We are excited to welcome James Sam (known as Sam) Blair to the PPEC team! He comes to us from Madison, Alabama, and is looking forward to being part of the cooperative family.
Here's a fun Q&A with Sam to help our members get to know the newest member of our PPEC family.
Tell us a bit about your family and where you're from.
Tell us a bit about your family and where you're from. "I have a pretty small family. Mother, Father, and two step-parents. I have a sister who is 24 and married. This family will soon be growing when my fiance, Tori, and I get married in November. She has a very large family that we will be seeing much more often now that we're here. We are looking to live in New Haven, IN. Before we lived in Madison, Alabama."
Why did you want to work at PPEC?
"Since deciding on this new career path, I've understood that I wanted all the things cooperatives offer. A family atmosphere, community involvement, member-first mentality, career stability, and being able to be home with my family were all non-negotiables. As far as location, Tori and I wanted to be closer to family."
Tell us about your work history. 
"I went to school and played baseball at the University of West Alabama. I have a bachelor's degree in exercise science. After college, I worked for a short period of time in golf. After golf, I worked in banking for about two years. I knew that was not the career I wanted for some time, and I enrolled in a Pre Apprentice Lineman Program at Calhoun Community College near Huntsville, Alabama. From there, I worked for about four months doing line work for Pike Electric in Leesburg, Georgia. I was there for about seven months before I got the opportunity to work here at PPEC."
What will you be doing here at PPEC?
"I am an Apprentice Lineman here at PPEC. My long-term goal is to finish my apprenticeship and become a journeyman lineman. Short-term, I aim to get to know everyone and better understand my role and expectations."
What are you looking forward to?
"I'm looking forward to getting out in the field with the rest of the crew and my COLT training."
What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of work?
"I love cars and sports. Roll Tide! I enjoy spending time with my family and fiance. I haven't been in a while, but I'm looking forward to hopefully picking up fishing and hunting again."
A fun fact about you?
"Not a big fan of country music or rap but I love heavy metal and rock. I love a good TV, too. Like a 70-plus inch on sale at Best Buy."
A favorite quote or motto that inspires you or you like to live by?
"Rickey Bobby is not a thinker. Rickey Bobby is a driver."
Anything else you would like to add?
"I am so incredibly lucky and thankful to be here. I'm amazed at the kindness, intelligence, and efficiency that the workers here bring. I truly believe I more than likely have found the place I'll retire and it's a comforting feeling. Especially after the amount of work it has taken to get here."