4th Quarter Employee Newsletter2024

4th Quarter: October 2024
www.tclp.org
PLUGGED IN
CONTENTS
Employee Spotlight Pg. 1
Message from Brandie Pg. 2
Department Updates Pg.3-5
Community Pg. 6
Power Up Your Health Pg. 7
UPCOMING
HOLIDAY CLOSURES
Veterans Day
Monday, November 11th
Thanksgiving Day + Day After
Thursday, November 28th
Friday, November 29th
Christmas Eve + Christmas
Tuesday, December 24th
Wednesday, December 25th
New Year’s Day
Wednesday, January 1st
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: JACK MORGAN
Jack Morgan was born and raised in Kingsley, Michigan. He
attended NMC College where he received an Associate’s Degree
and an EPA Certification with emphasis in HVAC/R install and repair.
Jack is TCLP’s Facilities Maintenance Specialist. Jack helps to
maintain the buildings associated with TCLP. Something people
might not know about Jack’s day to day work is “even the simplest
task has a lot of planning involved, you must always be a step
ahead.
When he is not working, Jack enjoys relaxing near a bonfire or on
his back deck. He loves spending time with his family and friends.
His favorite thing to do in the area is enjoying the peace and quiet
of his country life at home. You can also catch Jack at the High
Rollaway observation deck for the views and trails close by.
Employee Newsletter Feedback:
This form was created to give employees a platform to express their ideas for the
quarterly Employee Newsletter. Responses will remain anonymous.
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STRATEGIC INITIATIVE UPDATE:
A NEW CHAPTER FOR OUR TEAM EXPERIENCE
My TCLP Team,
As we head into the final months of the year, I’m excited to share a new initiative
that’s all about YOU—our most valuable asset at TCLP.
Employee Experience
Starting this December, we’ll be launching an important effort to assess and enhance the
employment experience across our organization, from the field to the office. This initiative will run
through early spring 2025, and it’s designed to make sure everyone, no matter your role, feels
connected, supported, and set up for success.
We’re taking a deep dive into how we communicate, how we support each other, and how we
foster a culture that makes TCLP a great place to work. This is a chance for all of us to share our
insights and ideas, and it’s not just about looking at where we are—it’s about where we’re going.
Our mission, vision, and values are what guide us, and this initiative is about making sure those
principles come to life in your day-to-day experience. Whether you’re in the office or out in the field,
your voice matters. We want to hear from you about what’s working well, where we can improve,
and how we can make TCLP an even better place to grow and thrive.
Virtual Employee Work Session & Employee Engagement Survey
We’re kicking things off with a virtual employee work session followed by an employee engagement
survey to dig deeper into the feedback. I know surveys can feel like just another task, but this is
different. It’s an opportunity to directly shape how we work together and how we can all stay
energized for the future.
We’ll be working with a trusted third party to ensure that the feedback collected is completely
confidential, so feel free to share your honest thoughts. After the survey wraps up in early spring, we
will keep you informed about the results and the actions we’ll take based on what we learn.
What to expect next:
An all employee virtual work session with the third party vendor will be scheduled the week of
November 11th. The survey will be distributed electronically through email starting December 3
and will stay open through January 3, 2025.
Thank you for everything you do to keep our community powered and connected. I’m excited
about what’s ahead and about the positive changes we’ll create together.
Powered by positivity,
Brandie
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DEPARTMENT UPDATES
COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT
DOWNTOWN LIGHT PARADE
LINE DEPARTMENT
TCLP sent the following 5 journeyman linemen, along with 2
bucket trucks and a digger derrick, to Florida to assist with
Hurricane Milton restoration efforts:
Josh Patzer
Nate Jenkins
Kevin Bolz
Jake Hamilton
Branden Wheaton
We are thankful to Nate, Jake, Kevin, Josh, and Branden who
headed into challenging conditions to help restore power for
those affected by the hurricane. Their hard work and
commitment embody the spirit of community and support.
HR DEPARTMENT
Welcome Jonah Flange, TCLP's new Electrical Engineer.
Jonah's first day was Monday, October 21st.
