Building on experience, focused on service

Late summer is a popular time for outdoor projects. Whether you’re planting a tree, setting fence posts or tackling a backyard improvement, there’s one simple step that should come before any shovel hits the ground: contact 811 to have underground utilities located and marked.

Many utility lines are buried just below the surface, and their exact location may not be obvious. Striking an underground electric, communications, water or gas line can create a dangerous situation and may leave homes and businesses without service.

The good news is that having utilities marked is free. Just contact 811 a few business days before your project begins. Once a locate request is submitted, utility companies will mark the location of their underground facilities in the proposed work area so you can dig more safely and avoid damaging buried infrastructure.

No project is too small to require a locate request. Even routine tasks such as planting shrubs or setting fence posts can put underground utilities at risk.

If you’re hiring a contractor, be sure to ask who will contact 811 before work begins. It’s also important to remember that utility locators generally mark public utility lines only. Private lines, such as those serving outbuildings, underground sprinkler systems or outdoor gas appliances, are typically the property owner’s responsibility.

Five steps to safer digging

Before breaking ground, follow these steps:

1. Mark the area where you plan to dig with white paint or white flags.
2. Contact 811 online or by phone to submit a locate request.
3. Allow the required time for utilities to respond and mark their facilities.
4. Respect all utility markings and leave flags in place.
5. Dig carefully around marked utilities and follow all safe digging guidelines.

A simple call or online request can help protect you, your property and the utility services your family and neighbors depend on.

For more information or to submit a locate request, visit 811beforeyoudig.com. For additional electrical safety resources, visit safeelectricity.org.

As our nation continues to celebrate its 250th anniversary, we are reminded of the bold spirit of independence and collective progress that defines our country — a spirit that resonates deeply with our work at Gibson Electric Membership Corporation.

In June, seven Washington Youth Tour students from our service area witnessed firsthand the foundations of our republic and met with leaders of our nation. It’s an event they will no doubt remember for the rest of their lives. They will better understand and value the blessings we have been handed down, the commitment of our founders and our responsibility to preserving our republic.

This commitment to building a shared future echoes the spirit that fueled the Rural Electrification Act, which marks its milestone 90th anniversary this year. It is sobering to remember that prior to this 1936 legislation, only 10% of rural homes and farms had access to electricity.

When President Franklin Delano Roosevelt finally opened the door, it was local people who stepped forward to build electric cooperatives from the ground up. Crucially, this electrification of America was not built on government grants. It was achieved through loans provided to member-owned cooperatives — farmers, business owners and church leaders who organized their communities, accepted the challenge to serve themselves and took responsibility for the investment.

That legacy of “neighbors serving neighbors” continues today. Each generation is called not only to carry
forward what has been built, but to strengthen what has been given by finding ways to improve, expand opportunity and keep our nation and our cooperative moving in the right direction.

We should not take the blessings of this legacy for granted by resting. Whether it’s the recent completion of our fiber-to-the-home network or the reliable power we deliver, Gibson Electric is committed to continuing the essential work of investing in something beyond ourselves.

The strength of our cooperative, much like that of our country, has always come from people — the members and employees willing to work together to shape their own future. Thank you for being a part of that ongoing effort and for allowing us to serve you.

Charles Phillips is president and CEO of Gibson Electric and Gibson Connect.

No one likes being duped.

The fraudsters behind phone and internet scams are betting on that shame.
“The biggest mistake you can make is being embarrassed and not reporting the fraud,” said U.S. Postal Inspector J.T. Harris. “Criminals rely on that.”

Harris was one of several featured speakers at Scam Jam, an event designed to help seniors avoid fraud, hosted by the Crockett County Senior Citizens Center, Crockett County Chamber of Commerce and Northwest Tennessee State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
Gibson Electric and Gibson Connect representatives participated, sharing examples of common utility and internet scams.

“We don’t just provide services,” said Community and Member Engagement Specialist Jessica Toliver. “We arm our customers with information to guard against scams.”

Post-storm scams

Following major storms, someone claiming to be with a utility company asks for cash up front to restore your electricity faster. Gibson Electric works methodically to get power on for the greatest number of people in the shortest time possible. Our crews will never ask you for money.

