InsideTVA - February 2010 by Tennessee Valley Authority

InsideTVA a monthly publication of the Tennessee Valley Authority

Volume 30, Issue 2 February 2010

Cumberland a fossil workhorse Jessica Walker and Brian Jernigan

pages 6-7

A welcome call from Haiti

page 5

my job rocks Ella Clark

page 8

In this issue February 2010

Make tuition reimbursement work for you

Across TVA

A welcome call from Haiti

Cumberland – a fossil workhorse 6-7 8

My job rocks – Ella Clark

The gift of music: ‘I got to share it.’ 9 9

New retirees Running on full

People, plaudits & promotions

Supporting our troops

New employee – Antonio Lopez

Eric Sapp – Tri-Lateral Safety Alliance champion

Hot topics

Kilgore encourages more employee involvement In a wide-ranging discussion with employees that included TVA’s mission, strategic direction and the Organizational Effectiveness Initiative, President & Chief Executive Officer Tom Kilgore called for more employee engagement and collaboration. “We, as people, are only TVA’s greatest asset if we work as a team,” Kilgore said. He noted that the Organizational Effectiveness Initiative, http://insidenet.tva.gov/org/cfo/OEI/ , includes efforts to increase opportunities for employee involvement. Kilgore pointed to the successful improvement program under way at Paradise Fossil Plant, where employee teams have developed almost 1,400 ideas. Paradise General Manager Bill Cronin added that 87 percent of plant employees became involved in the initiative and the $400,000 TVA has invested to implement some of the employee ideas has already resulted in savings of $4 million. “It’s working,” Cronin said, “because employees saw that their ideas really made a difference.” Not every idea can be funded, Kilgore said, “but don’t become discouraged” if your idea isn’t selected initially. “We will have to rank ideas; so work together” and pick the best ideas you can.

staff

Editor – La’Nita Jones Production Editor – Nancy Cann Art Director – Kym Morrison Stone Photo Editor – Cletus Mitchell

Kilgore noted that TVA’s original missions − navigation, flood control, national defense, electric power, industrial development, environmental stewardship, technological innovation, agricultural development and reforestation − must remain central as TVA restructures for the future. He noted that the emphasis on some parts of the mission may change as times change but that we must never lose sight of the reasons TVA was created.

Correspondents

Suggestions for articles can be sent to the following correspondents

Nuclear Plants Bellefonte – Susan Gentle Browns Ferry – Jason Huffine Sequoyah – Terry Johnson Watts Bar – Kay Whittenburg FOSSIL Plants Allen – Josephine Moore and Angela Simpson Bull Run – Mary Nolan Colbert – Sharon Johnson Cumberland – Sandra Parchman Gallatin – Kriste Lanius John Sevier – Norma Cato

Johnsonville – Glenda Killen Kingston – Beth Jackson Paradise – Janet Tingley Shawnee – Debby Abell Widows Creek – Debbie Crabtree

He added that TVA efforts may need to be “stepped up” in technological innovation − citing the development of electric cars, in particular. Additionally, Kilgore said reforestation, as it relates to environmental stewardship and climate change, may also provide new ways to fulfill our mission. Organizational effectiveness is proceeding well, Kilgore said. “What we’re really after is ‘crossfunctional communication.’ Nothing happens in isolation; nothing affects just one area [of TVA].” The McKinsey Group, which has been effective in helping TVA start the process of change, will be “moving on,” he added. “It’s time for our people to start doing what McKinsey has been doing.”

POWER SERVICE SHOPS Teressa Williams RIVER OPERATIONS and ENVIRONMENT & Technology Barbara Martocci

Additional information

TVA is an equal-opportunity and affirmative-action employer. TVA also ensures that the benefits of programs receiving TVA financial assistance are available to all eligible persons, regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, disability or age. Inside TVA will be made available in alternate format, such as Braille, large print or audiocassette, upon request. For information, call 865-632-4676 (TTY 865-632-2178). Inside TVA is printed on recyclable, 100-percent post-consumer recycled paper. Comments and suggestions are welcome. Send them to Inside TVA, SP 2B-C, 1101 Market St., Chattanooga, TN 37402, or call 423-751-2540. Retirees with mailingaddress changes should call Retirement Services at 865-632-2672. Inside TVA is available on the TVA Web site at www.tva.com/insidetva.

Census 2010 needs part-time and full-time help The U.S. Census Bureau is looking for workers to help conduct Census 2010 activities in their communities. The bureau says the hours can be flexible, and both part-time and full-time positions are available. Residents across the Tennessee Valley are needed to perform a variety of interesting field work, says the bureau. Help will be needed for day, evening and weekend work. Most field workers will be paid between $12 and $14.50 per hour; however, pay rates vary by region. Mileage reimbursement will be 50 cents per mile, and all census employees will receive paid training. In order to help the bureau meet its staffing needs, TVA has approved participation of its employees as long as such participation does not interfere with employees’ full-time TVA duties. Employees would be required to perform census work after hours and clear their participation with their supervisor. For more information on census jobs, call 1-866-861-2010 toll-free or visit the Census Jobs Web site at http://2010.census.gov/2010censusjobs/ .

