Tough people

Posted 5/17/18

THE EDITOR TALKS WITH YOU

Keller Kissam has a job few of us would want. But he says he thanks God every morning for what it gives him. With God’s help, he says, he is able to “lift up” his …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Subscribe to continue reading. Already a subscriber? Sign in

Get 50% of all subscriptions for a limited time. Subscribe today.

You can cancel anytime.
 

Please log in to continue

Log in

Tough people

Posted

THE EDITOR TALKS WITH YOU

Keller Kissam has a job few of us would want. But he says he thanks God every morning for what it gives him. With God’s help, he says, he is able to “lift up” his SC Electric & Gas co-workers as they weather public condemnation and the loss of half the value of their retirement from the collapse of a $9 billion nuclear project. Kissam, a top SCE&G executive, is a graduate of South Carolina’s version of West Point – The Citadel in Charleston. With the booming voice of a former Citadel cadet commander, he did not need the public address system. Instead he strode through the tables at a Lexington Chamber of Commerce breakfast talking directly to those seated there. “If you ask me how things are at the power company,” he said “I’ll tell you times are tough. But our people are tough. “Our linemen do one of the world’s most dangerous jobs.”

He made no apologies for mistakes that led to the project’s failure. He said they were working to regain public trust. And he said his employees have paid a price in declining retirement benefits for something they had no control over. Their company stock has lost almost half the value. “Was I excited about coming here to speak to you this morning?” he asked rhetorically. “No,” he said with a laugh. But he said he saw it as an opportunity to tell fellow business people what he and his employees are doing to restore lost credibility. This was made even more difficult after his bosses lied to regulators about the project, abandoned it and walked away with millions of dollars in retirement benefits their employees may never get. “Tough times don’t last,” he said, quoting author Robert Schuller. “Tough people do.”

I hope neither you nor I ever have to face such problems. But I recall taking our editors to a Catholic church in the slums of Camden, N.J., after our owners moved our newspaper offices from downtown. I made no apologies. I blamed no one. I did not alibi our owners or editors. I did not say our insurance carriers were concerned for our employees’ safety. I simply told them we would not turn our backs on them. They could expect the same coverage of the city’s growing drug-related crime problems and the good things that people in Camden do, too.

“We need your help to report these stories,” I said, passing out business cards with my personal phone number. “We need you to be our eyes and ears,” I said. “We will respond to your calls and help you recognize, appreciate and celebrate the people who are doing good things for your community.” That led to playing my hole card. “Your priest has agreed to write a Sunday column for the paper about local issues, good and bad,” I said. “The observations and opinions of a man of his stature are important to our readers.” This priest was not only a strong spiritual leader. He was popular with those of all colors and nationalities in the streets of Camden. When he stood and took a modest bow, the room exploded with applause. I do not mean to make myself the hero of this story. It was our people who went into troubled neighborhoods to report the news. They were the true heroes. It was my privilege to “lift them up.”

Special offer for our readers

Jerry Bellune shares inspiring stories lin his book, “Lead People, Manage Things.” Buy an autographed copy of his $27 book for only $20. Call 359-7633.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here