Familiar MEA face retires

Frontiersman

For 30 years, customers at Matanuska Electric Association have become accustomed to seeing familiar faces, but there's one less of them running around the Palmer office these days.

Everly Henderson, the longtime customer accounts manager, has retired, taking with her many fond memories of coworkers and customers. She's been at MEA for roughly 7,800 work days, and she said every one of them was a fun time.

&#8220I feel like we all kind of grew up together there,” Henderson said. &#8220When I started I never thought I would spend the next 30 years of my life here, but it wasn't a job I ever thought of leaving.”

At MEA, that's a recurring theme. Kim Floyd, a spokesperson for MEA, said of the utility's 135 employees, 21 percent have been there more than 20 years. More than 30 percent of the employees have been at MEA for more than 15 years.

Henderson said the reason for that remarkable longevity is simple - it's a great job, and there isn't a reason to leave, other than retirement.

&#8220Working for the utilities are good jobs. There is a lot to be said for working for them. You don't have to commute, and the benefits are good,” she said.

Henderson originally was working for Howard Nugent when an entry-level position with MEA became available.

She applied for the position, was hired, and the rest is a 30-year history. She has seen lots of changes during the 30 years, both in the size of the utility and the attitude of customers. She said her coworkers were a big reason she never thought of leaving.

&#8220I've had so much fun,” she said. &#8220I always said that after 30 years I was retiring, and that's what I'm doing. I'll probably go down and be on our boat for a while, and then come home and enjoy my home. I'm looking forward to doing more stuff now that I'm retired.”

The receptionist at MEA, Gladys Davis, has been there even longer than Henderson. She's come to work for 37 years, Floyd said.