On the cover COVER PHOTO – Jessica Walker and Brian Jernigan are among the many Cumberland Fossil Plant employees who contribute to TVA’s power supply. Photo by Cletus Mitchell.

DAVID LUTTRELL

Make tuition reimbursement work for

you

Armando Rodriguez earned his MBA with the help of TVA’s tuition-reimbursement program.

By Carolyn Minter

f you want to know what TVA’s tuition-reimbursement program might offer you, just ask Armando Rodriguez. Or Michelle Haney. Or better yet, look at how tuition reimbursement helped their TVA careers.

Rodriguez is senior program manager, plant pilots, with the Organizational Effectiveness Initiative, TVA’s company-wide improvement effort. Five team leads are assigned to work on a particular OEI component; his was the Paradise Effectiveness Pilot. “As an electrical engineer, I loved working in TVA operations,” says Rodriguez. “But I wanted to understand more about the broad issues impacting our business. I wanted to improve my skill sets and prepare myself for growth. Through the tuition-reimbursement program, I earned my master of business administration degree in December ’08. I am grateful to TVA for funding my post-graduate work and for the opportunities that followed.” Michelle Haney joined TVA in 1999 as clerical support for what was then TVA University. Haney had delayed college to start a family. She says she wanted more challenging roles at TVA, and a logical next step was to focus on her formal education. She used tuition reimbursement to obtain her associate degree in 2007.

Cletus Mitchell

Impressed and motivated by “my highly trained colleagues” in Human Resources, she earned a bachelor of science degree in organizational management, with a concentration in human resources, in 2008.

Michelle Haney used the tuition-reimbursement program to improve her skills.

“With a higher degree, I saw opportunities for more interesting positions and broader responsibilities,” she says. “Now as a training specialist, I have a larger role, and I can contribute more to my group.”

Tuition reimbursement supports talent management Tuition reimbursement is an employee-development tool to help prepare employees for opportunities within their current organizations or throughout TVA. In support of performance management, these are recent changes: • Tuition reimbursement can be for degree-seeking programs only. • Approval begins with a career discussion between employee and supervisor; this discussion must be reflected in the employee’s Individual Development Plan. • There must be a clear benefit to TVA. • Reimbursement is capped at the IRS-mandated $5,250 per calendar year. To receive tuition reimbursement: • Classes must be completed with grades of A or B only. • Textbooks will be covered only for classes receiving an A or B grade. • Lifetime reimbursement limits are $25,000 (associate and bachelor’s undergraduate degrees); and $21,000 (master’s, MBA and executive MBA graduate degrees). • All participants will be subject to a service requirement based on the degree type. Online management through Scholarship America For employees’ administrative ease, they can now: • Enter course applications for each semester • Have courses approved by their supervisor • Apply for tuition refunds • Manage their curriculum at the Scholarship America Web site. Employees also can speak directly with the TVA Tuition Reimbursement Program manager at 1-800-537-4180. A link to the tuition-reimbursement site also is available from the drop-down menu under the More Programs heading in the right column of the InsideNet homepage. For more information about academic programs, employees can go to More Programs on InsideNet to review Business Practice 18 – Tuition Reimbursement and Business Practice 19 – External Training.

Inside TVA | February 2010 | 3

Photos by Chas Law

A CR O S S TV A

Electric-vehicle solar-charging stations to be tested across Tennessee President & Chief Executive Officer Tom Kilgore shows off a Nissan LEAF, a 100-percent electric, zero-emission vehicle. TVA, the Electric Power Research Institute and Oak Ridge National Laboratory plan to test and deploy solar-assisted charging stations for electric vehicles across Tennessee as part of one of the largest electric-transportation projects in U.S. history. Kilgore spoke at an event Jan. 14 in Knoxville to introduce the Nissan LEAF. He said the first prototype charging station using solar-generated electricity will be tested at EPRI’s Laboratories for Electric Transportation Application in Knoxville this spring. A second prototype will be built by ORNL in Oak Ridge. The prototypes will be tested for three to six months before expanding and constructing additional stations in Knoxville, Chattanooga and Nashville over the next few years. For more information on this project, see TVA News and Issues at http://www.tva.com/news/releases/janmar10/solar.htm .

Longlear Sunfish found in the Duck River.

