(POTLATCH, WA) -- After serving 10 years with Mason County
PUD No. 1, and an impressive career in the utility industry spanning over 40
years, PUD 1 director of electric operations Tracy Colard has announced his
impending retirement. Colard’s career began at Grays Harbor PUD where he worked
for 27 years in several different capacities from lineman to superintendent. He
came to PUD 1 from the City of Ellensburg where he served as the electrical
supervisor, and oversaw several other departments for the municipality. In
addition to his utility experience, he also worked for the International
Brotherhood of Electric Workers Local Union No. 77, as a union representative
and as a lobbyist, working capital hills in both Washington State and
Washington, D.C.
Since joining Mason PUD 1 in 2003, Colard has been credited
with updating and modernizing the utility’s operational processes and
developing comprehensive work plans to replace aging infrastructure. He
initially oversaw both the water and electric operations for nearly seven years
before the departments were divided. “Tracy has been an intricate and
invaluable part of PUD 1’s progress over the last decade” stated general
manager Steven Taylor. “He came to our utility with a wealth of experience in
multiple areas of utility service, union and labor relations, and a vast
knowledge of electrical systems. Without him, we would not be where we are
today in regard to substation replacement and infrastructure developments.”
Colard has directly overseen the construction of the new
t3ba’das Substation (pronounced Tah-bah-das) located above the Skokomish Indian
Nation’s t3ba’das Tribal Housing Project just off of Highway 101 in Potlatch.
This substation will replace the soon to be decommissioned Skokomish Valley
substation later this year. He also has helped develop plans for two new future
substation sites to help replace the aging electric system, some of which is
over 40 years old. “We really appreciate his service with PUD 1 and wish him a
long and happy retirement. He will be sorely missed but we are all confident
that we have found a strong successor to follow in his footsteps”, stated
Taylor.
PUD 1 lineman Darin Hall has accepted the position of
electric superintendent and will begin transitioning into his new role starting
August 1st. Colard’s last day as operations director will be October 11, 2013.