Disconnect deception

If you get a call from someone threatening to remove your electric meter if you don’t pay your bill in the next hour, hang up and report the call to local law enforcement. Creating urgency is one of a scammer’s most common tactics.

Unsolicited home visits

If someone knocks on your door offering a home energy audit or meter upgrade, they’re most likely trying to sell you something or lock you into a contract you don’t need. Send them on their way.

Refunds and rebates

If a caller says you overpaid on your electric bill and offers you a refund or rebate, end the call. They’re looking for personal information like your bank account or Social Security number.

Pop-up messages

Don’t click any pop-up messages or emails claiming your device has a virus. Hackers use these messages to collect your personal data.

Remote access

If you get a call from someone claiming to be technical support and asking for remote access to your computer, hang up immediately. Giving them access allows them to steal personal information or install malicious software on your device.

Account verification

Never click links in emails or text messages asking you to verify your account information. Report them as spam and delete them.

Gibson Electric and Gibson Connect will never call you to request payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers, ask you to provide sensitive personal information through email or pressure you into making immediate decisions over the phone.

If you get a call, text, email or in-person visit from someone claiming to represent Gibson Electric or Gibson Connect, please call your local member service center or technical support at 731-562-6000 to verify.

For more than 40 years, Gibson Electric Membership Corporation has sponsored high school seniors on the Washington Youth Tour, a weeklong experience in our nation’s capital organized by the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association.

From June 13 to 19, Addison Funderburk, Noah Mayfield, Anna Fawcett, Brooklyn Dunn, Aaliyah Shell, Harlee Johnson and Lily McCaig joined 140 students from Tennessee’s electric cooperatives on tours of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the Smithsonian Museums, the National Mall, Arlington National Cemetery and more historic sites. They also toured the capitol, met with their U.S. senators and learned more about electric cooperatives.

But the most lasting memories made are the friendships. Below, Gibson Electric students share reflections from the trip.

Noah Mayfield
Crockett County High School
“I am so glad I went on the trip because it felt like I was walking through history. My favorite experience was the changing of the guard at Arlington National Cemetery. Although we don’t know the soldiers buried in the tomb, we honor them because they gave their lives for our freedom.”

Addison Funderburk
Dyer County High School
“This trip was truly amazing. Before visiting, I had only known Washington through textbooks and classroom lessons. Seeing the historic buildings and landmarks I had read about brought history to life in a way I never expected. Experiencing these places firsthand opened my eyes to the past and sparked a much deeper interest in history.”

Lily McCaig
Gibson County High School
“I had so much fun seeing all the wonderful things in D.C. with people my age. I’m glad I chose to come, especially on America’s 250th anniversary, because I have made memories that will last a lifetime. My favorite part was the Sunset Parade. It was amazing to see the Marine Band and infantry perform.”

Aaliyah Shell
Lake County High School
“The Washington Youth Tour meant everything to me. It was so cool to see a lot of things I’ve only ever seen in a textbook. I loved making new friendships that will last a lifetime. I had so much fun!”

Harlee Johnson
Obion County Central High School
“I learned about our nation’s history while also creating memories with people I may have never gotten to know otherwise. I loved making new friendships and strengthening relationships with people in my co-op. This trip is something I will always remember because of both the places I saw and the people I shared it with.”

Anna Fawcett
South Gibson County High School
“This trip has brought me joy in so many ways. Between the people, the things I have learned and the impact of seeing our history in person, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. This experience is something I never thought I could receive, and I thank God for every moment of it.”

Brooklyn Dunn
Carlisle County (Ky.) High School
“As a Kentucky girl, I was skeptical about going on a trip to Washington, D.C., with a bunch of Tennessee kids. I did not know just how much one week could change my life. I have gotten to meet some of my best friends and understand that co-ops like Gibson Electric do so much more than just supply energy.”

Power and internet outages don’t always start with a storm. Sometimes they start with a tiny set of teeth and a whole lot of confidence.

Squirrels, with their fluffy tails and wide-eyed curiosity, are fun to watch scurrying between trees and scavenging for nuts in the park. But they’re less cute when gorging on the gel inside fiber cans or the aluminum in power lines.

Raccoons and snakes can get into substations and transformers, and birds sometimes contact energized equipment. In many of these cases, our protective equipment temporarily interrupts power to prevent more serious damage. You might notice your lights blink or experience a brief outage, but you’re quickly back to your routine.

