Duke Energy linemen rope in 18 awards at world rodeo competition with apprentice winning best in world

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Oct 18, 2017, 10:02 ET

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy linemen roped in 18 awards at the International Lineman's Rodeo Oct. 14 in Bonner Springs, Kan., with Bryan Minikel, a lineman apprentice from Cary, N.C., taking home the world champion apprentice title.

Minikel also earned the top apprentice title in the investor-owned utility division and won first place in the apprentice written test.

"This award is a tremendous blessing in my life," said Minikel, who has been a Duke Energy employee for nearly four years. "I worked hard to prepare for the competition, but I couldn't have earned the award on my own. Being a lineman is truly a brotherhood and you look out for each other – everyone wants you to succeed and I had a lot of support behind me."

Tyler Manick, a lineman apprentice from Old Fort, N.C., placed second in the world, second in the apprentice written test and second in the investor-owned utility division.

Trey Grissom, a lineman apprentice from Roxboro, N.C., placed fifth in the world and fourth in the investor-owned utility division.

Other lineman apprentice award winners include George Gripshover from Burlington, Ky., placing fifth in the investor-owned utility division, third in the written test and third in mystery event one and Miles Bell based in Spindale, N.C., placing fifth in the pole speed climb.

A lineman journeyman team based in New Bern, N.C., placed fourth in the world. The team consists of Dan King, Brent Whitford and Stephen Cox. The team also placed second in the investor-owned utility division and fourth in the simulated hurt-man rescue event.

A journeyman team based in western North Carolina placed fourth in the investor-owned utility division. The team is comprised of Joey Wilson of Franklin, N.C., Luke Leatherman of Arden, N.C., and Jeff Porter of Cullowhee, N.C.

Two teams took home awards in the second mystery event announced the day before competition designed to simulate unexpected challenges on a job. Mark Perkinson, Josh Greguire and Jeramy Wilson of eastern North Carolina took home first place with Sandy Barnhill, Keith Griffin and Jay Tipton, all of the Asheville, N.C. area, taking home fifth place.

All Duke Energy participants at the rodeo earned their spots by competing in regional Duke Energy competitions in 2016 and 2017.

An apprentice is a line worker with less than four years of utility experience, and a rodeo journeyman has greater than four years of utility experience.

Linemen were tested on simulated hurt-man rescues, equipment repair and pole climbs while being judged on speed, agility, technique and safety procedures at the International Lineman's Rodeo competition.

The best lineworkers at Duke Energy and its legacy companies have showcased their talents at the International Lineman's Rodeo for more than 20 years. Duke Energy lineworkers took home 12 awards in 2015 and 11 in 2014.

About Duke Energy

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is one of the largest energy holding companies in the United States. Its Electric Utilities and Infrastructure business unit serves approximately 7.5 million customers located in six states in the Southeast and Midwest. The company's Gas Utilities and Infrastructure business unit distributes natural gas to approximately 1.6 million customers in the Carolinas, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Its Commercial Renewables business unit operates a growing renewable energy portfolio across the United States.

Duke Energy is a Fortune 125 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com.

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Contact: Meghan Miles
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SOURCE Duke Energy