MBLP gives Career Informational Presentation to HS Students
On Friday, February 22, MBLP personnel hosted a Career Informational Presentation for a class from the Marquette Alternative High School. Teacher, Mr. Brian Pirelli and his class of over 20 students attended the presentation. Career information was presented by several staff members of the MBLP regarding educational paths required to qualify for several trade and technology positions within the utility industry.
Mr. Tony Retaskie, Executive Director of the Upper Peninsula Construction Council also shared information about apprenticeship opportunities and educational choices for those students interested in a Skilled Trades career.
Pictured are (l-r): Tony Retaskie, Executive Director of UPCC; Mary Adamini, Director of Personnel and Employee Relations; Sean Seibert, Distribution Design Engineer; Chris Nelson, AMI Metering/Distribution Coordinator; Ben Collins, Manager of Distribution Engineering Services and Kevin Downs, Supervisor of Metering and Energy Programs.
Winner of the 1st Annual Charity 5K Fun Run!
Above is 5K winner Phillip Pennell as he crosses the finish line of the MBLP’s inaugural Generating Change charity race with a time of 22 minutes as MBLP volunteers (l-r) Tanya Laurin, winner Phillip Pennell, and Rachael Mager hold the finish line tape.
MBLP's 1st Annual Charity 5K Fun Run
The volunteers manning the registration table were all smiles prior to the Marquette Board of Light and Power’s (MBLP) first annual charity 5K Fun Run and 1-Mile Walk. The event raised $580 for the utility’s new Generating Change program to help local families pay their electric bills. In addition, the race participants brought 84 pounds of canned goods and boxed food items to help stock the Salvation Army’s food pantry. Pictured from left to right are: MBLP volunteers (l-r) Rachael Mager, Noreen Collins and Salvation Army volunteers Liz Nevala and Jamie Ray.
Co Sponsors - MBLP and Salvation Army Volunteers stop for a picture before the race. Pictured are (l-r) MBLP Rachael Mager, Salvation Army David Rushford and Jamie Ray, MBLP Doug McMahon, Olivia McMahon and Tanya Laurin.
Shown above is the racers getting ready to start the race.
Pictured are MBLP Volunteers (l-r) Rachael Mager, Tanya Laurin and Mary Adamini being interviewed by TV6 news on the day of the event.
Plans are already underway to make the run even bigger next year on the premier MBLP Trailhead on Wright Street. There are three (3) ways MBLP customers can still help raise additional funds for the Generating Change utility assistance program to help low income families including: rounding up your monthly utility bill to the next whole dollar, round up and add a dollar to your light bill, or make a one-time donation. To help with this worthy program, click Generating Change Form and send in with your statement and we will take care of the rest.
We want to thank the Community for all your support!
MBLP'S 5TH ANNUAL FOOD PANTRY CHARITY HOCKEY GAME
ON MARCH 1, EMPLOYEES FROM THE WRIGHT STREET OFFICES AND SHIRAS STEAM PLANT FACED OFF AT LAKEVIEW ARENA FOR THE ANNUAL FOOD PANTRY CHARITY GAME. FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, SHIRAS STEAM PLANT EMPLOYEES WERE THE CHAMPIONS WITH A FINAL SCORE OF 2-0. THE WINNING GOAL WAS SCORED IN THE LAST TWO MINUTES OF THE GAME BY RICK TEMPLE (cousin of Tom Skewis) AND WITHIN A HALF-MINUTE THE PLANT SCORED A SECOND DEFECTION GOAL OFF OF THE SKATE OF ONE OF THE PLANT'S PLAYERS.
ADMISSION FEE WAS CANNED GOODS OR BOXED FOOD ITEMS TO BE DONATED AND A 50/50 RAFFLE WAS HELD. PROCEEDS WERE SPLIT BETWEEN ST. VINCENT DE PAUL'S AND SALVATION ARMY FOOD PANTRIES. PICTURED (ABOVE) ARE JON BETZ, TOM SKEWIS, LAURIE SCHMIDT OF ST. VINCENT DEPAUL SOCIETY AND NATE CHAPERON. PICTURED (BELOW) ARE JON BETZ, MILES BAGLEY OF THE SALVATION ARMY, NATE CHAPERON AND TOM SKEWIS.