National Geographic highlights Duck River biodiversity Learning to be ‘water-safe’ Glen and Delores Tankersley are among the specially trained TVA retiree volunteers who conduct water-safety training for thousands of school children in the Tennessee Valley each year. The program, primarily intended for students in kindergarten through sixth grade, also is available for other ages. The classes last about 45 minutes and use information approved by the Red Cross and TVA. Bicentennial Volunteers Inc., a TVA retiree organization, offers the water-safety program. Last year, nearly 30,000 students in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee received the training. For more information or to schedule training, call Carol Sherer at 1-800-426-8801 or e-mail casherer@tva.gov. 4 | February 2010 | Inside TVA

In its February issue, National Geographic magazine cites Tennessee’s Duck River in the TVA service area as one of the biologically richest places on Earth – places where there is more wildlife per cubic foot than anywhere else. The article is titled “Life in a Cubic Foot.” The other three biologically richest places named by the magazine are a coral reef in the Pacific Ocean, a mountain in South Africa and a cloud forest in Costa Rica. The Duck River meanders some 270 miles through some of Middle Tennessee’s most scenic pastoral lands before it empties into the Tennessee River near New Johnsonville. The river is home to more than 150 species of fish − reportedly more than the entire continent of Europe − and has more freshwater mussel species than any other in the Southeast. To learn more about the Duck River, go to the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation site at http://www.state.tn.us/environment/na/scenicrivers/duck.shtml . To read the article, go to http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2010/02/cubic-foot/wilson-text .

Jody Cox

A welcome call from Haiti By Duncan Mansfield

Nearly three anxious weeks after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, TVA engineer Georges Charles received the call that he had been praying for. It was his 34-year-old half brother, JeanMarie Charles, phoning Jan. 30 from a village a few miles from his destroyed home and business in Port-au-Prince. He had lost everything, but he was OK. “The biggest worry was, is he alive?” says Charles, an engineer in Power System Operations. “We will worry about the particulars later.” Though he hasn’t seen Haiti since he was a boy, the 31-year-old Charles has remained connected to the Caribbean nation. “That is where I was born, and I can never take it for granted that it could have been me,” he says of the disaster. Charles came to the United States with his parents and siblings when he was 7. He grew up in south Florida — still speaking Haitian Creole at home — and became a U.S. citizen the same day he graduated high school at 17. He earned an engineering degree from the University of Miami and has been working for TVA in Chattanooga since 2001. Charles plans to return to Haiti in March with a missionary aid group, offering his

services as translator. He has a cousin, a nurse, already there with a medical team. Though 1,400 miles away, Charles stayed close to his half brother, thanks in part to Jean-Marie’s small telephone business. “We talked all the time,” Charles says. “He sent us pictures. He raised me. I hate this condition that brings me back there.” The Jan. 12 earthquake claimed more than 230,000 lives and left 2 million of Haiti’s 9 million people homeless. But under the circumstances, the tragedy may improve chances of bringing JeanMarie to the United States — something Charles and his family have been trying to do for two years. Charles says he is overjoyed by the outpouring of support and concern for Haiti, both in international terms and in the personal comments of friends and co-workers. “It has been really touching to see how people have made sacrifices, come to the rescue and lent a hand,” he says. “It has been wonderful to see.”

Employees urged to consider supporting Haiti-relief efforts The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has granted federal agencies, including TVA, authorization to conduct a special solicitation in the federal workplace for helping the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Normally, federal agencies can only solicit their employees through the annual Combined Federal Campaign initiatives. TVA encourages employees to consider making a donation to a charity of their choice to benefit the people of Haiti. Employees who wish to support this effort are encouraged to visit the United States Agency for International Development Web site at www.usaid.gov/haiti/ for information on organizations that are providing disaster relief in the region and to select a charity of their choice for a donation. Choose the section titled “How You Can Help?” to find a link to organizations identified as providing relief services. The Web site says monetary donations are the most effective form of assistance because they allow humanitarian organizations to purchase (often within the affected region itself) the exact type and quantity of items needed by those affected by the crisis. In addition, the White House Web site — www.whitehouse.gov — includes a link for those who want to make donations to the Red Cross to support Haiti-relief efforts, as well as a “Find more ways to help…” link that includes a link to the USAID site and related information about initiatives to help.

Inside TVA | February 2010 | 5

Cumberland a fossil workhorse By Brooks Clark

While TVA moves toward having 50 percent of its power supply come from low-carbon and zero-carbon sources by 2020, coal-fired plants like Cumberland continue to be part of the TVA power system’s backbone. Jessica Walker, 27, is part of the next generation of fossil employees. Since last May, Walker has been a student generating plant operator at Cumberland Fossil Plant, in a classroom and out on the floor. She’s learning the equipment, safety procedures, operating limits, maintenance schedules and other details of operating Cumberland’s two 1,339-megawatt generating units. When she finishes classes in April, Walker will work a six-month break-in period. If all goes well, she will become an assistant unit operator in November. Opened in 1973, Cumberland is the newest and largest of TVA’s 11 coal-burning plants and – as one of the most efficient and cost-effective – operates around the clock. Last year, Cumberland churned out 10.6 percent of TVA’s total generation.

