MEUW Hires New Instructors for Job Training & Safety Program
Posted: March 3, 2026
Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin (MEUW) has hired two experienced journeymen linemen to take responsibility for the association's highly regarded Job Training & Safety (JT&S) Program. Damian Pasch and John Salscheider will join MEUW later this month as Electric Utility Safety and Training Coordinators. Their hiring comes at a time when MEUW is preparing for Don Harnisch to begin a five-month leave of absence in April and for the retirement of Randy Larson on May 29.
Municipal Electric Utilities of Wisconsin (MEUW) has hired two experienced journeymen linemen to take responsibility for the association's highly regarded Job Training & Safety (JT&S) Program. Damian Pasch and John Salscheider will join MEUW later this month as Electric Utility Safety and Training Coordinators. Their hiring comes at a time when MEUW is preparing for Don Harnisch to begin a five-month leave of absence in April and for the retirement of Randy Larson on May 29.
MEUW posted the opening late last year and received more than two dozens applications from a wide range of candidates, including some from outside the state. Members of MEUW’s Safety & Education Committee interviewed five candidates and unanimously recommended Damian and John be hired to fill the roles, which report to MEUW Director of Safety Services and Operations Mike Czuprynko.
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Damian brings more than two decades of electric line work experience to the role. Most recently he worked as the sole lineman for the Village of Wonewoc since November 2021. He previously worked as a journeyman lineman for Bangor Municipal Utility (2019-2021), Riverland Energy Cooperative (2011-2019), and Madison Gas and Electric Co. (2004-2011). Damian earned a technical diploma in Electric Power Distribution from Blackhawk Technical College in 2003 and holds an Associate of Applied Sciences degree in Technical Studies from Chippewa Valley Technical College (CVTC), which was awarded in 2022. Outside of work, he has been a member of the Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton School District Board of Education for the past year. Damian currently lives in Ontario, Wis., located in eastern Vernon County. .jpg)
John has more than 16 years of experience as a journeyman lineman at Oconto Falls Municipal Utilities (OFMU). He completed the Power Line Construction & Maintenance program at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College in 2009 and the Electrical Utility & Power Distribution program at CVTC in 2012. In addition to his day-to-day responsibilities with OFMU, John has regularly led hands-on electrical safety demonstrations with middle and high school students and provided volunteer support for the Journeyman Lineman hands-on testing at CVTC. Before his career in line work, John served in the U.S. Marine Corps (2003-2007). John was born and raised in Oconto Falls, where he lives today. "We are excited to welcome Damian and John to MEUW," Czuprynko said. "They both bring the technical skills, hands-on experiences, and humble personalities that will help them relate to the municipal utility linemen they'll be training. Their backgrounds working in public power mean they bring the mindset and safety focus that will enable MEUW to continue strengthening our JT&S program."
MEUW President and CEO Tim Heinrich said, "For many, the strength of the JT&S program is a direct reflection of MEUW's stability. Damian and John have the right backgrounds and temperament to keep JT&S running smoothly. We attracted a strong pool of candidates to fill the positions, and both Damian and John stood out as the best choices to take the program forward."
Filling the positions occurred using a playbook the MEUW Board of Directors had developed to ensure the association was well prepared when business-critical positions need to be filled. The process included developing a set of key competencies and experience requirements useful in onboarding new hires and ensuring continuity of operations.
The JT&S program is a key service provided by MEUW. Currently, more than 300 municipal utility linemen participate. The program is designed to help all levels of line workers become more proficient at their jobs, and the curriculum is adjusted on an annual basis to meet the evolving needs of member utilities. Full details are available at www.meuw.org/jts.
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