ComEd Crew Leader Finds Career That Changes His Life

Mark Muhammad in a walk-in vault at the South Shore Cultural Center, safely replacing cable. Photo provided by ComEd.
Mark Muhammad in a walk-in vault at the South Shore Cultural Center, safely replacing cable. Photo provided by ComEd.

ComEd Crew Leader Finds Career That Changes His Life

By Tia Carol Jones

Mark Muhammad enrolled in the Overhead Electrical Line Worker program at Dawson Technical Institute. He was looking for employment and a career that would enable him to earn enough to take care of himself and start a family. He wanted a program that would train him and provide a path to hiring. When he saw the Overhead Electrical Line Worker program, it looked like the kind of program that would provide just the kind of opportunity that he was looking for. Muhammad recently graduated from the ComEd crew leader program and is now a Network High-Rise Crew Leader.

Muhammad said that he was nervous when he first started in the Overhead Electrical Line Worker program. He said the program instructors assured him that he would be OK. During the program, he learned electrical theory. He said he also learned not to be afraid of electricity, but to respect it.

Muhammad’s journey has taken him from the Electrical Line Worker program to an entry level job at ComEd, to being a substation mechanic. He completed the program in 2010, started with ComEd in 2011 as a meter reader. He got married in 2016 and bought a home and is raising three children with his wife.

“I’ve been able to grow as a man and as a person, doing the responsible things. It has been life changing,” he said.

Muhammad said there were lots of options and opportunities that were available to him once he completed the first program. He said that having those options, along with ComEd paying for the education needed to be qualified for different positions, made it possible for him to learn everything about electricity as he moved through the ranks. Now, he has the ability to work on the electrical projects in his own home or at real estate properties, with the correct permits.

“Just being able to do some of the work on your own because of what ComEd has taught me, is valuable,” he said.

Muhammad said as he progressed, he learned new systems and was exposed to doing different kinds of electrical work and maintenance. He said one thing he likes is that he is always learning. As the crew leader, he said his main goal is for he and his crew to work safe and make it home to their families. He sees his strength as a crew leader in being able to have open conversations with his mechanics. He said with his personality and character, he came in wanting to learn, pay attention and ask questions. He said having good communication with the team is imperative in being able to do the job.

Muhammad said his goal is to work with his team to get the customers electricity restored. He said being able to effectively communicate with the customers is also something he values, in himself and in his team of mechanics. He said it was instilled in him while attending the program at Dawson to always be professional and that is something that has stuck with him throughout his career.

Muhammad said that participating in the graduation for the crew leaders and underground line worker apprenticeship program made him feel accomplished. He said to see his progress over the years and now for him to be the person in charge, he wants to make it his mission to help the new workers as they establish themselves. He said he feels good about himself, ComEd and the work being done to keep the grid up. He said it is also a great feeling when the customers thank him when he helps them.

For more information about the ComEd’s jobs, visit ComEd.com/CleanEnergyJobs.

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