Celebrating a Legacy: Tom Zingler Retires After Decades of Service
After 45 years of dedicated service, Tom Zingler is officially retiring from Southeastern Electric, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of hard work, dedication and commitment to safety.
Zingler recalls the beginning of his journey in the electric cooperative industry, “I started as summer help at Lincoln-Union Electric (now Southeastern Electric) in the spring of 1980. I enjoyed the challenge and the physical aspect of the job.” He officially joined the co-op as an apprentice in December 1980. He continued his education and training and became a journeyman, foreman and ultimately took on a role as the safety coordinator. “The best part of the job has been the people – I’ve made lifelong friends. Our cooperative is a community, a family,” he shares.
Reflecting on how the electric utility industry has evolved, he emphasized the vast improvements in safety. “When I first started, we didn’t have voltage detectors and couldn’t determine if a line was hot. We would free-climb poles and did not have fire-resistant clothing. Safety has come such a long way,” he says.
Among his proudest accomplishments is helping foster a strong safety culture. Tom implemented Southeastern Electric’s safety committee and safety program, and he played a key role in introducing critical safety measures such as fall protection, harnesses in the buckets and fire-resistant clothing. He also completed the Certified Loss Control Professional (CLCP) training, an intensive training program that connected him with like-minded professionals and helped shape his approach to safety. When asked what legacy he hopes to leave behind, Tom humbly stated, “I hope I made a difference.”
Tom encourages younger employees to never stop learning. “Don’t be afraid to grow – the industry is constantly changing and there is always something new to learn. Working at Southeastern Electric is a great career – you won’t find a better one out there.”
Looking ahead, Zingler is excited for the next phase of life. “We’ve done a lot of traveling across the U.S., especially to national parks. We love Estes Park and plan continue to hold our family reunions there.”
As Southeastern Electric says goodbye to a valued coworker, we thank Tom for his years of service and his invaluable contributions. His dedication to safety and teamwork has influenced the safety culture of our cooperative. Congratulations, Tom, on a well-earned retirement!