Cletus Mitchell

“Coal generation is a vital part of the TVA system,” says Brian Jernigan, Cumberland’s methods & processes manager. “And Cumberland is a major part of the fossil fleet.”

6 | February 2010 | Inside TVA

Jessica Walker identifies the ID number on an absorber module transmitter and traces out the system components. “This is part of my training to better understand our equipment and how it works,” she says.

TVA continually looks at its power system to find the best ways to balance such costs, provide a reliable power supply and meet environmental standards. As part of that reliable supply, coal generated 46 percent of the power sold by TVA in 2009, closely tracking the 44.4 percent of electricity produced by coal in the nation as a whole.

So at Cumberland and elsewhere, employees like Walker are getting ready to join veterans like Jernigan, a TVA employee for 17 years, to do their part in keeping the fossil workhorses up and running. “The assistant unit operator’s job is to ensure proper and safe operation, inspect the equipment regularly, mitigate issues before they affect megawatts, and keep the units in total readiness,” says Walker. “All that helps ensure that the plant is always available to run. We want to be online and able to meet daily system load demands.”

Cumberland initiatives

Jernigan is working on Cumberland’s business plan for the next three years, based on Fossil’s four cornerstones — safety, environment, production and cost — which are vital for successful operations.

“Safety is the primary focus for Cumberland,” says Jernigan. “We strive to be a top-decile performer in safety. One initiative we have implemented is the Brother’s Keeper program. The program is simple — co-workers voluntarily sign a personal contract with each other to keep each other safe. We have 100-percent participation, and the program has been very successful.” He says another major initiative is on the environmental aspect of the business. “We have a very strong environmental department that conducts weekly and monthly audits to help us meet our obligations as a site. “Our production goals are always a challenge. We work continuously to become more efficient in our operation and maintenance. This also drives our cost cornerstone, an important area that we place major emphasis on daily.” n

Cletus Mitchell

Coal generation comes with some big challenges. Across the system, TVA has invested $5.3 billion so far to reduce coal-plant emissions and improve air quality. TVA also plans to invest up to $2 billion to end wet storage of ash and gypsum at its fossil plants in the next eight to 10 years.

Brian Jernigan (right) discusses his part of the management review meeting presentation with Cumberland General Manager Bill Morrison. “Management review meetings are held every couple of months,” Jernigan says. “We give the status of our site and departments to fossil executives.”

Inside TVA | February 2010 | 7

my job rocks By Brooks Clark

TVA employees are on the job 24/7, keeping the lights on, running the river system, managing TVA lands and supporting TVA’s operations. In this column, you’ll hear from TVA employees who can say, “My job rocks!”

Ella Clark | Manager, Supplier Relations & Diversity

rowing up in Natchez, Miss., Ella Clark was always a good student, but she was often marked down for talking too much. Nowadays, as manager of supplier relations & diversity in Supply Chain, Clark is in talker’s heaven. “Really,” says Clark, “it’s a natural extension of who I am and what I’m all about. I work with and help people every day.”

Supply Chain’s Ella Clark represents TVA with small, minority, woman-owned and Valley businesses.

On any day, she might be talking with potential suppliers, advising them on how to do business with TVA and directing them to the supplier Web site, which she maintains. Or Clark might be updating current suppliers on agency-wide efforts to improve the Supply Chain process. Or she might travel to a statehouse to meet with a legislative black caucus or to a chamber of commerce event to give a speech to a group of small-business owners and listen to their feedback. “I definitely have to listen, as well as talk,” says Clark, who has worked at TVA for 23 years. “That’s been one of my life-long learning lessons.” In 2006, Clark earned her life coach certification from CoachU, based in Bradenton, Fla., which has helped her in providing business coaching and mentoring to existing TVA diverse suppliers. “As a federal agency, TVA sets annual goals for direct contract and subcontracting with small, minority, woman-owned and Tennessee Valley businesses,” says Clark.

“I serve as an advocate, liaison, coach and mentor to inform, inspire, connect and help diverse businesses grow and succeed,” says Clark. “In fact, to the small-business community, ‘I am TVA.’ My primary function is to provide access, information and opportunities to all suppliers, including diverse firms; promote and develop these suppliers within and outside of TVA; and ensure that TVA is committed to supplier diversity. “There are so many components to what I do in my job. That’s what I love about it. I’m able to use experiences and skills and talents that I’ve gathered over the years.” n 8 | February 2010 | Inside TVA

Photos by Cletus Mitchell

TVA has relationships with more than 2,100 qualified existing suppliers, including more than 360 minority- and woman-owned businesses. TVA also maintains a searchable database of more than 500 potential suppliers; more than 300 of those are diverse firms interested in doing business with TVA.

