For Appalachian Power (APCo), the responsibility of serving communities across our region extends far beyond providing reliable electric service to our 1.1 million customers. It is about helping fellow Appalachians build a more prosperous future throughout Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia for generations to come.

That’s why the company has been committed to supporting broadband expansion initiatives throughout rural areas in its service territory, including Logan and Mingo counties in West Virginia; Bland, Grayson and Montgomery counties in Virginia; and more.

Broadband expansion has made remote work possible in areas where it was once out of reach. As a result, APCo has been able to support workforce development and provide new career opportunities to Appalachians in rural areas throughout our region.

The company hosted open hiring events in Virginia and West Virginia for remote customer service representative positions, receiving more than 6,200 applications from interested candidates. A total of seven events were held in Logan, Williamson and Point Pleasant, West Virginia and Woodlawn, Virginia. 

Because of those events, several new customer service representatives are now serving as a friendly voice on the other side of the line, helping our customers and making a positive difference each day.

“The employees that we have hired are doing a wonderful job connecting with our customers and providing a positive experience for our callers,” said Angie Wright, customer operations manager. “They’re exceeding our expectations.”

Wright, a Mingo County native who has built a 30-year career defined by her dedication to customer service, understands the importance of providing opportunities to those in rural areas of Appalachia.

“We want to show customers that we not only care about the service we provide but also about the many facets that impact their quality of life,” she continued. “We went to these remote locations thinking we would be able to hire more people, and what we have found is that these employees are extremely hard working, focused on resolving customer issues and top performers in customer care.”

To further support career growth in our region, APCo has partnered with Marshall University for a free training program to help applicants develop valuable skills for future job opportunities. Those who participate in the training sessions learn skills related to resume crafting, interview practices, time management, goal setting and more.

Together with our partners and community, we’re opening opportunities for Appalachians to build careers that will support our customers, and ultimately expand workforce development throughout our region.

Interested in a career opportunity with us? View job postings on our Careers webpage.