Sometimes animal-caused outages require lengthy restorations. To help reduce the risk of these, Gibson Electric Membership Corporation uses:

Durable covers that help keep wildlife from touching energized components.

Plastic pole guards, which are the smooth, slippery plastic barriers you see wrapped around poles that discourage animals from climbing and reaching our energized equipment.

Raptor framing, a pole design that increases the space between energized lines so large birds can perch safely without contacting more than one line.

We can’t stop every curious critter, but we’re always ready to respond. Whether it’s storms or sharp teeth, we’re working behind the scenes to deliver the reliable power and internet you count on.

When my wife, Robin, and I moved back to West Tennessee in the summer of 1997, we bought a home outside Rutherford with plenty of space for a garden.

For many years, we had lived in subdivisions, where “garden” was little more than a container with some tomato plants. This time around, we had space, so we purchased the needed tools. Bermuda grass tangled constantly in the tines of our old tiller, but we stuck with it. We added “organic” fertilizer from a neighbor’s barn, raked out the grass and were finally ready to seed. 

When I say “we,” I mean the whole family, children included (though they were less enthusiastic than Robin and me).

Robin and I were so proud to see things start to grow, but we quickly realized the work was just beginning. Tilling Bermuda grass and adding fertilizer was like throwing kerosene on a fire — almost impossible to contain. Still, we kept at it and couldn’t wait to show our neighbor, Mr. Workman, our progress. 

Our bubble burst when he said something along the lines, “You call this a garden? It looks more like a flower patch.” Compared to his beautiful garden, ours had a long way to go. Of course, he meant no harm. He and his wife were wonderful neighbors, but the point made in jest was a lesson about investment.

Gardening takes lots of planning, hard work, financial resources, and time to cultivate into a productive patch of land. Mr. Workman made that investment over many decades. 

I pondered the investment I made as a child in my family’s garden and the lessons I hoped to pass along to my children through ours. Childhood lessons usually extend into adult life, and that’s true of gardens as well as electric and broadband utilities. 

We must plan carefully, spend wisely and work hard to reap the rewards. Thank you to our customers for your continued investments and to our employees whose efforts keep Gibson Electric and Gibson Connect so productive. After nine decades, that partnership and commitment continue to bear fruit.

Charles Phillips is president and CEO of Gibson Electric and Gibson Connect.

When a coworker drove Courtney Smith home at 2:24 p.m. on March 19, the mom-to-be was still planning to wait for her scheduled induction the following morning.

Courtney and husband Hunter Smith, a Gibson Electric substation technician, were preparing for an early start the next day. Though she was having contractions at lunch, they weren’t consistent enough to worry her.

But when Hunter met Courtney at their home in Trenton shortly after she arrived, the pain told her a different story.

“I think we’ve waited too late,” she said.

Hunter shook off her concerns and packed the car until he heard Courtney say, “This baby’s coming now.”

With one push, Porter Smith arrived at 2:45 p.m., delivered in the bathroom by loving parents whose instincts and faith carried them through the moment.

Faith Walk

In September 2025, Courtney attended a Christian retreat called Faith Walk. She was full of fear just as she had been during her first pregnancy. As other women shared their stories, Courtney wondered if she had a testimony.

Though prayer gave Courtney the strength she needed on Thursday, March 19, the Faith Walk wasn’t on her mind at the time.

She noticed Porter wasn’t crying, so she placed her mouth over his nose and sucked out the fluid. Hunter rushed to remove the umbilical cord from around Porter’s neck.

The 6-lb. crappie line wasn’t stout enough to tie off the cord, so Hunter grabbed the poly string electricians use in conduit. An off-duty paramedic arrived in time to help Hunter. As they scrambled for kitchen scissors, another paramedic entered the house and handed over his medical shears.

Through it all, the couple remained calm.

“She’ll cry at a wasp sting,” Hunter joked. “But she was a super mom, just an amazing woman.”

At the hospital

With all county ambulances responding to other emergencies, the couple was told the nearest volunteer was 28 minutes away. Hunter knew he could drive them to the hospital much quicker, so Courtney cleaned and dressed Porter in a onesie. Then she loaded him into the car seat.

