Huntsville Utilities senior vice president for customer care, John Olshefski recently shared his thoughts about unsung essential workers in an op-ed piece published in the May 22nd edition of The Valley Weekly.

Olshefski, a retired U.S. Army Colonel who has worked at Huntsville Utilities since 2013, calls utility employees the “unsung heroes of the day.” He notes that the services provided by local power companies and their workers, like lights that come on at the flick of a switch, are often taken for granted until they become unavailable.

Speaking with pride about the employees at Huntsville Utilities, Olshefski writes, “Huntsville Utilities employees chose public service because they believe it is better to be a part of something bigger than themselves. They never seek out recognition…but it is definitely earned.

Olshefski notes that like other essential workers in the age of COVID-19, Huntsville Utilities linemen and other critical employees risk contracting the virus by working on the frontlines to provide the foundational resources communities depend on. He encourages readers to show their gratitude for these critical workers.