Serving as Gibson Electric and Gibson Connect President and CEO for the past 23 years, I’ve had the privilege of seeing firsthand what it takes to keep the lights on for our members. In April, we take time to recognize the dedicated lineworkers who make that possible — and the families who stand behind them.

When storms impact our communities and outages occur, the disruption is more than an inconvenience. Our crews are always ready when it matters most, working through the night and heading into challenging conditions to restore power as safely and quickly as possible. That readiness is not accidental. It comes from rigorous training, deep experience and a shared commitment to serving others.

What makes lineworkers especially remarkable is that they aren’t just restoring power to a system; they’re restoring power to their own communities. They live here. They raise their families here. They understand that electricity is essential to daily life, for local businesses, schools, farms and emergency services. Powering the places we call home is personal for our lineworkers.

Gibson Electric Membership Corporation was built on the principle of neighbors helping neighbors, and our lineworkers embody that spirit every day. They are the first to respond and the last to leave, working long hours behind the scenes so our members can return to normal as quickly as possible.

During major outage events, Gibson Electric crews stand ready to assist neighboring cooperatives just as we did during Winter Storm Fern in January. This spirit of mutual aid strengthens all cooperatives and ultimately benefits the members we serve.

But there’s another group that often goes unnoticed: the families our lineworkers leave behind when they rush out the door to respond to an emergency. Spouses, children, parents and siblings rearrange schedules, miss milestones and carry extra responsibilities at home. Their understanding and encouragement make the work possible.

Lineworkers’ families know the job is physical, demanding and dangerous. Their steadfast support is one more reason our crews approach each job with a focus on safety and teamwork. Lineworkers — and their families — take pride in their craft and in the trust our members place in them.

On April 13, we will celebrate Lineworker Appreciation Day, but one day is hardly enough. Every day, we thank our lineworkers for their service and dedication — and we thank their families for sharing these special people with our communities.