Doing business with TVA Supply Chain is responsible for representing TVA’s “one voice” to all potential and existing suppliers. If you receive inquiries from potential suppliers about TVA’s procurement guidelines or how to do business with TVA, refer them to Ella Clark, manager, supplier relations & diversity, at elclark@tva.gov or call 423-751-8939. Companies interested in becoming a TVA supplier can find instructions for becoming a registered supplier on the Supplier Connections Portal at http://supplier.tva.gov .

retirees

The gift of music: ‘I got to share it.’ Edwin “Rocky” Wynder shares his passion by performing, teaching By Carolyn Minter

With typical humility, jazz saxophonist Rocky Wynder just laughs when he hears the Knoxville community considers him a music icon. Wynder, a TVA retiree, has been central to Knoxville’s jazz scene since the 1950s. Born Edwin L. Wynder Jr. in Pensacola, Fla., he came to Knoxville with a touring minstrel show. He stayed there, stranded, when the promoter failed to pay the group. He took a job at Knoxville Dry Goods and later joined TVA as a messenger in 1957. He worked at several TVA locations, retiring in 1988 from Watts Bar’s accounting department in Spring City. Throughout his TVA career, Wynder kept his connection with his music, emerging as an exceptional saxophonist. His talent and passion nurtured a solid fan base throughout East Tennessee. Now an octogenarian, Wynder is still in demand to perform his own brand of smooth jazz and soft soul at private parties, social galas, church and community events, and more, playing solo, duets and with jazz recording artist Donald Brown. His star status was further confirmed when Wynder earned the prestigious arts award during Knoxville’s 2010 Martin Luther King Week Celebration. The award recognized not only his stellar achievements in music but also his music outreach.

SAUL YOUNG, THE NEWS-SENTINEL

Twice a month, Wynder conducts the “Sax Studio,” giving free saxophone lessons to urban youth. “I love giving back,” he says. “I don’t mind teaching anyone, child or adult, who sincerely wants to learn how to play.” Knoxville’s alternative newspaper Metro Pulse had this to say about Wynder’s first solo record, “Edwin and Catherine” (Catherine is his wife of 54 years): “beautifully phrased, breathy and achingly bittersweet, his solos remind us why Wynder is such a rare gem, a standout … of Knoxville’s jazz scene.” “God gave me the gift of music,” says Wynder. “I got to use it. I got to share it with others.” n

Rocky Wynder

Join the group

new retirees

Friendship, fellowship and community involvement are just a $15 check away

38 years

TVA Retiree Association President Tom Swanson reminds TVA retirees that now is the time to renew membership or make the decision to join the association.

36 years

“We have 21 conveniently located TVARA chapters throughout the Tennessee Valley and in Florida,” says Swanson. “Each chapter provides opportunities for friendship, fellowship and community involvement. TVARA needs the skills of our talented retirees to help improve life in the Valley – just like we did when we worked for TVA. There’s something for everyone’s interest.” For more information, visit tvara.org on the Web or e-mail rjwhitson@tva.gov.

John F. Phillips, Facilities Management, Knoxville

Judy J. Carpenter, Supply Chain, Chattanooga Roger L. Hackler, Central Laboratory Services, Norris

35 years

Douglas W. Evans, Fossil Power Group, Muscle Shoals Wendell M. Plain, Environment & Technology, Muscle Shoals Julia L. Warren, River Operations, Knoxville

34 years

Richard L. Otte, River Operations, Grand Rivers Hal M. Williams, Environment & Technology, Muscle Shoals

33 years

Laura J. Houke, Environment & Technology, Muscle Shoals Richard M. Martin, Power Supply & Fuels, Chattanooga William A. Miller, Chief Nuclear Office, Soddy-Daisy

See more retirees

Inside TVA | February 2010 | 9

Running on full By Brooks Clark & Kelly Lawson

He was born Virgil Truman Smith Jr. “But my dad was called Virgil,” says Truman Smith. “I got the middle name.” Smith weighed more than 200 pounds when he joined TVA in Transmission, Planning & Engineering as a system electrical engineer in 1970, but that didn’t stop him from starting a marathon career in 1987. “Real runners eat a certain way so they can run,” says Smith. “Back then, I ran so I could eat a certain way — a lot.” Between 1987 and 1992, he ran eight marathons. He was in the middle of a 19-year tour with Nuclear Power then. He retired in 1996, then was re-hired into Reservoir System Operations & Environment in 1999. He began a new running career in 2003, completing 68 additional marathons, including the Boston Marathon for the past three years. At 63, he has qualified and registered to do Boston once again in April. “At my age, I only need to run a marathon — 26.2 miles — in less than four hours to qualify for Boston,” he says. “My best marathon time was a 3:35:36. My worst marathon time was a 4:38:39 on a very hot day in Pennsylvania. At this point in my life, my normal marathon finishing time is four hours plus or minus five minutes or so. This past October, I finished my quest of running a marathon in each of the 50 states plus D.C.” Smith says there are lots of motivations for running. “I enjoy the camaraderie with a group of runners at 6:30 every Saturday morning at the downtown Chattanooga YMCA, for one, and hopefully, some health benefits. Traveling to all 50 states to run a marathon also has been a very rewarding experience. I plan to do many of the states a second time — maybe all of them.” n

Getting the most from exercise

DAVID LUTTRELL

Regular exercise has many benefits — not just weight control and stronger muscles and bones, but better skin, less stress, improved mood and more brainpower.* No matter your age or condition, you can find an exercise that is right for you. To help you keep track of your exercise commitment and stay motivated, check out these online tools:

Truman Smith has completed 68 marathons since 2003.

• BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee’s WalkingWorks program helps you start a regular walking routine and track your progress. Go to www.bcbst.com. Click “walkingworks” under the “learn about” tab. This program is open to all employees and retirees. • Health trackers are available at ActiveHealth’s Web site, www.activehealthphr.net/tva, to help you establish health goals and monitor your progress. After signing in, click “Health Tools” and select the trackers you would like to activate. You can monitor important health numbers such as your blood pressure or glucose as well as your physical activity. These tools are available to employees and non-Medicare retirees who are members of a TVA medical plan. *Source: www.webmd.com

Say it your way: Alzheimer’s disease After reading “Alzheimer’s – It’s not a normal part of aging” in the January issue of Inside TVA, many readers shared their experiences. Inside TVA appreciates reader comments and hopes they will help others. Here are a couple of comments. Others are posted on the new InsideLine site on InsideNet. “My dad died in 2006 of Alzheimer’s. Some days 10 | February 2010 | Inside TVA

were better than others. I’ll never forget the time I walked into the dining room at the home where he was. My sister leaned over and said, ‘Well look who’s here. Do you know this guy, Dad?’ He looked up and said, ‘Sure. That’s my Dale.’ It made my year. I’ll never forget that moment.” – Dale “I’d recommend reading “Learning to Speak Alzheimer’s” by Joanne Koening Coste and

Robert Butler. One of my mother’s geriatric specialists suggested it when a family member kept trying to ‘correct’ my mother’s confused thinking. The book suggests that instead of correcting a patient about where she is or what she’s doing, sometimes you just ‘go with it’ until you can change the subject. There’s a lot more to the book than that, but that alone was helpful in reducing frustration for everyone.” – Susan

people, plaudits, and promotions Teddy Myers and Jimmy Sutton from Kingston Fossil Plant and Donny Plant from Johnsonville Fossil Plant have accepted positions as boiler inspectors with the technical support organization of Fossil Power Group. Myers, with TVA 25 years, Sutton, five years, Teddy Myers and Plant, 25 years, will be responsible for condition assessment and repair recommendations for all 59 boilers in TVA’s fossil fleet. All have extensive experience in fossil-plant maintenance.

Supporting our troops

Jimmy Sutton

Angela Stiles, a performance management consultant with Environment & Technology, Donny Plant recently earned a master of arts degree in education with a concentration in human resource development at Tusculum College in Knoxville. Stiles has been with TVA for 14 years. She supports business-unit performance-management Angela Stiles needs, facilitates notification of training requirements for Environment & Technology, and develops performance measures and reports. Stiles also helps identify opportunities to improve efficiencies and operational performance in the group.

new employee DAVID LUTTRELL

Antonio Lopez Antonio Lopez began a new career at TVA in December. “I am an armed-response officer in security at Watts Bar Nuclear Plant,” says Lopez. “My job is to protect the plant equipment, personnel and the public from radiological sabotage.”

David Luttrell

Before joining the TVA workforce, Lopez was a correctional officer at Silverdale Correctional Institution in Chattanooga. He learned about jobs at TVA through searching the Internet. “The best thing about the job is working with a professional team,” he says. “I’d like to thank TVA for the opportunity to work in its organization.”

See a list of all employees hired in November and December.

Clockwise from left, Justin Walling, Bob Morris, Paul Goode, Tom Hayden, Millie Callaway and Deborah Cameron were among the TVA employees and congressional staffers who recently assembled 250 “care packages” to ship to U.S. military units in Afghanistan. TVA employees across the Tennessee Valley donated about 4,000 personal-care items, magazines and puzzle books to be distributed to troops in Kandahar City. Amy Arnold-Martin, district manager with TVA Valley Relations, and Vyrone Cravanas, senior manager with TVA’s Diversity & Inclusion, helped coordinate the project. Staffers from the offices of U.S. Sen. Bob Corker and U.S. Reps. Lincoln Davis and Marsha Blackburn helped employees put together the packages in Nashville. After receiving the packages, Arnold-Martin received a note of thanks from U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. David L. Peeler Jr. Here is an excerpt: Amy, Please pass our thanks and gratitude to all within TVA and anyone external to TVA that helped pull all this together. The American public, the folks back home, have been so great. Everyone here is very grateful and thankful to have such indefatigable support over so many years of repeat deployments. Inside TVA | February 2010 | 11

