High voltage worker stories: 
MIcah thompson

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loss Control Training Director

Prior roles: Substation Foreman, Journeyman Lineman, Lienemann, apprentice, electrician
Location: irmo,sc

years in the trade: 24 years

 MIcah Thompson(CLCP)

@highermaintenancesc
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be the leader you always wish you had, stay humble, stay authentic.

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be the leader you always wish you had, stay humble, stay authentic.

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Stories in the trade

This series hands the mic to the folks who keep the lights on—how they got in, what they’ve seen, and where the trade’s headed

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When you think back to the early years of your career, what lesson has stood the test of time and still shapes the way you lead and make decisions today?

Consistency matters.

What’s something about linework that people outside the trade completely fail to understand?

How much is involved in keeping their lights on.

You’ve worked in linework, substations, fiber, project management, and now training. Which role taught you the most and why?

Managing people and understanding the individual nuances of how to facilitate their needs.

 

Leadership can make or break a team and an organization. Setting others up for success and changing lives is my mission.
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Leadership can make or break a team and an organization.

I’m alive and thankful. It just goes to show how important communication and situational awareness are.

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This trade is hard on the body so having some money working for you is a good thing to set up for your future.

Leadership can make or break a team and an organization.

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At what point in your career did you realize you wanted to focus on training and developing others instead of just doing the work yourself?

I've always loved serving and helping others in any capacity.

 

Helping guys come through the apprenticeship and seeing the “light” come on for them was awesome.

 

Then a friend of mine said, “Hey, have you ever thought about coming to Statewide?” The rest is history.

What separates a good lineworker from a great lineworker?

Humility.

What’s one lesson that took you years to learn, but you wish every apprentice understood on day one?

Take care of the old man. Pay your dues.

Can you share a moment in your career that changed the way you think about leadership?

Getting the official opportunity to do it in a management role helped me understand the requirements and responsibility.

 

Experience shapes decision-making.

What are some of the most common mistakes you see younger workers make when they're first coming into the trade?

“What I deserve.”

What’s a challenge facing today's apprentices that didn't exist when you were coming up through the industry?

Workload versus training requirements.

You work closely with training and development. What skills do you think the next generation of lineworkers will need that previous generations didn't?

Drive and dedication to a skill.
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People totally misunderstand the brains and dedication this trade takes.
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Experience shapes decision making.

I’m alive and thankful. It just goes to show how important communication and situational awareness are.

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I think someone who’s a self starter and can focus on the task at hand is gonna do very well in this trade.

Experience shapes decision making.

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What’s something you've changed your mind about over the course of your career?

Take care of your people, and they'll take care of your product.

What is one decision or turning point that had a major impact on the direction of your career?

Taking the chance and opportunity to go to the Statewide organization.

How do you earn credibility when you're teaching or leading people who have years of field experience themselves?

Be authentic.

 

Give examples of failures and growth.

 

Practice what you preach.

 

Be consistent.
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Helping guys come through the apprenticeship and seeing the

“ light ” come on for them was awesome.

I’m alive and thankful. It just goes to show how important communication and situational awareness are.

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My advice to anyone thinking about getting in the trade is do it, you won’t regret it! There are so many avenues that you can take. Best job I’ve ever had.

Helping guys come through the apprenticeship and seeing the

“ light ” come on for them was awesome.

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Have some heart for the trade, and care about your work,  

not just the income.
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When you think about the future of the utility industry, what excites you most and what concerns you most?

What excites me most is the innovation and equipment progress.

 

What concerns me is what those things can do in the wrong hands or with improper intentions.

If you had five minutes in front of every apprentice entering the trade tomorrow, what would you tell them?

Don't blink. Take care of the old man. Pay your dues. Be the leader you always wished you had. Stay humble. Stay authentic. 

 

We may never sit under the shade of the seeds we plant. Don't be afraid to listen and try new things. It's not always about you. Be teachable.
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Setting others up for 

success and changing lives is my mission.

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We’re High Voltage Industries

High Voltage Industries started because the most dangerous and essential work in America is also the most invisible. You put your lives on the line every single day and people don't even know what you do. 

 

We're here to share your stories and honor the sacrifices you make so people can flip a switch every day. And we make gear for those who literally risk their lives to keep the world running.

This is your story

Working in conditions others won't face, taking risks others can’t even imagine, solving problems others can't understand, carrying responsibility others can't handle. The grid doesn't maintain itself.

 

We're telling that story.

Best for the crew

we’re opening the floor to the folks who do the work

⚡ Features of real workers in the trade 
⚡ Craft features 

⚡ Tips for the trade

Just real experiences, real lessons learned, and real advice from people who do this work every day.

We want to hear from you

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