MEA Energy Association (MEA) is honored to bestow Life Sustaining and Meritorious Service Awards to 14 employees of ComEd, the largest electric utility in Illinois and longtime member of MEA.
MEA presented the 2019 Life Sustaining Awards to Jeremy Rykard, executive admin coordinator; Steve Rosenthal, cable splicer; and Jared Cartee, general engineer, for their selfless actions that saved lives of others in three separate incidents. Rykard rescued a woman from a sparking vehicle moments before it went up in flames. Rosenthal used the Heimlich maneuver to save a life. Cartee ripped out a center console to unpin a severely bleeding woman after she was in a car accident.
Eleven other ComEd employees were recognized with Meritorious Service Awards for actions ranging from keeping people from a downed power line and assisting those with minor injuries, to calling 911 and staying with people until help arrives. They are:
- Ryan Brady, overhead electrician
- Kyle Cordone, overhead electrician starter
- Scott Galasinski, sr. engineering tech
- Robert Goudie, sr. engineering tech
- George Longoria, general service rep
- Richard McClelland, supervisor information desk
- Jean Paul Meyer, overhead electrician
- Kevin Powell, overhead electrician
- Joel Rangel, transmission service helper
- Nick Richardson, overhead electrician
- Larry Shank, general service rep
“It is a privilege to present the Life Sustaining and Meritorious Service Awards,” said John Gann, MEA Vice President. “These awards serve to highlight the outstanding individuals in the energy industry who rise up when called and make a positive contribution to society. They are a testament to who these individuals are and to the training they receive as ComEd employees.”
MEA Life Sustaining Awards are presented to individuals from member companies who have saved the life of another. The Meritorious Service Award is granted to recognize those who have performed actions in the service of another that are considered above and beyond. Applications for the MEA Life Sustaining and Meritorious Service Award are reviewed and approved by the Executive Committee of MEA’s Board of Directors. Read about all MEA awards at https://www.meaenergy.org/outreach/awards/.
For questions contact John Gann, johng (at) MEAenergy (dot) org, or (651) 289-9600 x105.
About MEA:
MEA serves the people that deliver electricity and natural gas to homes and businesses. We were founded as a trade association over 110 years ago by distribution utilities whose vision was to improve safety and efficiency. Today, we fulfill the same purpose through education, leadership development, and industry connections. Energy delivery companies, contractors, and suppliers around the country benefit from our 55 summits, roundtables, and webinars, 400+ online technical courses, safety assessments, evaluator training, operator qualification compliance tools, and leadership courses for field personnel.