When: Saturday, November 23 from
5:30 - 9:00 pm
Where: Front Street
What: We are excited to participate
in this year's Downtown Light Parade,
and we'd love for you to join us. If you
plan to attend, please email Hannah
(hduell@tclp.org) by November 8th
to confirm your participation. We
need a headcount to ensure we order
enough swag for everyone!
THEME: A Charlie Brown Christmas
HOLIDAY COMMUNITY CAN DRIVE
When: November 25 - December 13
Where: Front of Building A and
Building B.
What: A food and hygiene drive for
our community. A list of items and
more details will be sent out in
November.
FALL ANNIVERSARIES:
Andy Bott - 5 years on 10/21
Tom Smith - 5 years on 10/28
Corey Grueber - 15 years on 11/16
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DEPARTMENT UPDATES
COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT
EMPLOYEE NOMINATION WINNERS
Congratulations to Stephanie Tvardek
for receiving the Peer Nomination and
Andrew Elliott for receiving the
Supervisor Nomination!
PUBLIC POWER COLORING
CONTEST WINNER
Congratulations
to Margot, the
winner of this
year’s Public
Power Week
Coloring Contest.
ART ON INFRASTRUCTURE
TCLP collaborated with students from
the Interlochen Center for the Arts on
an inspiring "Art on Infrastructure"
project. The project, that was
completed during Public Power Week
(October 6-12, 2024), celebrates
community, creativity, and the role of
public utilities in enriching everyday
life.
GRAND OPENING OF HALL STREET
On October 10, during Public Power Week, TCLP held the
Grand Opening ceremony for our new Customer Service
Center on Hall Street. TCLP staff was invited to come
celebrate the grand opening and enjoy a lunch of hot dogs
and cookies.
“As we continue to enhance our services, we’re excited to
open our new customer service center on Hall Street,” said
TCLP Executive Director Brandie Ekren. “This new location
underscores our ongoing commitment to making it easier
for our customers to connect with us and access the reliable
service they expect. We look forward to strengthening our
relationships with the community and delivering an even
better experience for all.”
The new location at 130 Hall Street is open from 8 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Customers can also
continue to visit the 1131 Hastings Street location during
the same hours or reach customer service representatives.
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DEPARTMENT UPDATES
ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT
Customer Service Appreciation week was celebrated during
the week of October 6-12. Thank you to all of our customer
service representatives. In the photo from left to right:
Corey Lewis, Natalija Stojanovic, Beth Crittenden, and
Supervisor, Jennifer McKinley. Not present but located at
the new Hall Street location was Leah Tvardek.
GENERATION DEPARTMENT
The department has been concentrating on the installation of
the new water building, which is designed to support the CT
and help alleviate recent water supply issues. This facility is a
crucial step in hardening our infrastructure, enabling
improved capacity of water necessary for turbine operations.
Current work includes installing electricity to run lights and
other components. Additionally, we are in the process of
insulating the building to optimize energy efficiency and
maintain stable temperatures for the equipment. This
insulation will play a vital role in protecting our systems from
cold temperature extremes, and ensures the CT’s continued
reliability.
In our proactive approach to maintaining and improving our
generation operations, the crew has removed Engine A for
refurbishment, which is expected to be completed by
November. This refurbishment is critical, as it will ensure
Engine A provides years of continued, reliable service upon
its return. However, we encountered an unexpected
challenge when Engine B suffered a catastrophic failure
shortly before Engine A was removed. We have already taken
action by sending Engine B in for repairs, but we anticipate
that it will likely not return to the site until January.
As we prepare for the 2025-26 fiscal
year, Engineering is currently engaged
in an extensive process of scoping
potential projects and developing
detailed cost estimates. This proactive
approach is essential for effectively
prioritizing our strategic priorities
especially operational & financial
excellence. Our goal is to align our
project selection with both
departmental and organizational
objectives, optimizing resource
allocation to maximize impact.
Engineering will work with the Finance
Department on accomplishing this
objective.
