Christopher T Crane (Chris)
Business: JEA
Business Description: Municipal Electric, Water and Waste Water
What was your first job/how did you get to be a facility manager? First job was washing pot and pans for a catering company ($0.70/hr). Spent the next 40 years working in the electric utility business in Ohio and Florida. While working for JEA at one of our power plants as manager I had the opportunity to move into facilities which isn't a hard transfer considering I have been in O&M my entire career. Everything I manage now I have repaired at one point in my work life.
What is the most significant professional event of your career? Depending on which career I would say moving into management for JEA. It is a tough transition going from getting the job completed on my own to relying on a great team to accomplish the task without jumping in and getting my hands dirty.
Who has been the biggest influence on your life? Why? My father and grandfather instilled into me my work ethic; if you didn't sweat and come home with calluses on your hands then you go hungry. My grandfather and father grew up poor so hard work was the only way, especially since they worked coal mines and any other manual labor job to put food on the table. Needless to say there has never been a repair person enter a Crane household (I have two brothers).
Tell us something about yourself that no one knows: I was invited to try out with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1978 (first base)...I am still waiting on the phone call! Manny Sanguillen and Willie Stargell were extremely friendly and funny individuals.