(ABILENE, Texas) – No matter what source of energy powers a home, an office building or other structure, it will have to be tied into an electrical grid.
Representatives from Dashiell Corp. recently told Texas State Technical College Electrical Power and Controls students about the importance of their company and how it benefits people on a daily basis.
“No matter what kind of power you have, you have to build a substation to get it connected to the grid,” said Scott Huerter, director of operations for Dashiell Field Services.
The company currently employs more than 300 field lineworkers to maintain substations around the country.
“Dashiell was formed in 1960 in Houston with the purpose of building substations,” Huerter said. “We have grown since we became a Quanta company in 2007 and are now working on electrical infrastructure and pipelines.”
In addition to the field lineworkers, Dashiell employs more than 300 engineers and 170 field service employees.
“The key to our company is to have people with experience who can train our new employees,” Huerter said.
Huerter said graduates of TSTC’s Electrical Power and Controls program often have fit the company’s need for field service employees.
“You get a good foundation at TSTC,” he said. “We have had between 50 and 60 TSTC graduates working for Dashiell over the years.”
One way the company succeeds is by having engineers spend time in the field to train with service technicians, Huerter said.
“This allows our engineers to see what we are seeing,” he said. “They can learn quickly what will work and not work in the substation. At Dashiell, we pride ourselves in doing things right.”
Dashiell employees also strive to remain safe in the field.
“We always tell our techs to make sure to think about what they are about to do because we want them to return home to their family at the end of the day,” Huerter said.
Justin Labay, a field supervisor and TSTC graduate, said working for Dashiell has paid off for him. He hopes more TSTC graduates will look into the company.
“There is quite a bit of work out there for us with solar panels and wind turbines going up around the state,” he said. “You will be working for a good company, and a good career opportunity is there for you.”
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians can make an average annual salary of $63,260 in Texas, according to onetonline.org. The growth for the number of such positions in the state was projected to be 14% between 2020 and 2030, according to the website.
TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Electrical Power and Controls in a hybrid format, combining virtual learning with in-person, hands-on lab work. In addition to the Abilene campus, TSTC’s campuses in Fort Bend County, North Texas and Waco offer the program.
Electrical Power and Controls is part of TSTC’s Money-Back Guarantee. If participating students do not find a job in their career field within six months after graduation, they will receive a refund of their tuition.
For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.