We have completed the job packet for
the next phase of the HL-30 alley
rebuild project. This phase will finalize
the reconstruction of the alley,
eliminating live front transformers
downtown and increasing wire
capacity to reliably support the area
for the next 35 years. This phase will
take place next spring utilizing internal
crews.
Additionally, we are collaborating with
MDOT on the M72/22 relocation
work. While we faced challenges in
securing a boring contractor, we will
proceed with contracting with Elmers
to trench conduit across M72,
alongside DTE and other utilities. This
relocation work is scheduled to be
completed this winter by internal
crews.
I believe Tom C. and Andrew E.
should get kudos for getting their
timesheets in everyday for us. Very
helpful!!!
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LIGHTING UP THE COMMUNITY
UNITED WAY DAY OF CARING
Shout-out to the employees that volunteered for United Way Day of Caring this year at the Botanical
Gardens!
VOLUNTEERS
Daren Dixon
Leah Tvardek
Colin Hites
Jake Hamilton
McKenzie Domine
Andrew Elliott
Stephanie Tvardek
Kelli Schroeder
Hannah Duell
FIRE PREVENTION OPEN HOUSE
Thank you, Kevin Bolz and Kyle Mason for volunteering to represent TCLP at the Fire Prevention Open
House.
PUBLIC POWER WEEK OCTOBER 6-12
Thank you, Kevin Bolz
and Kyle Mason for
volunteering to teach
the next generation
at Eastern Elementary
about the importance
of electric safety.
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POWER UP YOUR HEALTH
LOADED BAKED POTATO
CASSEROLE WITH
CHICKEN FOR A CROWD
INGREDIENTS:
2 Pounds Baby potatoes, Approximately 15-20
potatoes
1 Whole Pre-cooked Rotisserie Chicken, Meat
removed and shredded
1 Pound bacon, sliced crosswise into 1/2 inch
pieces
1 12 oz bag Frozen Broccoli, Warmed in
microwave or stovetop
1 Bunch green onions, Sliced crosswise, white
and green parts
1/2 Cup chicken broth
2 Cups sour cream
2 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 Teaspoon Paprika
1/2 Teaspoon Pepper
1/2 Teaspoon salt
DIRECTIONS:
1. While the potatoes are cooking, cook bacon pieces in a
large skillet over medium high heat until crisp,
approximately 5-7 minutes. Remove bacon with a
slotted spoon to a paper towel lined plate. Reserve
bacon grease. YIELD: 8
2. Turn oven on to 375 degrees. Boil potatoes in a large
pot in heavily salted water until fully cooked and tender
throughout, approximately 20 minutes. Drain. Grease a
large 9"x13" baking dish with either butter or
vegetable spray. Place cooked potatoes in baking dish
in a single layer. There should be a little space between
each potato. Using the bottom of a drinking glass,
lightly press down on each potato, smashing it about
half way. The bottom of the baking dish should be fully
covered when all of the potatoes are smashed. Drizzle
2-3 tablespoons of the reserved bacon grease over the
potatoes.
3. While the potatoes are boiling, mix together shredded
chicken, cooked bacon (except about 2 tablespoons for
garnish on the top), heated broccoli, and green onions
(except 2 tablespoons for garnish on top). Sprinkle with
salt and pepper and mix well. Put this mixture on top of
potatoes and spread evenly.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together chicken broth, sour
cream 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheese, paprika,
pepper, and salt until well blended. Spread this mixture
on top of the chicken mixture.
5. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes until
heated through. Remove foil and top with remaining
bacon, cheese, and green onions, then bake another 5-
10 minutes to fully melt and brown the cheese. Remove
from oven and scoop into serving bowls.
SUBMIT A RECIPE TO SHARE!
Do you have a go-to dish that everyone raves about? Or maybe a family recipe that’s been passed
down for generations? Submit your favorite recipe to our company cookbook and share your
kitchen magic with colleagues. Whether it's a simple snack, a hearty meal, or a sweet treat, all
recipes are welcome.
Let’s cook up some fun together and inspire each other with delicious ideas. Plus, your recipe could be featured in
our next company event or newsletter!
Scan the QR code or submit your recipe here, and let’s make our company cookbook a feast of flavors!
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