Dodd Takes Apprentices Under His Wing

Brian Dodd contracted with TVA as a machinist for 13 years before beginning a full-time career three years ago. Now, he's a scheduler planner for the Power Service Shop in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and creates everything from work packages to lift plans.

TVA is unique in that it can repair some of its equipment in-house, but people may not appreciate how significant this undertaking is.

"Sometimes we are working on upwards of 20 jobs simultaneously," Dodd explained. "And each of those jobs could have 70 work orders or instructions. That's something I wish everyone knew. But no matter how busy we get, we do the job safely — we do the job right."

Dodd speaks fondly about the mentors he's had since he began his career, specifically those who modeled the type of leadership he implements today.

"When I was young and green, I was paired with a gentleman from Paradise (Kentucky) Fossil plant doing field machine operation," Dodd said. "The craft folks there were so good, so patient. We had tight tolerances and had to meet schedule, but that mentor made sure that the pressure didn't affect our attention to detail."

Dodd's meticulous nature ripples into his hobby: competitive bass fishing. He quickly dispelled the misconception that this type of fishing is calm and contemplative. He isn't sitting on a dock somewhere waiting hours for a bite.

"I don't like being still. I'm constantly moving, so the repeated cast, cast, cast style of bass fishing fits my personality," he said. Also, even though it's competitive, I look at it as a competition against myself more than anything.

"And I want to bring that same attitude to work. I want to make myself better here in hopes of leading the new craft here at TVA."

Dodd's calm, welcoming demeanor was immediately evident. As he walked the shop floor, he engaged with senior crew and apprentices alike, advocating for the apprenticeship program and its benefits to young people rotating through the program.

He reminisced about how his work had come full circle, from mentee to mentor.

"Everybody takes an apprentice under their wing here," Dodd said. "Welcoming folks has become the new normal at TVA."”