The Right Tools

Bayes Perseveres to Find Career, Family at TVA

Cornelius Bayes can look at a block of granite and see the sculpture. And from an early age, Bayes has been collecting tools to help him chip away the excess to find the masterpiece inside.  

In his toolbelt are grit and an old-fashioned, never-give-up mentality. 

“When I was a kid, I’d get up early in the morning with my mom and see her leave for work,” Cornelius said. “She’d sometimes walk miles to get to work and seeing that inspired me. My mom instilled this work ethic in me early on.”

Bayes is now a senior manager in analytics and technology. He studies data to find strategies to help make decisions and find solutions.

Bayes said he struggled in high school and bounced around doing odd jobs in his hometown of Memphis until moving to Chattanooga. 

“I had no other option,” Cornelius said. "I could go to the streets, or I could go to school. I set my mind to it and asked myself, ‘where do I want to be?’ Manifestation is real.” 

Bayes, determined to be a first-generation college student, slept in his car until his financial aid was available —a point at which many people might’ve given up. But he kept chipping away, working towards his dream. 

He landed an internship at TVA while he was in college. Behind the scenes, his schedule was grueling. After working third shift at FedEx, Bayes would start his day at TVA. After an 8-5 internship, he attended college classes at night. Wash, rinse, repeat. 

“My leadership at TVA went above and beyond,” Bayes said. "They gave me opportunities to learn, grow and get involved in a variety of projects. They also acknowledged my situation and gave me the flexibility to take extra breaks and recover from my nights. They really cared about me.” 

Bayes has since found himself in both a leadership role and a mentorship role.  

“It’s crazy to think about,” he said when asked about his new era as a role model. “My family, my younger cousins are watching me succeed. It has motivated them to go to school and accept the challenge of growing.” 

Bayes has also been able to talk to local students who are pursuing skilled trades. 

“I want to encourage them because college might not be the route for everyone. Had I known about the trades, labor and craft opportunities at TVA—who knows—I might have pursued that. You can have a highly skilled career.” 

Bayes reminisced about his high school days, recounting a pivotal moment that gave him the greatest tool of all—confidence. 

“I had to write a paper, and my English teacher gave me an A,” Cornelius said. “I was actually good at grammar, and all my commas were in the right spots. In the back of my mind I thought, ‘Maybe I can do this stuff.’ A few years ago, that same English teacher found me, reached out and told me how proud she was of me.

“I think if you put in the effort, you can do anything—especially here at TVA,” Bayes said. “And you know, I’d like to think my name might echo in a room after I’m there.” 

Maybe our masterpieces aren’t our shiny, crowning achievements after all. Maybe it’s realizing we are capable enough to pick up the tools and start in the first place.