In EPCOR's aerial division, crews work together much like a well-oiled machine. Whether Trevor's managing the smooth execution of a job site plan with a team of three, or slowly coaching a new apprentice on the militant control and tools required to ensure the safety of themselves and others, "everyone knows what they have to do and we stand united together."
"My brother tells me: 'you linemen are a different breed,'" says Trevor, explaining the hazards inherent to working on live, energized wires everyday. "But you kind of have to be to work on an aerial team because you're trusting another guy with your life just like he's trusting you."
Whether it's going for a drink after a long day on the job, or a classic game of cards back at the shop over lunch, the comradery is what Trevor likes most. "As long as you're equal, I'm equal," he says.
In his own shop at home, the same rule doesn't apply. Trevor's eight bikes range in decades and details, but the infamous saying "Harley's best, Triumph's next" determines the motorcycle make. While some are highly modified, others like his 1974 Harley Shovelhead are hand built with the precision and systematic technique of a skilled machinist. The motor tattoo on his forearm is a lasting reminder of this prized and prided possession.
"The level of achievement at EPCOR to become a Journeyman and a competent lineman made me realize that if I can do that, I can keep climbing levels with my bike work," says Trevor. "I'm always figuring out how to make things work better and easier."
On the racetrack, the stakes are even higher. With his young daughter in the stands, Trevor is always vying for first place. "If I don't win at the race, I don't get the nice flower," says Trevor, sharing a tradition with his number one fan. "If I come in first, she always hands me the nicest weed at the racetrack."
"This year, she asked me to go for a bike ride so I brought her pedal bike out thinking that's what she wanted" he says. "As soon as she saw it, she said "no, Daddy - that one!" pointing to my race bike. This was the first time she initiated it, so we went all the way around the block together."
With nearly two decades of experience in his rear view, Trevor still remembers the first bike he owned when he began his career at EPCOR.
"I had this low-rider hot rod that I built but I haven't rode it for years," he says. "I don't know what made me do it, but I was in there and I leaned the seat forward just to see what was in the back, and I found an old EPCOR paystub."
"I took that and looked at mine now and it just showed me how far I've come from when I first started," he shares. "You have every opportunity to succeed if you want to, but it's done with teamwork and hard work."
