TVA Employees Embrace Learning and Growth

Sagar Madaan, a performance evaluation technician at TVA’s Central Labs, takes his inquisitive nature to new heights — literally.

Madaan’s job takes him across the seven-state service area to the tops of smokestacks where he extracts samples for emissions testing. In addition to determining concentrations of various gasses, he also performs testing on boilers and turbines and sets up portable sensors that analyze and automate data collection.

“We conduct EPA compliance air emission testing for the TVA Fossil Fleet,” Madaan explained. “Our team verifies that flue gas being output by each unit is below limits set by the EPA. We also perform calculations and generate summaries of the data for plant personnel.”

Not only is Madaan fearless when it comes to climbing stairs and ladders at impressive heights, he never shies away from learning either.

“I’ve been told I like to ask a lot of questions,” Madaan laughed.

Tinkering with cars and discovering new technology has always interested Madaan. He got his start at TVA as a tool clerk at the Gallatin Fossil Plant nearly 15 years ago as he was first getting on his feet in the United States. It was a jarring culture shock, but Madaan continued to be led by curiosity.

Madaan is from Delhi, India — a city whose name, he shared, translates to “the city of people with heart.”

He takes this same wonderment and vibrance on the road as he travels. And, he admits, he’s come out of his shell a bit over the years.

“I’m just me. I’m happy-go-lucky. I lead with kindness. Traveling around the region like I do, I get to meet all types of people and build relationships. It’s what TVA does, too. TVA cares for people in surrounding communities. It’s the core of who we are.

“Even on the tough days, I say, do it for the people of the Valley region.”

Cutting edge

Brad Sands, hydro technician at Chickamauga Dam, came to TVA as a journeyman machinist. He later transitioned to hydro and entered TVA’s Hydro Tech training program, a rigorous year-long program that prepares employees for highly skilled positions within the plants.

“At the end of the year, you take a written and an oral exam,” Sands explained. “I watched a lot of trainees go through that program like I did. It’s stressful. I know it’s a big deal to make it through, so I made them all a custom ink pen.”

In addition to being a hydro technician and a proficient machinist, Sands is also an accomplished woodworker. One of the trainees, like Sands, is a member of a machinist union that was formed in a locomotive pit in Atlanta, Georgia, nearly 140 years ago. This camaraderie inspired the pen's design.

“I used a piston kit as the click mechanism to resemble a steam locomotive and represent the machinist union we shared. I made his pen out of olive wood — a wood that’s holy to him.”

Sands’ thoughtfulness extends beyond the meditative practice of turning pens. His office is situated atop the dam by a window that overlooks the Tennessee River. That steady churn and flow means more than just energy production to him — it’s about the neighbors under the surface, too.

“A lot of people don’t know how well we care for the environment,” Sands said. His eyes lit up as he talked about how TVA protects the land while still powering growth.

Sands witnesses this stewardship firsthand as a hydro technician. He works with the TVA River Forecast Center and other TVA sites up and down stream to ensure the temperature and flow of the river is well orchestrated for flood control and recreation. TVA’s mission runs deep in the hearts of the people who, for generations, have helped build the largest public power provider.