New Faces at the TPUC
9 09 2008All..
Texas Public Utility Commission now have new faces at Relay Texas and STAP. All are new.
First of all, let me introduce you to Dwight Martin who is now the new STAP Coordinator. He just started a couple weeks ago. He replaced Kristen Herrera. He hails from Minn and his lovely Russian wife and two kids - one is just a few weeks old - will move to Austin the next few weeks. By the way, Dwight is deaf.
Welcome to Texas where great things happen! Good luck in your new life in Texas. You’ll love it, I’m sure.
(pix of Dwight)
The next person. Karlene Pakula is not new yet relatively new at the TPUC. Less than a year she has worked at the PUC. She is assistant STAP Coordinator. Used to work at TSD, but now is with prestigious TPUC ;-]
She is a hearing person and her parents are deaf so she signs fluently. So far Karlene tells me that her work is challenging, but loves it. I’ve an oppty to get to know her and feels she will do well as assistnat STAP Coordinator.
(pix of Karlene)
Karlene and Dwight can be reached with this email: stap@puc.state.tx.us
Finally - a bombshell news! Robert Giuntoli - he currently is and will become "was" by Oct 1 a Senior account manager for Sprint Relay. He will become Relay Texas Administrator! He will replace me. I’ve no doubt he will do well cuz I’ve flogged him for so long that he has scars to show for them and he will in turn flog the new Sprint account manager. Kidding aside, TPUC got a very good replacement - thanks to Mike Renfro (my old boss) who interviewed applicants and chose him. RG was originally from Wisc and has man years experience in relay service - 18 years and 12 with Sprint Relay.
RG will do well at the PUC and serve the varied communities very well. Good luck!
(pix of RG)
eyes open & thumbs up,
Ed B
Hi dad,
U don’t really look retired at all. Still working hard. We are proud of you.
Love,
Mark, Steffani, Rotan, Clary and Samantha
Congratulations to RG! Congratulations to every Deaf/deaf and Hard of Hearing telephone user in Texas. RG will do a great job for you.
Congratulations on your retirement, Ed. May you find it filled with all the interesting things you’ve been wanting the time for.
Ed,
Many thanks to you for all you do for Texans! Just gray hair!!! But it doesnt mean you are retired yet. Smiling! Enjoy your journey!!! We surely miss you by not having you at TPUC.
Keep in touch.
Kent
What is the background on Dwight Martin? Did he work for equipment distribution program in Minn? We know nothing about him. G
Ted,
He does not have any equipment distribution program experience. Since I was the one who interviewed applicants, there were no applicants that had equipment distribution program experience. What I looked for was potential ability to do the job. Also I had list of same questions that I ask all of the applicants, his interview shows lot of promise. Also, at my last week at the PUC, I taught him as much as I can - from actual working STAP procedures to the political side of it. He has MBA in Global Marketing or was that Business, and that will help.
We’ll see how he will shine over the time. I believe he will do well, it will take a little time to learn all the ropes and all that, but once he gets the hang of it, he’ll do well…(at least I hope so
eyes open & thumbs up,
Ed
Ted,
I take it back. There was one applicant who had some experience in equipment distribution program. However, interview showed Dwight had the advantage overall…
Blame it on my grey hairs ;-] for not remembering that.
eyes open & thumbs up,
Ed B
Folks,
I stand corrected. Dwight is not originally from Minn, but from Wisc. Dwight worked at Minn hence my error. So looks like TPUC has two deaf persons working there from Wisc.
eyes open & thumbs up,
Ed B