On the way to the hospital, Courtney used FaceTime to connect with family, panning over to their newborn.

“Everybody was shocked,” she said. “When I called my sister, who’s a nurse, she thought it was a joke.”

When they pulled up to hospital admissions, Hunter passed a line of people at check-in and said, “I need help. My wife had our baby at home, and we didn’t mean for that to happen.”

A surprised but jubilant staff quickly surrounded the couple’s car, helping Courtney and Porter into a room. Porter weighed 8 lbs. and measured 21 in. He was healthy overall, visiting a warmer twice during their 24-hour stay.

Faith over fear

As their adrenaline wore off in the hospital, Courtney began replaying the delivery in her head, thinking about all the things that could have gone wrong.

“I got emotional just talking about it,” she said. “We had no idea what we were doing. We’re so grateful. We could have had a totally different outcome.”

Courtney only recently connected her Faith Walk to her special delivery.

“Fear is not something that God gives us,” she said. “He has the perfect plan for us. We really leaned on our faith and trusted that everything would be okay.”

She’s no longer wondering about her testimony. Sharing Porter’s remarkable birth is the couple’s witness to God’s faithfulness.

“God was there every single moment of the way,” Hunter said.

Back home, the Smiths are settling in as a family of four, with big brother Crew proudly telling friends about Porter’s special delivery.

Flying the American flag at each Gibson Electric member service center may seem like a simple task, but it’s a team effort that a group of dedicated employees take seriously.

Vice President of Engineering Randy Dotson, who served in the Army National Guard for 12 years, works closely with lineworkers at each location. Donny Thomas in Troy, Jason Mills in Tiptonville, Kendall Byassee in Clinton and Jamie Moore in Alamo help ensure flags fly appropriately throughout the year.

Dotson says their secret weapon — or jewel, pun intended — is Telecommunications Assistant Dawn Jewell.

“Dawn gets the credit,” Dotson said. “She found a website and enrolled in email alerts so we know when flags are to be flown at half-staff and for how long.”

Dotson takes care of the flag in Trenton and reaches out to his contacts at the other locations. Those lineworkers and member service representatives also help keep an eye on when flags need to be replaced due to normal wear.

“I’m honored as a veteran to have this responsibility,” Dotson said. “The flag is a symbol of our freedom and our democracy.”

Dotson can relate those themes to the cooperative principle of “Democratic Member Control.” Our customer-owners have a voice, electing who represents them on the board of trustees and enjoying equal voting rights (one member, one vote).

But he says flying the American flag proudly and responsibly at each member service center is an opportunity to honor the people who have served and are serving our country.

“That’s what’s important,” he said. “Lots of men and women made the ultimate sacrifice defending that flag and everything it represents.”

The flag crew’s job doesn’t end with replacing worn flags with new ones. Michael Atkins, a Troy lineworker, takes the flags to the Union City VFW for retirement.

As we celebrate Flag Day on June 14, veteran groups and Scouts across the country will hold disposal ceremonies, which may include a flag detail respectfully dipping the retired flags into kerosene and putting them on a rack over the fire.

Other approved methods of disposal include burying the folded flag in a dignified box or recycling used flags.

The entire Flag Code is available at govinfo.gov, and several legitimate websites also distill the lengthy code into easy-to-follow care guides and half-staff alerts.

In the end, it’s not about the flagpole or the process. It’s about respect for the symbol, for the people it represents and for what it stands for. And at Gibson Electric, that respect is evident every day.

On a perfect spring day in April, children at Margaret Newton Elementary School in Tiptonville had no problem leaving the playground to file back into class.

Because this classroom is a playground for their young minds.

Inviting exploration

On April 22, Gibson Electric Membership Corporation and TVA joined Lake County school leaders and officials for the grand opening of the Ripken Foundation STEM Center. Filled with innovative learning products and furnished with clover tables and stackable chairs, the STEM Center is a haven for building, creating and finding passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics in a fun, hands-on environment.

Learning through play

A dozen students from kindergarten through second grade entered the room with their teachers and rushed to find their favorite activities. The youngest gravitated toward screen‑free coding cars, while others explored robots and magnetic tiles.

The students’ adult guests moved from group to group, watching, asking questions and taking in the excitement.

