celebration of National Intern Day, we interviewed several of our interns to showcase them and our program. Our featured interns are Lilly Lawson, Danny Abraham, Zak Lahjouji, and Cooper Lucas.

Questions: What are some of your responsibilities?

Lilly: “Writing social media posts and blogs, creating graphics, scheduling content, organizing and updating marketing materials, and so much more!”

Danny: “Typing in tickets from vendors into the AP logs, typing in the work the foreman did into the accounting spreadsheet.”

Zak: “Confirming documentation of installations/removals, scope changes, etc. Documentation and organization of essential fieldwork forms. And communicating with project managers and general foreman to verify discrepancies in documentation.”

Cooper: “Participating in daily jobsite planning. Gathering end-of-day progress updates from the onsite foremen. Various online responsibilities including ticket entries, utility line research, and responding to RFI’s.”

Why did you choose to intern at InfraSource?

Lilly: “InfraSource is such a dynamic company run by the best in the industry, with countless learning opportunities to support my professional growth.”

Danny: “I wanted to get experience in the project management field, because I want to pursue a career in that field after college, I also know there is always room to grow at InfraSource.”

Zak: “Because of my interest in energy distribution. InfraSource also seemed like a positive work environment, which I believe is crucial for organizations to prosper and grow.”

Cooper: “InfraSource is a great opportunity to apply my construction management degree. The company has deep resources and a well-organized internship program.”

What has been your favorite part about your internship so far?

Lilly: “I have loved immersing myself in a new industry and gaining valuable, new learning experiences each day! I’m amazed at how much I’ve learned about marketing and the business world in such a short amount of time. Not to forget that everyone I have met has been incredibly kind, helpful, and welcoming.”

Danny: “Getting immersed in actual projects instead of getting busy work.”

Zak: “Working alongside project/program managers as well as other coordinators to better understand how InfraSource meets client needs. Everyone at the office is extremely friendly and helpful and I feel as though the environment has been very accommodating with any questions or concerns I’ve had.”

Cooper: “Applying what I have learned in my construction management degree on the jobsite. Seeing the planning and work come together on a major gas line project. I have really enjoyed getting to know my work mentor and team at InfraSource. They have been helpful with sharing their knowledge and skills.”

At InfraSource, we place great importance on forward-thinking and recognize the significance of investing in interns for the future of the energy infrastructure industry. Our program is designed to support and sustain tomorrow’s workforce.

We’re delighted to kickstart the infrastructure industry journey for these talented young professionals. On this National Intern Day, we celebrate their passion, dedication, and potential!

To learn more about our internship program, click here.

Dive Deeper Inside the Good Catch Program

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Safety is paramount in any organization, and our Good Catch program has proven highly effective. From near misses to proactive interventions, our employees have been instrumental in preventing accidents and ensuring a safe work environment.

The Good Catch Program encourages employees to report safety concerns and potential hazards. It empowers everyone—from frontline workers to management—to actively participate in maintaining a safe workplace. This program continues to provide us with countless safety success stories to share.

This first Good Catch is a bit different from others. On an ordinary workday, the crew had closed a one-way road using cones and signs. One of the crew members suddenly noticed an unexpected situation. A third-party vehicle was speeding down the opposite way of the work zone, being pursued by two police officers. The vehicle was believed to be going at least 70 mph. Without hesitation, he shouted to his crew, “Look out!” His vigilance and prompt action allowed the entire team to escape harm’s way. His awareness and quick thinking protected both himself and his colleagues from a potentially dangerous situation.

This next safety success story involves an improper hot line clamp. One day, our crew was assigned to replace a split cross arm. As they prepared for the job, they noticed an improperly installed transformer hotline clamp on the stirrup. Without hesitation, they initiated a stop timeout to address the issue safely. By adhering to STKY rules and utilizing their stop timeout authority, they prevented an unscheduled transformer outage.

These incidents powerfully remind us of the importance of staying alert and taking decisive steps to prevent potential hazards. Our commitment to safety remains unwavering through the Good Catch program.

From Hazard Identification to Safety Success: The Good Catch Program

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At InfraSource, safety isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a way of life. The Good Catch program was put in place as a testament to InfraSource’s dedication to safety and The Capacity Model. Our team must consistently demonstrate close attention to detail, professionalism, and systematic approaches to identifying hazards.

Several field crews have recently gone above and beyond to make a “Good Catch.” These efforts not only ensured everyone’s safety by eliminating hazards but also helped build the capacity to fail safely.

Our first Good Catch program success story comes from one of our electric foremen. One seemingly normal day, while the crew was at work, he noticed something off about a nearby power pole. He went to check out the scene and quickly realized an old secondary service line was disconnected from a nearby garage. He immediately alerted the client and crew of this unsafe condition. His crew then properly de-energized the line, as there were live, exposed connections about four feet above the ground, and ultimately disconnected the service cable.

Next is an instance from one of our recent projects which was aimed at replacing a tangent-structured pole for a new recloser installation. As our crew was taking a job walk, not knowing what they would discover, they identified a deteriorated cross-arm brace on one of the adjacent power poles. One of the foremen rushed to warn the utility construction manager of this hazard. The crew then took corrective measures to clear the hazard, which, left untouched, would have posed a serious threat.

Lastly, we had a situation that occurred while our team was working on a double-circuit power pole. The crew promptly recognized that the adjacent power pole conductor needed to be correctly secured to the top of the porcelain insulator. This crew was quick to react, as they immediately exercised “Stop Work” authority. This allowed them to assess the situation, regroup, and then securely fasten the phase, which prevented costly unscheduled outages.

These prime examples of the Good Catch program highlight the true importance of having such programs in place. The Good Catch program isn’t just about preventing accidents; it’s about fostering a safety-first culture.

DCA’s Safety Person of the Year

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Join us in celebrating Dewayne Ward, honored as DCA’s 2023 Safety Person of the Year! This prestigious award recognizes exceptional safety leadership across various domains. Whether spearheading innovative safety initiatives, implementing effective programs in the workplace, or positively impacting the community, recipients like Dewayne Ward exemplify dedication to safety excellence. 

Dewayne, an accomplished professional with over three decades of experience in the natural gas industry, started his career as a laborer. Through dedication, hard work, and a strong commitment to safety, he progressed from operator to general foreman, superintendent, area manager and ultimately became the Director of Operations.

Dewayne’s safety leadership shines through his unwavering commitment to being present in the field, regardless of competing business demands. Recognizing establishing and nurturing a safe work culture hinges on frontline employees, Dewayne directs the majority of his efforts toward them. His time spent on job sites—discussing hazards, implementing effective controls, fostering resilience in the face of challenges, and providing insights into the rationale behind field work—reinforces his commitment to employee safety and well-being.

One of Dewayne’s main focuses has been implementing safe driving techniques. As a result, he has personally overseen several safety initiatives that have improved the safety culture at InfraSource. Dewayne’s commitment to safe driving extends beyond the workplace to employees commuting daily. As a result, overall safety and well-being have improved, and at-fault vehicle incidents have decreased.

Dewayne’s remarkable contributions have significantly enhanced safety within the natural gas industry. His commitment to safety and quality has garnered respect and admiration from colleagues and peers alike. His lasting impact on the industry makes him the well-deserved recipient of the 2023 DCA Safety Person of the Year Award.