Technician of the Year Goes to Crane and Lift Specialist

Enlarge Photo Rich Barker, the AEMP Technician of the Year Rick Barker, is joined by AEMP Foundation Chairman Bob Decker, left, and Eric Dany of John Deere Construction Equipment, (right).

December 6, 2004--A crane and personnel lift specialist from Tennessee is the 2004 Technician of the Year. V. Rick Barker, a technician and certified crane inspector for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), was recently honored by the Association of Equipment Management Professionals at its Equipment Technologies Conference in Baltimore, Md.

 

Barker began is career in equipment maintenance in 1972, but has spent the last 10 years with the TVA. He specializes in cranes and personnel lifts and also does work on earthmoving equipment, transmission equipment, trucks, tractor/trailers, barges and tugboats. TVA owns around 2,500 pieces of equipment in the seven states in which it provides electric power.

 

According to J. Hunt Cooper, the supervisor who nominated Barker, “His responsibilities are extensive - technician, hydraulic and electronics expert, crane inspector, welder, fabricator, accident investigator, shop foreman, trainer, mentor, coach and, once a year, Santa Claus, as he delivers food and toys to the needy.”

 

Barker received a toolbox from John Deere Construction Equipment and $1,000 for continuing education and training from the AEMP Education Foundation, sponsors of the award.

 

The other two finalists for the Technician of the Year were Richard Furniss with the Las Vegas Valley Water District and John F. Doyle of the city of Peoria, Ariz.