When Derek Looper moved from Duncan, Okla., to Norman for college, he had plans of following his dad’s career path and becoming a mechanical engineer. A couple of professors, however, steered him on a different course.

“It was a combination of good and bad,” Derek says of the guidance that had him exploring new majors. “I had one instructor who gave me a couple of hands-on projects troubleshooting computer problems and using a variety of operating systems.”

Derek earned his bachelor’s degree in Information Studies from OU in 2004. He was looking for a better paying job when he accepted a contract position in OEC’s Information Technology Department. “They made it clear it wouldn’t become a permanent job, but I was working for not much more than minimum wage. Three months later, they hired me,” Derek says.

In OEC’s IT Department, Derek is responsible for updates to OEC’s Web site and its internal Intranet, the GPS equipment in the co-op’s fleet vehicles, and the security system around the property perimeters. He says he likes the variety of daily duties, “as opposed to being pigeon-holed into one thing.”

Derek lives in Norman with his wife, Julie, three dogs and two cats. He enjoys OU athletics, playing softball and basketball, and video-gaming.

Richard Jackson grew up in Ringwood, Okla., a small community located 20 miles west of Enid. His first post-college job was inspecting power poles at Alfalfa Electric Cooperative in Cherokee, Okla. The job led him into line work and, eventually, to OEC.

In January 2006, Richard relocated to Lexington to be closer to his wife’s family. He brought his journeyman certification and six years of line work experience to OEC’s Operations Department.

Richard’s duties include the maintenance and construction of electric lines—primarily with OEC’s underground facilities—and equipment operator. Currently, Richard is assigned to a system field inventory of OEC’s service equipment, inspecting transformer pads and pedestals.

“It’s basically a preventative maintenance and safety check similar to the ongoing pole inspection program. At the same time, we are collecting accurate GPS coordinate information for transformers and security lights that will eventually be integrated into the new computerized mapping software.

“It’s good technology,” Richard says.

Richard and his wife, Tiffany, are making a home on 10 acres east of Norman. The couple has two children, 3-year-old Xander, and Graica, who is 1½. In his spare time, Richard enjoys hunting and fishing, riding motorcycles and being with his family.