FirstEnergy, Local IBEWs Receive Industry Award
On hand for the Edwin Hill award presentation at the LAMPAC meeting are (l. to r.): Tom Kuhn, EEI president; Brad Goetz, business manager, IBEW Local 1413; Mike Dowling, senior vice president, External Affairs; Larry Tscherne, business manager and financial secretary, IBEW Local 245; Steve Crum, IBEW Fourth District​; Lonnie Stephenson, IBEW international president; and Nick Akins, American Electric Power chairman, president and CEO.
March 5, 2020
FirstEnergy has earned the second annual Edwin D. Hill award in recognition of its partnership with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) to advocate for state energy policy initiatives. The company was recognized by IBEW and the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) for efforts to ensure Ohio customers would continue to have access to clean, reliable and affordable 24/7 power sources for years to come.
In addition to FirstEnergy, IBEW Fourth District Locals 245 and 1413 were recognized through the award for their collaboration on these efforts. The award was presented to FirstEnergy and local union leadership at the 2020 National Labor and Management Public Affairs Committee (LAMPAC) meeting in Washington, D.C. this week.
“This recognition is a testament that we are all united in the same goal of advancing the economic vitality of the communities we serve by ensuring a strong, vibrant electric power industry,” said Michael J. Dowling, senior vice president, External Affairs. “We are proud to partner with our peers in the labor community, specifically our local IBEWs, to address critical public policy issues that help ensure grid reliability and job security.”
Under the leadership of former IBEW International President Edwin D. Hill, the IBEW and EEI came together in 2008 to create LAMPAC. This organization fosters collaboration and partnership among energy company executives and IBEW leaders to address the nation’s energy challenges, and to achieve the common goals of running a well-managed, efficient business with a safe and highly skilled workforce.
“IBEW locals 245 and 1413 and FirstEnergy together worked tirelessly to not only save Ohio jobs, but also make sure that FirstEnergy can continue to provide customers with clean, reliable and affordable energy,” said Tom Kuhn, EEI president. “It is an outstanding achievement, and those being honored are very deserving of this distinguished Edwin D. Hill award.”
IBEW International President Lonnie Stephenson said: “This is just another example of the value of a strong labor-management relationship that promotes clean energy and jobs. I commend the IBEW’s Fourth District Locals 245 and 1413 for working with our partners at FirstEnergy to successfully keep carbon-free generation power plants in Ohio up and running.”