What do you do for living?

[WTR&PWR]

I think we all enjoy the Wild West in our youth but priorities will certainly change. Most of my experience as an apprentice was in overhead so that is what I prefer, because I know that’s what I’m best at. I understand wanting the security of a utility but I fear getting stuck with people that I don’t like working with. There’s a LOT of freedom on the outside.

Being good at and understanding substations is certainly a specialty, and something to take advantage of. I’ve worked for several contractors that had a “substation guy”. They were treated well and were always extremely intelligent. In the apprenticeship, if you got sent to substation you were digging trench and cadwelding ground grid. Working out of man-lifts occasionally. No one signs up for the apprenticeship with those intentions.

Does LADWP do a lot of their own construction in substations? I don’t think Edison does any of their own, other than pull the getaway cable. And they just pull it, no building racks and no terminating.

We build 100% of our stations. We do not contract ANY work out. It’s the best part!

 

[Kenboat]

Wow, construction guys are into boats, beer , and babes! No wonder I enjoy this place so much.
Electrical contractor in Ohio and Michigan.

 

[Vib]

Professional Engineering Services in the Public Sector. Our firm provides Civil Engineering, Surveying, Construction Management/Inspection, and staff augmentation services to support infrastructure and development in Southern CA public agencies.

WE NEED INSPECTORS. If you have previous experience in construction supervision or CM of underground wet utilities, reservoirs, liftstations, booster pumps, etc. PM me! Prevailing Wage rates ($82.25/hour). We are on a long term contract with the City of Banning for inspection of all infrastructure related to their development to be dedicated to the City.

I learned more about and built our sewage lift stations for the RV Park. Loads of fun

 

[TCHB]

Retired Regional Manager responsible for 3 large power facilities.

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

We build 100% of our stations. We do not contract ANY work out. It’s the best part!

In our apprenticeship we went over a substation that was built completely underground I think it was LADWP that built it. If memory serves me correct it was to retrofit and expand the capacity of an existing substation. Pretty cool deal.

 

[Nanu/Nanu]

I live in socal and work on Edison property. The only Toni I know just topped out with Edison within the last couple years, then came to the outside….not sure of his last name. This is a great place to work the outside. I came up mountain states and you’d have to travel just to make the money you did as an apprentice. It’s nice being home and having options. Fuck California, but thank you for the job opportunities and the weather. As long as they don’t make my kids get vaccinated I’ll stay and enjoy it.

I have a lot of good lineman friends that left for political reasons, but they all want a spot here so they can afford their place there. That doesn’t make sense to me. The whiners will whine, no matter the time or money.

Gotcha. Yeah I'm happy where I am but I do contemplate dragging to Cali. I estimate I could be out there for 2 years and pay my house off. I just can't get the wife to buy in with me being in the road. I do know more lineman over there but most of them are working on pg and e property.

Sad deal but Justin Kropp was a big influence to me throughout my apprenticeship at SRP if you knew him.

 

[mjc]

Retired IT field tech. Now do whatever projects I feel like or the wife feels like me doing.

 

[Rvrluvr]

I sit on my ass & drink red bull while staring out a window all day & night making sure you dont go hungry or run outta supplies.

 

[Riverbound]

 

[Nordie]

View attachment 1085716

I thought you were an AC guy, not a longshoreman

 

[Riverbound]

I thought you were an AC guy, not a longshoreman

Lol.

 

[evantwheeler]

International Union of operating engineers for 15 years 2004-2019. (Heavy Equipment operator specializing in Asphalt)

Decided I was done working for a living now I am a corporate pilot. Flew charter for a while now I fly strictly private. It’s fun

Mike

Thats a crazy pivot. Did you have any flying experience or a pilots license prior to leaving in 2019?

 

[TPC]

I'm a ranch hand for the wife. One head of dog, one head of cat.

 

[COCA COLA COWBOY]

I change people's lives

 

[Roosky01]

I change people's lives

Like…for the better?

 

[460 2.0]

I hand out bandaids and sometimes deliver water to people in need.

 

[RJ65]

I have 35 years in the copper mining industry. Hired on as a laborer and worked my way up through the ranks. Currently Sr Supervisor over the Material handling/Blending group. I have 5 supervisors and 52 hourly employees that report to me. Spend most of my time in meetings, driving around or in my office on RDP. Can’t complain!

 

[chonchisyque]

Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist at UCI Medical Center for 14yrs. Mostly working with cancer patients. Also the president of the local union UPTE Local 8. Our national affiliate is CWA Local 9119.

 

[Mhemperly]

Thats a crazy pivot. Did you have any flying experience or a pilots license prior to leaving in 2019?