“We love doing this, but really it’s kind of for selfish reasons,” said Bert Robinson, TVA state director of Tennessee and Greater East Region. “We hope that by exposing these kids to STEM activities early on that some spark ignites for them so they want to come work for TVA or Gibson.”

Equipping educators

In addition to the equipment and furniture, Ripken Foundation STEM Center grants include a custom-designed curriculum, lesson plans that complement TVA’s workforce development initiatives and a dedicated program coordinator to help mentors and teachers.

“The training of staff is an important part,” Dr. Woody Burton, Lake County director of schools. “We have opportunities to get grant money all the time. We can buy the stuff, but if we don’t have the ability to build capacity in the adults that are charged to deliver it, nothing happens.”

Burton said the Ripken Foundation brings together the funding, the people and the vision to make the program successful.

In the weeks leading up to the opening, Gibson team members joined TVA and Ripken officials to assemble furniture and prepare the classroom ahead of teacher training in March to ensure the space was ready for children to use.

That planning isn’t top of mind for students.

They’re focused on learning through play — testing ideas, solving problems and experimenting with cool robots, circuitry boards and 3D printers. After the ribbon cutting, colorful wall wraps were installed to complete the STEM Center, transforming the space into one that sparks curiosity at every turn.

Investing in the future

For Gibson Electric, the project reflects a commitment to powering the potential of the people we serve, including our future workforce and membership.

“We are so proud to be a part of this,” said Jessica Toliver, Gibson Electric community and member engagement specialist. “We can’t wait to see what these students build, what they create and the things they do.”

The ribbon cutting marked an important milestone for the community, but for students, it was simply the next step in a journey full of possibilities.

With recent promotions, Gibson Electric Membership Corporation is building on decades of experience to help guide the cooperative forward.

Randy Dotson has been promoted to vice president of engineering, and Daniel Goode has been promoted to vice president of operations. First Class Lineworkers Jonathan Minton and Jamie Moore have been promoted to line crewleaders.

Dotson joined Gibson Electric with 12 years of previous experience in utility engineering. He started his career at the co-op as a system engineer in 2008 and was promoted to manager of engineering in 2017.

During his 18 years with Gibson Electric, Dotson has been instrumental in building five new substations, renovating nine substations and supporting the buildout of the broadband network and infrastructure through the substations.

Whether it’s strengthening service reliability for electric or broadband, powering a family’s first home or working with industries, Dotson takes pride in turning customers’ ideas into reality. Teamwork is his key to success.

“It takes all of us working together to bring those projects to life,” he said. “The team here has provided me with opportunities to lead and grow as an engineer, and I’m honored to now guide and mentor the next generation of engineering, substation and metering professionals as we serve our customers.”

Goode leads operations

Goode joined Gibson Electric as an apprentice lineworker in 2003, working his way up to first class lineworker before moving to substation technician. He was promoted to substation crewleader and later to manager of operations.

Each position helped Goode hone the skills vital to his new role, including safety, teamwork, responding under pressure, planning, budgeting and leading teams focused on providing exceptional customer service.

Goode will lead a unified electric and fiber operations department. While most of the changes are happening behind the scenes, bringing operations together allows crews to work more closely.

During new construction, they can coordinate from the start instead of working in separate stages. In storm situations, they will work side by side wherever possible to restore all services as quickly as possible.

“Every dollar is precious,” said Charles Phillips, Gibson Electric and Gibson Connect president and CEO. “Because we’re not-for-profit, we reinvest our money into maintaining and improving our systems. Using our time and resources more efficiently helps us strengthen the essential services our customers rely on.”

“I’m excited about the opportunities ahead for the cooperative as we continue to grow and adapt to the needs of our customers,” Goode said. “I’m especially looking forward to building even stronger collaboration between our electric and fiber teams.”

New crewleaders

Minton and Moore were both hired as apprentice lineworkers in March 2005 and were promoted to first class lineworkers in 2009.

Minton serves in Trenton.

“I’m thankful to be part of a great crew,” he said. “We take safety seriously and work hard for our customers every day.”

Moore serves in Alamo.

“We’ve got a good group of guys who care about the work they do,” he said. “I’m proud to work with them to take care of our customers.”