7th Annual FirstEnergy Hero Awards Recognize Employees for Helping Others in Their Communities
Each year, FirstEnergy’s Hero Awards recognize employees who have made a life-changing difference for coworkers, friends and even total strangers. They are heroes among us: employees who make our company – and the communities we serve – a better place to live and work because they took the time to care.
Hero Award recipients are selected for demonstrating courage or compassion in assisting an injured or at-risk person. Employees are nominated by their coworkers and nominations are reviewed by a selection committee made up of representatives from across the company. Since its inception in 2015, the program has recognized 46 employee heroes.
"I'm proud of our employees who step up in times of need and act as a hero to those around them," said Sam Belcher, FirstEnergy’s senior vice president of Operations. "This year’s heroes have made a tremendous difference in another person's life and demonstrate an ongoing commitment to keeping the members of our communities and the FirstEnergy family safe. They are an inspiration to us all."
This year, 10 employee heroes have been recognized for their selfless acts toward others. Whether a fellow employee or a stranger was in need, these individuals jumped to the rescue without hesitation:
Gold Award Winner
Kevin Krupp, a collector with Mon Power and former volunteer firefighter, earned the Gold Hero Award for his assistance when an apartment building along his route caught fire. Krupp called 911, notified the tenants and used a garden hose to help extinguish the fire. His swift actions helped save the residents’ home and possessions and, more importantly, may have saved their lives.
Silver Award Winners
Melvin Harvey and Alex Gregro, linemen apprentices with Met-Ed, earned the Silver Hero Award for contacting law enforcement when they noticed a parked car with a mother and child in an unsafe situation. Their actions helped the police locate the car and take steps to keep the child safe.
Bronze Award Winners
Eric Holt, a regional distribution system operator with the Illuminating Company, earned a Bronze Hero Award for applying his safety training and using the Heimlich maneuver to provide life-saving assistance to a woman who was choking.
Steven Rogers, a revenue operations collector with Potomac Edison, earned a Bronze Hero Award for using his safety training, including being aware of his surroundings, driving defensively and using safety and human performance tools to help a toddler who was playing alone in the street get safely back home.
Honorable Mention Award Winners
Marsha Barr, a supervisor of regional meter reading with Mon Power, earned an honorable mention for aiding victims of an automobile accident. Marsha applied her safety training, including having her first-aid and blood-borne pathogen kits on hand, to provide any help she could until EMS arrived.
Rege Carney, a collector with West Penn Power, earned an honorable mention for stopping to assist when he saw a wrecked vehicle. The driver was in distress and Carney was able to distract him until help arrived. Carney's ability to stay calm in a difficult situation and exhibit concern for the well-being of another went a long way in saving a life.
Sara Hairabedian, a meter reader with Toledo Edison, earned an honorable mention for demonstrating her commitment to safety and coming to the aid of a coworker who was in an automobile accident.
Frank Luna, a regional external affairs consultant with JCP&L, earned an honorable mention for going above and beyond to assist a family without power following Tropical Storm Isaias. Luna worked with Operations and the local line shop to put a priority on restoring power to the home, where an individual with special medical needs resided. He also went the extra mile to secure material donations and workers to build a new wheelchair ramp for the residence.
Jody Place, a retired regional external affairs consultant with FirstEnergy Service Company, earned an honorable mention for assisting her neighbor who suffered a deep cut from a chainsaw. Place called 911, provided first aid and kept him calm until an emergency medical care team arrived.
FirstEnergy Employees are Lighting the Way
FirstEnergy’s heroes are among the many employees who go above and beyond to make a positive impact in the communities where they live, work and play. Meet some of our diverse and talented employees who are powering exciting opportunities at www.firstenergycorp.com/lighttheway.