Yea so I grew up around pilots (grandfather and dad were both private pilots… not for a living though) I actually grew up flying out to the river to go boating.

I’m the first professional pilot in the family. I got my certificate in 2012 and just worked on my ratings over the years and built flight time… in the beginning honestly didn’t have any intention of flying for a living and here I am. Haha

Mike

 

[LHC Kirby]

I married well…… Poor woman had no idea what happened to her. Until it was too late!

All kidding aside, I am enjoying a 2nd career as a boat captain. I work when I want. I’ve really had a great time doing this. It hardly feels like work. Its the camaraderie with my mates, deckhands, and other captains that I enjoy. Lately, I have only been taking walk-on/walk-off captain jobs. This means I just show up and drive the boat! No other responsibilities, and just leave after counting my tip! Lol

You obviously know better… you have a shit ton of responsibilities .

 

[C-Ya]

You obviously know better… you have a shit ton of responsibilities .

Ya….. I probably should have worded that better. What I meant is that I am not checking coolant, all fluids, batteries, generators, thru-hull valves, rudder alignments, shore power switches, bilge pumps, navigation electronics, and a huge myriad of other stuff.

Sometimes when I am giving the Safety Speech, I flat out tell my passengers…… It’s every man for themselves in the event of sinking or accident. Small children also make great flotation devices, if needed in a pinch. A few other comments that my passengers usually find funny. But, of course, I am not ruling it out? I’ll see when it happens!

You can be off the dock in a small boat in minutes…… The larger the boat, the longer it takes. Diesel motors need a check list done before you even start them up. When I do boat/yacht deliveries, it can take hours before we even start the boat. I have to check every system, fill out a 5 page checklist and take pictures of any found damage, or note anything that is not working correctly. The only way to know is to check. I don’t guess. This also minimizes problems and accusations. It’s why I have begun to do a lot more Walk-on/walk-off jobs, but still do some deliveries.

 

[76sanger]

So Cal area.

Did you ever know Dennis Browning?

 

[Bobby V]

Did you ever know Dennis Browning?

Ive heard of Browning Fire Protection. Think they are from the Torrance area.

 

[Your ad here]

Ive heard of Browning Fire Protection. Think they are from the Torrance area.

You've gotta know Les and Chip?

 

[Bobby V]

You've gotta know Les and Chip?

Lindley Fire. Played golf with Les and Chip a few times. Les passed away suddenly a few years ago.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

Project manager for HVAC. But I've done just about every discipline in the trade. I think the most fun was working on chillers for the wineries in Paso. Currently though, I'm an acting HVAC service dispatcher, Service Manager, project manager, draftsman, estimator, and a little bit of sales as well.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

I’m a District Sales Manager for a construction rental company that supplies construction equipment to contractors.

Basically I golf and take clients to nice lunches. That what my kids think anyways

Where abouts and what company? PM of you'd prefer. Our go-to rep for equipment rentals isn't around lately so, we're just kinda floating between rental companies.

 

[jetboatperformance]

I'm career Automotive since 18 , Lube boy, Technician , Service Manager, Warranty administrator , worked dealer level for 8 manufacturers , with factory training from all , Cadillac, Chrysler, Honda , Toyota, BMW , Nissan , Ford and Mitsubishi , left Dealer service in the 80's to Start my State wide Warranty and Insurance Mechanical Damage inspection service (The wife runs now) Started Jet Boat Performance in the 90's (service parts and repairs) and acquired Aggressor Jet drives (parts manufacturer) a few years back , I still work actively 6 days a week @70

 

[SCV2RVR]

I am a registered nurse. Spent 5 years in the emergency room at LA County USC and 16 years as a legal nurse consultant at Girardi Keese until Tom Girardi thought it was a good idea to spend money that wasn't his. This May I landed a sweet 100% remote job with Farmers Insurance as a nurse consultant. If you are bored and want some good reading, just Google Tom Girardi.

State Bar probes whether insiders helped 'Real Housewives' star Tom Girardi avoid scrutiny

The wide-ranging investigation will examine whether the State Bar helped the now-disgraced legal legend Tom Girardi escape discipline.

www.latimes.com

 

[hman442]

When I was a kid, I always fixed my own cars because the few times I took them to town, I was disappointed in the quality of work. Went to ASU for business, got home, ran heavy equipment building roads, worked on that equipment during the off season (it snows and then gets muddy here in Oregon). Finally wanted my own gig and bought an Automotive Repair Shop in 1997. Still there, they can't fire me if I come in late ! I keep four guys real busy, spend my days on the phone and on the computer. About half of that is actually work related though !

