Tri-County Electric Cooperative (TCEC)'s Staking Department is responsible for planning and organizing all new construction projects for the construction and maintenance crews. From large maintenance projects to new construction projects for members, the Staking Department designs, plans and coordinates pole locations for all of those projects. The staking department is an essential part of TCEC's engineering and operations, and they work hard to ensure that all projects are completed successfully.
Meet the Team
The Staking Department is overseen by Manager Austin Buschman, who supervises a team of five employees:
- David Gibler – Field Services Supervisor
- Ronnie Martin – Staking Coordinator
- Reese Thompson – Staking Coordinator
- Amanda Christie – Right-of-Way Coordinator
- Marci Cotter – Workflow Coordinator
Understanding the Jobs
Staking Department Manager Austin Buschman oversees the day-to-day operations of his team, along with upgrades to the cooperative's system, construction and maintenance projects, and member service requests related to electricity. He and his team are responsible for ensuring that TCEC linemen have the permits and approvals to do their jobs safely and efficiently. Austin has gained a vast knowledge of TCEC's 5,000-mile system during his seven years at TCEC.
David Gibler is the supervisor of Field Services at TCEC. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing construction standards and specifications books, ensuring that all work meets safety and quality standards. He also manages work orders from Gridliance and FEMA, ensuring that upgrades and repairs are carried out quickly and efficiently.
TCEC's Staking Coordinators Ronnie Martin and Reese Thompson are responsible for a wide range of responsibilities related to upgrades, construction, and maintenance. When meeting with members, they discuss proposed upgrades and new construction projects. They also design new power lines and coordinate with the construction and maintenance crews to ensure that the projects run smoothly.
Amanda Christie is the Right-of-Way Coordinator for TCEC. Her job is to get permission to cross people's land when the co-op needs to for various reasons, such as pole placement or tree trimming. Trimming trees is very important to the efficiency of our system and the safety of our lineman. This can be a difficult task, as she needs to juggle the company's needs with the rights of the property owners.
Workflow Coordinator Marci Cotter is responsible for managing workflow processes between all departments from beginning to end. This includes being the primary contact for members dealing with new construction, service upgrades, and other miscellaneous projects. Additionally, Marci handles all system maintenance work orders such as pole and transformer change-outs, retirements, storm damages, and accidents. To ensure efficient workflow between all departments, Marci works closely with our Operations Team to answer questions and status updates on projects.
We Appreciate Our Staking Department
TCEC would like to thank our Staking Department for their hard work and dedication. Without them, we would not be able to provide safe and reliable electricity to our members. We appreciate all they do to keep our lines up and running smoothly. Thank you!
Department Highlight: The Staking Department Video
Attachments
