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for Life plant but moved over
to Carroll EMC’s program
when a position opened up,”
said England. “I worked in
the warehouse and shop but
was given the opportunity to
shadow a lineman crew.”
Foreman Corey Webb saw
potential in England. “He fit
the mold for a lineman and we
hired him.”
That sounds easy but
it wasn’t. Following high
school graduation, England
attended a 15-week training
program at the Southeast
Lineman Training Center
in Trenton, GA. Knowledge
of the nuances of specific
electrical work related to
power systems is of utmost
importance. Knowing
how to be a team player,
communication skills, and
physical conditioning are
also needed to succeed in the
often high-tension situations
linemen find themselves in
out in the field.
“The training was very
physical but there was also
a lot of classroom work
involving math and science,
which I always liked in
school,” England said. “My
class started out with 215
people but ended up with only
160 graduates because the
testing was so tough.”
When he graduated,
there were three openings
for lineman at Carroll EMC
and 70 applicants. Landing
the job was completely
on him, bringing all of his
experiences to the interview
process — including his
work-based learning.
As in every career
pathway, learning never ends.
According to Tommy Cook,
Carroll EMC construction
manager, their technology
is always changing and it is
a 10 year road to become a
journeyman lineman.
“Dylan has been with us
for almost a year and started
out as a groundsman. He
will be an apprentice for five
years and after meeting all
qualifications and completing
both local and state training,
it will take another five years
to be a journeyman,” Cook
said.
England is very
appreciative of the mentors he
has had along the way from
both Southwire and Carroll
EMC. David Huddleston,
Carroll EMC purchasing
manager and liaison for the
12 for Life program, was a
mentor for England as a co-op
student and continues to be a
role model for him today.
“When you mentor a
student, it’s not about helping
them do well for four or
five hours a day at work,”
Huddleston explained. “My
job is to help these students
succeed in life by instilling life
skills in them.”
Huddleston noted that one
student contacted him six
months after completing the
program to thank him. “Now I
get it,” the student said. “Now
everything you taught me is
making sense.”
Dylan England also “gets
it.”
“Dylan is truly a success
story. He went through
our program and now
as an employee, he is
doing exceptionally well,”
Huddleston said. “He and I go
out to the schools and he tells
his story — he believes in the
servant leadership of giving
back.”
Huddleston said that it
wasn’t always a smooth road
for England. “As with most
high school boys, he would
rebel at times and we had our
ups and downs. But Dylan
didn’t quit and I didn’t quit on
him.”
“I wouldn’t be where I am
today if it hadn’t been for my
co-op experience,” England
said. “I would still be looking
for what to do with my life.”
Dylan England was working at the 12 for Life plant but moved
over to Carroll EMC’s programwhen a position opened up.