New employees for November-December Angelia Michelle Anderson, Spring City, Nuclear Power Group Scott Alan Bailey, Chattanooga, Supply Chain Michael Patrick Barlow, Chattanooga, Nuclear Generation Development & Construction Rhonda Lewis Bartlett, Chattanooga, Nuclear Power Group Heather L. Boyd, Chattanooga, Human Resources Anna Christine Brodie, Chattanooga, Environment & Technology Brandon C. Brown, Cumberland City, Facilities Management Arnold Cagley, Knoxville, Retirement Services Joseph Edgar Carignan, Chattanooga, Nuclear Power Group Christopher C. Chandler, Knoxville, Office of General Counsel Sun Moon Choi, Knoxville, Financial Services Tiffany May Coker, Chattanooga, Human Resources Jamie Derrick Cook, Chattanooga, Clean Strategies & Project Development Kenneth Czubinski, Chattanooga, Power System Operations Joy C. Dilts, Chattanooga, Nuclear Power Group Charles Richard Doyle, Memphis, Fossil Power Group David James Drumm, Kingston, Financial Services Michael Joseph Durr, Decatur, Nuclear Power Group Kenneth Charles Eckstein, Chattanooga, Power System Operations Matthew Hill Faulkner, Knoxville, Labor Relations Robert John Fisher, Chattanooga, Strategic Projects Emily Marie Frazer, Soddy-Daisy, Nuclear Power Group Gloria L. Freeney, Soddy-Daisy, Nuclear Power Group Cornelius John Gannon, Chattanooga, Nuclear Power Group Amanda L. Grider, Muscle Shoals, Nuclear Power Group Roger Dale Guthrie, Decatur, Nuclear Power Group Sheldon K. Ham, Spring City, Nuclear Power Group Scott Harrell, Nashville, Customer Resources Thomas James Heimel, Spring City, Nuclear Power Group Martin Robert Helton, Chattanooga, Clean Strategies & Project Development Brenda Lynn Hill, Soddy-Daisy, Nuclear Power Group Robert Charles Hills, Rogersville, Clean Strategies & Project Development Loranne Fox Holmes, Cumberland City, Facilities Management Kelly Gail Johnson, Knoxville, Financial Services Russell Wayne Joplin, Chattanooga, Nuclear Power Group Andrew J. Jurbergs, Knoxville, Information Services Sheila M. King, Knoxville, Human Resources Theresa Aubry Koegel, Chattanooga, Financial Services Joel Justin Landers, Decatur, Operations Oversight & Performance Improvement Jerrell Anton Laster, Chattanooga, Power System Operations David Kent Ledford, Decatur, Nuclear Power Group Walter Hugh Lee, Chattanooga, Nuclear Power Group Steven Willis Linne, Chattanooga, Fossil Power Group Antonio R. Lopez, Spring City, Nuclear Power Group Heather Loveless, Hickory, Customer Resources Carter W. McCrary, Spring City, Nuclear Power Group Earl Andrew McCuiston, Soddy-Daisy, Nuclear Power Group Douglas Wade Merriott, Spring City, Nuclear Power Group Jeffrey David Miller, Spring City, Nuclear Power Group Rosemary Ann Montgomery, Chattanooga, Nuclear Power Group Michael F. Newsham, Chattanooga, Financial Services Richard Wesley Nimon, Chattanooga, Power Supply & Fuels Damien Karris Power, Knoxville, Communications Nicole Leigh Reed, Chattanooga, Inspector General Roland Jack Roddam, Chattanooga, Fossil Power Group Eric Christopher Sapp, Memphis, Operations Oversight & Performance Improvement Susie Coley Sentiff, Nashville, Customer Resources Michael Scott Snyder, Knoxville, Financial Services Susan Ellen Spalding, Chattanooga, Financial Services Trevina Hall Springer, Memphis, Fossil Power Group Kevin Lamont Stanley, Soddy-Daisy, Nuclear Power Group Luis Antonio Suarez, Chattanooga, Information Services Laszlo Sandor Toser, Soddy-Daisy, Nuclear Power Group Charles Ray Turner, Chattanooga, Financial Services Scott A. Vance, Knoxville, Office of General Counsel Penny Laverne Walton, Knoxville, Information Services Christopher Sherrill Wilhoit, Knoxville, Financial Services Joe Dean Williams, Soddy-Daisy, Nuclear Power Group Reginald Carlton Williams, Chattanooga, Information Services

new retirees continued 32 years

27 years

21 years

B. Paul Bernauer, Environment & Technology, Muscle Shoals Carl A. Cole Jr., Environment & Technology, Muscle Shoals Lawrence E. Daniels, Environment & Technology, Muscle Shoals Robert A. Gilreath, Fossil Power Group, Stevenson Keith W. Morris, Power System Operations, Chattanooga J. David Wayne, Fossil Power Group, Stevenson

James C. Carter Jr., Fossil Power Group, Kingston Miles T. Deck, Power System Operations, New Johnsonville Raymond L. Hughes Jr., Nuclear Power Group, Soddy-Daisy Stephen G. Thornton, Nuclear Power Group, Decatur

