You could say Bryce Brand of Nahunta has joined the family business, having recently been hired as an Apprentice Lineman II at Okefenoke REMC. He is the third generation of Brands to work at OREMC—his grandfather, Edward Brand, worked in right of way and his father, Doug Brand, retired as a dispatcher.

Being a lineman is what Bryce says he has always wanted to do. While he did work construction for a couple of years, he was with Pike for most of the last three years before joining OREMC. He explains that what he likes most about being a lineman is that he is working outside, doing something different every day and the job location changes often.

“It makes my Papa [Ed Brand] proud that I’ve come to work at OREMC,” Bryce says. “I grew up with him always telling me stories about building the lines.”

Understanding the cooperative values is important to knowing what will be expected of you once you come to work for OREMC notes Travis Page, operations manager. “The fact that his father and grandfather both worked here means Bryce had some sense of our operational mindset. Combine that with working for Pike on our lines over the last three years, he already knows the system, safety protocols and the crew.”

Brand will be working out of the Nahunta office. His on-the-job training will continue as he works toward achieving Journeyman Lineman certification through the Northwestern Lineman College over the next couple of years.