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Blue Ridge Parkway Recognizes Blue Ridge Electric Employee for Improvement Efforts

Blue Ridge Electric’s Lee Layton, left, Chief Operating Officer, and Mike High, right, Director of Engineering Services, are shown presenting the award sent by the Blue Ridge Parkway to recognize Steve Peterson, center, retiring Construction Manager.

July 2, 2012. The Blue Ridge Parkway, a unit of the National Park Service, recently recognized Steve Peterson, retiring construction manager with Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, for his efforts to improve visual aesthetics along the Parkway. Peterson resides in Watauga County.

“Mr. Peterson and Blue Ridge Electric have both been outstanding to work with, not only in providing service to your members but also in assisting in the protection of the Parkway for future generations,” said Blue Ridge Parkway Superintendent Philip A. Francis, Jr., in a letter to the cooperative and Peterson.

Throughout the years, Peterson worked with Parkway staff to place existing overhead utility lines underground. This has benefitted both the cooperative and Blue Ridge Parkway in reducing the amount of maintenance by the cooperative and improving visual impacts to the Parkway.

Francis also commented that: “Mr. Peterson as always been willing to help answer Parkway staff questions and to meet onsite with our staff all while doing so in a very polite, courteous, and professional manner. Our staff will miss having the privilege to work with him, but we all wish him well in his future endeavors.”

Peterson joined Blue Ridge Electric in November 1980 as a construction layout technician. He previously worked with Duke Power Company.  During his nearly 32 years with the cooperative, his job focus has been on the construction of electric plant and helping ensure reliable, safe electricity for the members of Blue Ridge Electric.