Charles C. Crow, Environment & Technology, Muscle Shoals

26 years

Michael D. Grigsby, Fossil Power Group, Muscle Shoals Johnny A. Ritchie, Nuclear Power Group, Spring City

31 years

Terry W. Banks, Nuclear Power Group, Columbia John A. Russell III, Fossil Power Group, Clinton Thomas W. Saint, Nuclear Power Group, Decatur

Nolan H. Barker Jr., Power Supply & Fuels, Chattanooga Jackie W. Bradley, Fossil Power Group, Drakesboro Steven R. Capps, Information Services, Chattanooga Thomas K. Heffernan, Human Resources, Chattanooga Randy W. Higginbotham, Labor Relations, Spring City John H. W. Irwin Sr., Fossil Power Group, Watts Bar Dam John M. Kearney, Nuclear Power Group, Decatur

25 years

29 years

23 years

Ronald G. Arnold, River Operations, Benton W. Richard Carson, Environment & Technology, Chattanooga Phillip C. Chadwell, Nuclear Power Group, Decatur Gary R. Dennis, Nuclear Power Group, Spring City E. Grady Gattis Jr., Nuclear Power Group, Decatur S. Dewayne Scott, Nuclear Power Group, SoddyDaisy D. Victor Whaley, Human Resources, Chattanooga

Joan E. Leroy, Human Resources, Chattanooga Barry L. Mask, Fossil Power Group, Muscle Shoals Kenneth P. Newman Jr., Fossil Power Group, Watts Bar Dam Linda K. Peoples, Human Resources, Chattanooga Carlton L. Vann, Fossil Power Group, New Johnsonville

28 years Tony E. Burks, Environment & Technology, Muscle Shoals Carolyn S. Malone, Fossil Power Group, Tuscumbia

Laurence D. Allen, Nuclear Power Group, SoddyDaisy Rockey R. Rozell, Nuclear Power Group, Chattanooga

24 years Harold L. Johnson, Nuclear Power Group, Spring City David R. McPherson, Nuclear Power Group, Decatur Dennie O. Taylor, Fossil Power Group, Muscle Shoals

22 years James M. Casey, OGC, Knoxville Jerry L. Clark, Nuclear Power Group, Decatur David S. Cooper, Fossil Power Group, Stevenson Roberta A. Fish, Fossil Power Group, Stevenson William T. Hines Jr., Fossil Power Group, Muscle Shoals Deborah K. Ruth, River Operations, Knoxville Robert A. Witthauer, Environment & Technology, Chattanooga

20 years Mickey W. Davis, Fossil Power Group, West Paducah

19 years

18 years Diana G. Brickley, Fossil Power Group, Muscle Shoals Joyce A. Dew, Fossil Power Group, Cumberland City Michael J. Heiskell, Power System Operations, Knoxville Audrey L. McWhorter, Fossil Power Group, Cumberland City John R. Thigpen, Fossil Power Group, Gallatin

17 years Charles L. Thum, Fossil Power Group, New Johnsonville

16 years William J. Ross, Nuclear Power Group, Soddy-Daisy 15 y15 years Arvil Ward, Fossil Power Group, Rogersville

12 years Michael L. Frye, Fossil Power Group, Stevenson

11 years Eugene Alldredge Sanders, Nuclear Power Group, Decatur Tony F. Vetter, Fossil Power Group, New Johnsonville Wilson Wyatt Weaver, Nuclear Power Group, Spring City

10 years Gregory G. Congdon, Fossil Power Group, Stevenson Robert E. Ross, Fossil Power Group, Gallatin

InsideTVA

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY

Tennessee Valley Authority 400 West Summit Hill Drive Knoxville, TN 37902

Eric Sapp – Tri-Lateral Safety Alliance champion By Myra Ireland

Eric Sapp’s quick thinking helped avoid a potential accident at the Sullivan Substation in Johnson City, Tenn. Before joining TVA as a safety consultant for Power System Operations, Sapp worked as a safety supervisor for an electrical contractor. At the substation, Sapp noticed a driver had parked his tanker truck under the 161-kilovolt high-voltage bus — a rigid, overhead conductor — to remove oil from the transmission equipment. When the driver climbed on top of the tanker to check his oil levels, he violated the minimal approach distance of 13 feet 7 inches. Sapp coached the driver down his ladder to a safe distance.

• Drivers must not use a rod to check the oil depth in the tanker due to the risk of contact with energized equipment. • Drivers must receive a short job-safety briefing from the supervisor on the job. n

Since the incident, significant changes have been made to the oil-removal process, including: • Drivers must be escorted while onsite. • Drivers must never climb on a truck, tanker or anything else in the switchyard.

David Medlock

The tanker was an older model without “sight glasses;” however, these types of tanks are not acceptable in a TVA switchyard.