Operations manager in New Orleans for big honor

NEW ORLEANS – Pudder Linne occasionally jokes he wears several hats in his job as operations manager of Troy Utilities. Now he has an award to prove it.

Bernard Linne, known across the town and county as Pudder, received the American Public Power Association’s Larry Hobart Seven Hats Award at the Association’s national conference in New Orleans, La., on Tuesday.

This nationwide award recognizes managers who serve in smaller communities and whose variety of management responsibilities extends well beyond those of a manager in a larger system with larger staff. The award is only given out to a select few whose systems serve 2,500 electric meters or less. To be eligible for the award, nominees must possess skills in seven key areas: planning and design, administration, public relations, field supervision, accounting, human resources, and community leadership.

As operations manager for Troy Utilities, Linne wears all of these hats and more. He oversees all of Troy’s utility services, including electric, water and wastewater. He not only oversees staff members, but develops and implements budgets and to successfully complete both planned and unplanned utility projects. He plays an integral role in planning the future power supply of Troy through his work with the Indiana Municipal Power Agency, where he serves on the agency’s board of commissioners.

Linne’s duties for the town are multifaceted and can range from communicating with customers to diagnosing system problems and repairing issues. As a manager, he takes every opportunity to work beside his employees, not only so that the project is completed quickly, but so that all utility personnel are involved and understand the reason for the project.

Beyond his professional role with the town, Linne serves his community in a number of other ways. He has been part of the Troy Volunteer Fire Department for more than 32 years, and served as its chief for 18 years. He also sits on the planning and zoning commission for Troy.

“Pudder’s dedication to his community and ability to wear so many different hats on a daily basis are a perfect representation of the values of the Larry Hobart Seven Hats Award,” commented Raj Rao, president and chief executive of the IMPA. “We are thankful for his support of IMPA and his community, and congratulate Pudder on this incredible honor.”

The Indiana Municipal Power Agency is a nonprofit wholesale power provider to 61 cities and towns in Indiana and Ohio which own and operate the municipal electric distribution systems in their communities.

IMPA member communities deliver electric service to approximately 340,000 individuals throughout the state.

Source: Perry County News