March-2024 Cooperative Living-CEC - CEC20

Flynn Gladden Expands His Skill
Sets to Serve CEC's Members
A
self-described " keyboard warrior, " Flynn Gladden is
adding to the cache of skills that helps him conduct
operations that enable Community Electric to serve its
member-owners more efficiently and cost effectively. Gladden
is an engineering technician who recently earned a bachelor's
degree in electrical engineering from Old Dominion University.
His focus is computer programming - writing code -
primarily to make it possible for the Cooperative to extract
more and better information from its electrical systems to help
CEC make better decisions that can save members' money
and improve system reliability. In recent months, he has spent
considerable time at the new Copeland Substation to help make
it fully operational and allow the Cooperative to remove an
older, less robust delivery point (from Dominion Energy) from
service.
" Copeland helps us continue our journey toward a smart
grid, " Gladden says. " This is part of the transition from analog
systems, enhancing our capabilities and saving our members
money. "
Notably, this electrical engineering degree is Gladden's
second from ODU, the first being a bachelor's in chemistry
before he joined Community Electric in 2021. A Navy veteran
once responsible for water chemistry and radiation controls on
aircraft carriers, Gladden's dedication to education and career
advancement is evident.
18 * Cooperative Living * March 2024
Reflecting on his journey, Gladden expresses gratitude for
CEC's support in accommodating his work schedule during his
pursuit of the electrical engineering degree. " CEC was extremely
flexible and considerate, allowing me to finish my degree. I can't
thank them enough, " he says.
Gladden plans to eventually earn a professional engineering
license and advance up the engineering ranks. He doesn't have a
timetable for that professional goal yet, but he's rock-solid in his
intention to remain at Community Electric the rest of his career.
While he acknowledges that his skill set could take him
elsewhere, he's unwavering in his commitment to Community
Electric. " I plan on working here until I retire, " Gladden asserts.
" Being surrounded by great people is priceless. Community
Electric has the best people, and I wouldn't want to be anywhere
else. "
Community Electric Cooperative
Above: Flynn Gladden prepares a drone
for flight. Below: Gladden, Jonathan
Thompson, Meghan Cole and Scott
Smith examine a map.
March-2024 Cooperative Living-CEC

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