From Digging Ditches to General Manager

From Digging Ditches to General Manager Ali James | Freelance Writer Shopper News / Knoxville News Sentinel

Article reprinted with permission from the Knoxville News Sentinel, which can be found online at www.knoxnews.com

Gregg Morgan did not see himself attending college when he graduated from Carter High School in 1979. He was 18 and pictured himself with a baseball bat in his hands. Instead, he ended up with a shovel.

“College was not an option,” said Morgan. “The grades probably weren’t good enough to get an academic scholarship and it would have been a great hardship for my parents without it.” After applying for every industry including the railroad, he felt rejected. A contact at the Northeast Knox Utility District told Morgan about a vacancy; he applied and got the job. Gregg Morgan started his career digging ditches and worked his way up within the ranks at Northeast Knox Utility District. He was appointed General Manager in 2018. "I started out as a laborer; I was a shovel operator and swept and cleaned a lot," he said. Photo by Ali James/Shopper News

“I remember what I did the first day,” said Morgan, who started as a “shovel” operator. “We had to do a meter set and get from the main line across the road using a jackhammer and lay iron pipe. I was laying in the ditch wondering what I had done – this is much harder than hitting a baseball.”

The second day was spent reading meters. “We used to ride on the back of a truck bumper and get off the truck at each meter,” he said. “Those days were difficult, but I enjoyed being outside, and a couple of men took me under their wings.”

Within a year, Morgan was approached to work at the water treatment plant. “I was afraid to say no, that they would say they don’t need me anymore,” he said. “But I discovered it was in my wheelhouse. I enjoyed taking the water from the river and making it potable for the public. I still had the worst shift of all, double shifts every weekend and three five-hour shifts a week.”

Rose to Leadership as Customers Soared The utility company decided to invest in Morgan’s training, and he achieved his Certified Operator Grade 3 water certification. In 1981, Morgan’s career morphed into a leadership role. He was promoted to chief operator at the water treatment plant, where he served 1995-2004. One of Morgan’s key mentors was the general manager, Richard Phillips, whose shoes he stepped into in July 2018. On Sept. 20, he celebrated his 40 th anniversary with the company. In that time, the number of residential customers has increased from 3,500 to 10,000.

“Everything we did in 1980 has changed so much. The water treatment plant process to treat the water has not really changed but the technology and chemicals and monitoring is night and day,” said Morgan. “Everything was pencil and paper then. If we wanted to know how much water was in a reservoir we drove and looked; now you look on the computer.”

Up until 2000-01 Morgan said they read meters with two trucks and four guys and it took 20 days. “Now I have one guy and one truck and it takes maybe five days out of the month,” he said.

Jobs in search of ‘good people’ “I’m sorry to see the vocational programs in local schools cut back,” said Morgan.

“Pellissippi State has started a new program with an environmental angle. We have two issues – an aging workforce and infrastructure. We are hoping to gain some water and plant operators through this program.”

Morgan would like to encourage graduates to look into the public jobs entry-level positions that have a longterm future. “Maybe college is not just for you. I would Gregg Morgan and family, celebrating his 40 th anniversary at Northeast Knox Utility District.

encourage them to look into the utility operators; this is not a job, this is a career,” he said.

“You can do really well; an entry-level position has a much nicer starting salary now than even 5-6 years ago,” said Morgan. “In this industry you have to have good people, and you have to compensate those people. The benefits throughout are really incredible. It’s really a nice career.”

Morgan does not regret starting from the ground up. “I like to see people succeed. Somebody had the confidence in me and gave me a chance to improve and move up,” he said. “Our team is incredible, 17 employees counting me ... and each of them I am very proud of the work. (We’re) family-oriented, small enough that we can take care of one another.”

Get an online subscription to Knox News for comprehensive investigative, business and sports coverage at www.knoxnews.com/subscribe.