2010 40 Under 40: Tom Houston

Being willing to step up and complete a job that no one else immediately volunteers for has served Tom Houston well throughout his career. Getting the job done, no matter how menial or thankless the task, has opened many doors, leading him to positions of greater significance and responsibility.

As general manager of 18,000-member Webster Electric Cooperative, which serves parts of seven counties, Houston gets out on the front lines during extended power outage situations.

“I always make it a point to go out and work with the crews in the harsh weather conditions, so they realize how much I appreciate what they do and that I am willing to work side by side with them no matter what the conditions are,” he says.

Houston started his career with Webster Electric Cooperative in 1996 as director of safety and environmental services, gaining national recognition for the utility’s safety accreditation process and the lowest rate in the state for workers’ compensation experiences.

When Houston was promoted to general manager two years ago at age 34, he says he was the youngest manager among the 40 electric cooperatives in Missouri and the youngest of the 800 in the nation.

He is not content to build only his own résumé, however. Houston established an apprenticeship program at the cooperative, and it has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor.

“Now when we have apprentices complete the program they are certified by the department and have a nationally recognized certificate,” Houston says. “Out of our 15 current linemen, eight have been through the program and have gained this certificate.”

Houston also finds myriad ways to get involved in the community. Twelve years ago he helped start the Mighty-Mite Football program in Marshfield and has coached several teams. He was president of the Marshfield Chamber of Commerce in 2007, and other leadership roles include heading up the five-day annual rodeo and Fourth of July celebrations for the community.

Houston also works to bolster the area’s economy through his position on the board of directors of Marshfield Development League.

“We recently recruited and retained a manufacturer to come in and replace an industrial facility that had moved (more than) 150 jobs to Mexico,” Houston says. “Although this new organization has not been able to replace all 150 jobs, they have provided employment to more than 50 people and have plans to add several others as the years progress.”[[In-content Ad]]