 

[Wolskis]

Gas turbine power plants for 33 years, out of the navy as outside operator then to the control room, kept climbing to operations manager, temp positions as plant manager, EHS, engineer, office manager and currently maintenance manager planning my last outage in April. Then I retire in May to ride my MC.

 

[90 Laveycraft]

25 years EPOCH Well Service/Nabors Drilling. Onshore and offshore well logging and drilling instrumentation. Company left California, now Purchasing Manager for a commercial HVAC co.

 

[mobldj]

was a welder xray certified on the railroad ( aka carknocker ) for 25 years.get that rr retirment check which puts you close to the free cheese from the state level.back in 95 i was divorced and kids went with her so i needed a tax deduction so.....walla ill dj.40 hours a week changing draft gears ,made inspector then supervisor but djed every weekend at bars.yes the dear penthouse stories sometimes are true.lol..now its full time dj.mainly weddings but have djed sundance,pirates and some of the parks.

 

[rivrrts429]

Where abouts and what company? PM of you'd prefer. Our go-to rep for equipment rentals isn't around lately so, we're just kinda floating between rental companies.

I’ll send a PM, thanks.

 

[76sanger]

Ive heard of Browning Fire Protection. Think they are from the Torrance area.

Dennis left LA 20 to 25 or so years ago. Moved to Southern Oregon and started Browning Fire up here. I worked for him for the last 7 years as a project manager. He sold the business and finally retired after 60 years in the fire sprinkler profession.
Thanks for talking!

 

[SkyDirtWaterguy]

Hotel Inspector. Major Airline pays me to fly an airplane from point A to B and layover.

 

[highvoltagehands]

Journeyman Powerlineman IBEW#1245 Outside Line.

 

[copterzach]

PC-12 & PC-24…. Currently on my way to a Challenger 604 type soon

Another pilot!! I tried the corporate thing for a few months. Flying a helicopter for a family friend. Needless to say I hired him a pilot and went back to being a helicopter bum

 

[Ct5]

Gotcha. Yeah I'm happy where I am but I do contemplate dragging to Cali. I estimate I could be out there for 2 years and pay my house off. I just can't get the wife to buy in with me being in the road. I do know more lineman over there but most of them are working on pg and e property.

Sad deal but Justin Kropp was a big influence to me throughout my apprenticeship at SRP if you knew him.

I’ve never worked on PG&E property. I’ve heard an inspector is with you at all times, and the spec seems like a pain in the ass compared to Edison’s.

I didn’t know Justin but I was here doing transmission poles (66kv) when the accident happened. It’s easy to get complacent when it’s all de-energized and you’re going fast, doing routine things. Very sad deal.

 

[MeCasa16]

High speed aluminum tubing…

 

[farmo83]

Just out of curiosity……. Do you know David Fitzgerald with Chevron? He is in Risk Management. He is my brother.

No

Most of what is non trading "Risk Management" is in San Ramon. I work in Houston. It looks like he rolls up through that chain.

 

[waterhorse]

Currently retired but spent the last 45 yrs. as a Millwright for the oil and power generation industries.

Did you ever know a Millwright named Ron Sharp? he was a good friend, he passed around 1985.

 

[Mr. C]

I thought you were an AC guy, not a longshoreman

Does sort of have a DJunkie feel to it

 

[Rajobigguy]

Did you ever know a Millwright named Ron Sharp? he was a good friend, he passed around 1985.

I have met Ron a couple of times but we didn’t socialize.

 

[timstoy]

Journeyman Powerlineman IBEW#1245 Outside Line. View attachment 1086059 View attachment 1086061 View attachment 1086062 View attachment 1086063

I would think you should get additional hazard pay for your job!

 

[530RL]

Journeyman Powerlineman IBEW#1245 Outside Line. View attachment 1086059 View attachment 1086061 View attachment 1086062 View attachment 1086063

 

[RobertF]

Small business owner. Aerospace. OEM manufacture of structural components and assemblies for Boeing Northrop and Lockheed.

 

[ltbaney1]

Small business owner. Aerospace. OEM manufacture of structural components and assemblies for Boeing Northrop and Lockheed.

View attachment 1086263

I have hard time putting "small" and 2 SNK ganrtry's in the same sentence

 

[drew_built]

Facilities warehouse maintenance supervisor, 1 distribution center and 5 warehouses in the school supply industry,
Started with fedex ground as a tech in Vernon assisted in several new building startups , jack of all trades, automated sortation systems, scan tunnels, conveyors, forklifts electric, propane and diesel trucks

 

[ArizonaKevin]

I'm an Account Executive for the largest supplier of Law Enforcement tech solutions. I specifically support Campus LE and Campus Public Safety for the west coast.

We are also hiring like crazy across multiple departments. I feel like I work for Apple/Google but get to support law enforcement.