TOTAL PROCEEDS WERE 325 POUNDS OF FOOD ITEMS AND $266 WERE DIVIDED BETWEEN THE TWO FOOD PANTRIES. PICTURED (BELOW) PLAYERS IN GOLD ARE WRIGHT STREET TEAM AND BLUE ARE THE SHIRAS STEAM PLANT TEAM. GREAT JOB EVERYONE!
Annually, Marquette Board of Light and Power (MBLP) employees pledge $25/per person to a charity of choice in exchange for Casual Fridays. A check for $225 was donated to the Ending Hunger Alliance of Marquette. Pictured from left to right are MBLP employees Mary Adamini, Patty Ryan, Theresa Sell, founder of the Ending Hunger Alliance of Marquette, and her associate, Donna Miller and Tanya Laurin of the MBLP.
Mutual Aid Assistance in Florida
Marquette Board of Light and Power (MBLP) Journeyman Line Electricians Kevin Wright and Nick Quayle (from left to right aloft in the bucket) and Nate Chaperon on the ground are shown performing power restoration work in Florida through a Mutual Aid call from the American Public Power Association. The MBLP sent four Journeyman Line Electrician’s including Service Crew Foreman Pat Aho (not pictured) who were among approximately 28,000 linemen nationwide dispatched to help restore power in Florida due to the devastating damage caused by Hurricane Irma several weeks ago. The MBLP’s four (4) volunteer linemen drove two company vehicles more than 3,400 miles roundtrip to Fort Pierce, Florida where they were assigned to help the Fort Pierce Utilities Authority. They worked long, 16-hour days for two weeks with heat indexes greater than 100 degrees to repair electric utility lines and customer services. Their efforts helped to restore power to almost 20,000 customers. After conditions in Fort Pierce improved enough to make any further repairs manageable by the utility’s own resources, MBLP’s linemen were asked to travel further south to Homestead, Fla. where the impacts of Hurricane Irma were more substantial and sustained. Acting Director Tom Carpenter said he was happy the MBLP was able to help those in Florida who needed our assistance. “We asked for Mutual Aid volunteers and our crews responded overwhelmingly. We were able to send four excellent representatives of the MBLP and Michigan. We are proud of them.”
Fort Pierce Florida
Pictured (l-r): Nick Quayle, Nate Chaperon, Kevin Wright and Pat Aho wearing T-shirts from Fort Pierce Utilities Authority for their work during Hurricane Irma.
GATEKEEPER PROGRAM
On May 19, 2017 in Lansing, MBLP's Executive Assistant/Community Relations Coordinator Noreen Collins received the 2016 Gatekeeper of the Year Award from the Michigan Commission on Services to the Aging for her outstanding service representing this program. In a letter from Governor Rick Snyder, Ms. Collins was recognized and congratulated for her exceptional acts in the interest of helping others.
This program is to help identify and assist isolated at-risk older adults residing in their own homes. These senior citizens may have little or no support system to act on their behalf and many experience serious difficulties that compromise their ability to live independently. Through the Gatekeeper Program, they are referred to various community agencies, such as, local senior centers, DHS, AMCAB, to assistance them with available services, such as, financial assistance, meals preparation, grocery shopping, transportation, housekeeping services, personal care assistance, Medicare/Medicaid assistance and legal/safety issues.
Pictured above (l-r): Chair of the MI Commission on Services to the Aging Dona Wishart, Noreen Collins, Commissioner Jerry Irby and Deputy Director of Aging & Adult Services Agency Scott Wamsley.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE GATEKEEPER PROGRAM
MBLPOWER HELPS UPPCO FIGHT THE SPRING STORM
During the recent storm that ripped through the area with more than 70 mph wind gusts, the Republic, Ishpeming and Negaunee area had numerous trees toppled and power lines down. Marquette Board of Light and Power sent two crews to the area to assist UPPCO workers to restore power to their customers. Pictured are MBLP crew members that went to assist them: Shawn Sheldon, Jon Betz, Travis Niemi and Chad Kauppila. Executive Director, Paul Kitti stated “It’s all about helping our
neighbors.”
Wind Storm - spring, 2017
MBLP ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY CLEANUP
The Marquette Board of Light and Power had its biggest employee, retiree, and family member turnout ever for the recent annual City-wide Spring Cleanup. Employees encourage their families to volunteer for this worthwhile event. Pictured is the group that cleaned up South Beach and along Lake Street to the Carp River.
