It takes a skilled team of dedicated professionals across North Carolina’s 26 electric cooperatives to power the lives of more than 2.8 million members. From lineworkers and engineers to member service representatives, communicators and warehouse coordinators, each plays an essential role in supporting their communities.

One of those people making a difference is Jamie Floyd, warehouse coordinator at Pee Dee Electric. For the past 36 years, Floyd has helped ensure crews have the materials they need to respond quickly when outages or issues arise — supporting reliable, safe service for members across the cooperative’s service area.

“The co-op has been good to me,” said Floyd. “Knowing that you’re helping people out there who need power brings purpose to what you do, and it makes me excited to come to work each and every day. I consider these folks I work alongside my family.”

Floyd got his start with Pee Dee Electric as a lineworker before becoming a crew foreman. The knowledge he gained in the field, understanding what crews face each day whether during routine maintenance or storm repairs, has served him well in his current role overseeing the cooperative’s warehouse for the past 26 years.

“People are sometimes surprised to see how much goes into maintaining the warehouse,” said Floyd. “There’s a lot of material, poles and transformers, and you’ve got to stay on top of all of it to keep your inventory in line. It’s a job that I love because I get to work alongside all these crews and make sure we’re on top of everything so that our members are happy and can rely on their power.”

A career of service

While Floyd said he was unsure what his next step would be after entering the workforce, a call from his former baseball coach helped introduce him to the cooperative world.

“He was working for Pee Dee Electric at the time, and he told me this would be a great place for me to be,” said Floyd. “I came here in 1989 and I knew I wanted to stay. Getting the lights back on for folks in their time of need makes you feel good. It makes you feel like you’re making a difference.”

Today, Floyd is responsible for helping support the cooperative’s crews by providing the materials they need to build and maintain the lines that stretch across their service territory, along with other critical infrastructure members rely on.

Floyd said that on any given day, materials are going in and out of the warehouse, and it’s important for him to stay on top of inventory so crews have what they need when they need it.

“After all these years, I still enjoy what I do,” said Floyd. “Every day is a little different, but it always comes back to making sure our members are taken care of.”

Growth opportunities with the cooperatives

Beyond the family environment that has kept him around for more than three decades at Pee Dee Electric, Floyd said the electric cooperatives are also a great place to grow and learn in your career.

“From lineworker all the way up, there’s a place here for you,” said Floyd. “During my time here, I’ve had the pleasure of doing so many different jobs and tasks, and it’s made me more well-rounded in what I do now. The growth opportunities are endless.”

Floyd encourages the next generation to explore careers in energy. He was once in their shoes, unsure of where to go, but said he quickly found a home with the cooperatives.

“If you want to work and make a difference in your community, this is the place to be,” said Floyd. “There’s always something to do and new things to learn, and after all these years, I still take pride in knowing I’m part of something that matters.”