This week’s Responder of the Week is Jacob Mendoza, a longtime Ulysses resident who serves the community as a lineman and crew foreman with Pioneer Electric.
Jacob and his wife, Tori Billings, were both born and raised in Ulysses and are raising their two daughters, Emily and Avery, in the same community they call home. For Jacob, that connection makes his work especially meaningful.
Jacob has worked for Pioneer Electric for 11 years and currently serves as a crew foreman. To earn his journeyman lineman certification, he completed four years of coursework and training, a process that prepared him for the demanding and often dangerous nature of the job.
“Growing up here is one of the best things about my job,” Mendoza said. “I get to serve our members in our service territory and also our community of Ulysses. Being able to help my family, friends, and people I’ve known most of my life has been one of the biggest blessings to me.”
As a lineman, Jacob responds to emergencies caused by accidents, severe weather, and power outages, all while working to keep the public safe. He said helping members during those moments of need brings a sense of fulfillment that can’t be replaced.
“It’s a feeling that can’t be replaced in many other ways,” Mendoza said. “As linemen, we take pride in being able to do those things.”
Jacob also expressed gratitude for the support Pioneer Electric has provided to him and his family over the years, noting the cooperative has been a blessing in many ways. He added that the appreciation shown by members after restoring power or resolving dangerous situations never goes unnoticed.
“The sense of gratitude and appreciation that people show us when we help them doesn’t go unnoticed,” Mendoza said. “It’s a really good feeling.”
Through his dedication, professionalism, and deep ties to the community, Jacob Mendoza exemplifies the spirit of service that defines a true responder.
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