Sean Miller:
Geographical Genius.

People who know Sean Miller think he’s a geographical genius. Maybe he does have supernatural powers when it comes to knowing the Eastern Illini map books. Some of his co-workers are convinced that he has spent a great deal of time memorizing them. His photographic mind and keen knowledge about the territory might have something to do with the fact that he grew up a half mile from the Pesotum warehouse and spent his teenage years burning rubber on the back roads of southern Champaign County.
Probably it has more to do with his 18 years of service to the co-op as a journeyman lineman and subforeman. During that time, he’s traveled almost every road in his service area connecting service for new member/owners, upgrading existing service and implementing the on-going maintenance program of testing poles. Sean travels as far east as Sidell and Fairmount, as far south as Arcola and often heads west to the Bement area when member/owners need assistance.
“He knows how to get places and he and he knows everyone by name,” says Graham Schmid, Pesotum line foreman. “Sean is the nicest guy around. He is the first to help someone out in call rotation. He makes sure no one is left out on their own and he always steps up and does more than his fair share.”
Sean maintains the electrical system right up to the meters on member/owner’s homes. When mother nature destroys what Sean has built, he works tirelessly to get the power system back in working order.
Power restoration takes precedence on a lineman’s to-do list, and that’s the
case with Sean. He really enjoys his job and has come to realize that people
He’s an avid sports fan and is loyal to several teams – Illini, Cubs, Bears, and the Blackhawks. He can often be found in the stands at Tuscola Community High School watching a Warrior volleyball game and cheering his youngest daughter’s volleyball team on to victory.
Supporting the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Blazers, has become another past time for Sean as his oldest daughter is attending college there. Sean and his wife make their home in Tuscola and like to spend family vacation time in Aruba, a small Dutch Caribbean island off the coast of Venezuela.
Sean takes pride in his job, his community and in helping member/owners. As a lineman, he stands ready to respond no matter the situation or weather conditions. He’ll be there as quickly as possible to restore power, but his days of burning rubber on the back roads near Pesotum have been passed on to the younger generation.
don’t have a complete understanding of the importance of a lineman until their power goes out. Sean likes the fact that his job involves being out doors. He also enjoys that every-day brings new challenges and opportunities to make a difference. Getting to know member/owners and helping them are some of the most rewarding aspects of the position.
Though Sean is Midwest born and bred, he’s seen the country as a lineman as he takes the sixth Cooperative Principle: Cooperation Among Cooperatives to heart. He has been on the front lines during hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ivan, working alongside other cooperatives to get the power back on in the midst of extreme devastation. Sean spent long days in warm, muggy climates and rugged terrain getting the power back on as quickly as possible. He found the work challenging and very rewarding. He said the people they helped were extremely appreciative of their efforts.
The summer of 1993 was the start of it all. Sean was summer help for Eastern Illini for three summers, from ’93 to ’95.
He then went on to farm with his father-in-law before starting full-time work for the co-op in January of 2000.
During his career, Sean has seen many enhancements to the electric system that have made it stronger. He remembers the days that even the threat of an impending thunderstorm made the lights blink. Nowadays, the deployment of automated technology and proactive maintenance, has minimized outages and maximized sustainable service.
When he’s not climbing poles or restoring power, Sean still helps his father-in-law on the farm, especially during planting and harvest.