Ep. 3 — James Alexander & Daniel Bland: 25 Years of FMEA’s Florida Lineman Competition

In Episode 3 of the Florida Public Powercast, James Alexander, Senior Technical Trainer at the Orlando Utilities Commission, and Daniel Bland, Line Crew Supervisor at the City of Tallahassee, mark the 25th anniversary of FMEA’s Florida Lineman Competition.

James, a former state, national, and international lineman champion who later served as Chief Judge and now chairs the Florida Lineman Competition Committee, explains how the event began in 2001 in Lakeland with a singular focus on safety. From the demanding Hurt Man Rescue to precision skills challenges, the competition reinforces discipline and real-world preparedness — because, as he notes, most accidents happen when complacency sets in.

Daniel, once a competitor himself, now leads Tallahassee’s efforts as host city, overseeing construction of the competition field and overall event logistics. With 27 teams and more than 150 competitors participating, plus a Friday evening Kids Rodeo, the event has grown into a showcase of professionalism, pride, and continuous learning within Florida’s public power community.

This episode is sponsored by ENERCON

In this episode of the Florida Public Powercast, host Steve Vancore is joined by Ed Liberty, President of the Florida Municipal Electric Association and Director of Electric Utilities for the City of Lake Worth Beach.

Ed shares his career path in public power and details the multi-year transformation of Lake Worth Beach’s electric utility. He explains how improvements began with culture and communication before moving into major system upgrades, including grid modernization, storm hardening, and publishing reliability metrics. The discussion also touches on future pressures facing utilities, from data centers and AI-driven demand to aging infrastructure, regulatory scrutiny, and the need for transparency with both customers and employees. This episode is sponsored by PraXel Line Services.

In the first episode of the Florida Public Powercast, host Steve Vancore talks with Amy Zubaly, Executive Director of the Florida Municipal Electric Association, about how public power works in Florida.

Amy explains FMEA’s role in advocacy, mutual aid coordination, and member education, and why the Powercast was created as a new way to communicate with stakeholders. She discusses the challenges utilities face as Florida adds about 1,000 new residents a day, what makes municipal utilities locally owned and accountable, and why proactive communication matters. She also addresses the misconception of a simple “light bill,” noting that municipal utility bills often include multiple essential community services.