by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Three decades of service and loyalty have paid off for JEA’s Jim Dickenson.
Last month, the JEA Board voted to create the chief operating officer position at Jacksonville’s utility company. A few moments later, JEA CEO Walt Bussells nominated Dickenson for the job. Next week, the board is expected to officially grant Dickenson the title of COO, one that will accompany his current role as vice president of transformational projects.
For Dickenson, the promotion and added responsibility is nothing new. He joined JEA fresh out of Clemson University in 1972 as a design systems engineer and did, literally, almost everything in between.
“I moved around in the company a lot and volunteered for many opportunities,” said Dickenson, who will oversee much of the day-to-day aspects of JEA while Bussells, who’s currently serving on Mayor-elect John Peyton’s Executive Transition Steering Committee, will continue to handle large projects and keep close tabs on the entire utility. “I’ve been an engineer, in construction maintenance, customer relations, procurement, human resources.
“I always seemed to be willing to volunteer. I didn’t think about it. If the boss asked, I put my hand up.”
It’s that work ethic and flexibility that gives Dickenson so much credibility with JEA employees. But it is his willingness to welcome change that endeared him to Bussells, the other nine JEA vice presidents and the board.
“He was both the logical and obvious choice,” said JEA spokesman Bruce Dugan, adding Dickenson’s versatility over the years has proven invaluable. “He understands both sides. When Walt talked about the COO position, he went to all the vice presidents and said, ‘If it wasn’t you, then who?’ Jim came out on top.”
Dickenson says he’s flattered by the confidence and understands the new role doesn’t mean an easier job. However, he also said the ability to move around and up within the 2,000-employee company is exactly why he has stayed so long.
“I would not be here if I was still an engineer designing transmission lines,” he said. “I’ve been a lot of other places in the company.”
Through his 29-plus years — he’ll celebrate his 30th anniversary in October — Dickenson has seen JEA grow and evolve from a disorganized mess with extremely low public approval to one of the premier utilities in the state. That, too, virtually assures he’ll retire one day from JEA.
“I love the company,” said Dickenson. “Since 1973 there has been quite a bit of change. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, JEA was the hated child. We had some of the highest rates in the state. Now, we have almost the lowest in Florida.
“I love Jacksonville. I grew up in South Carolina and went to Clemson. When I graduated, I came here and this is the only place in my formal work career. On one hand, the company is large enough to have a big impact, but small enough to make changes and not move slow.”
Dickenson also took a moment to address Bussells, what he’s doing now and what will take place when the mayoral transition period comes to an end.
“Walt is not really gone,” explained Dickenson. “I meet with him weekly and we go over strategic projects and issues. He meets with our executive team for a couple hours every two weeks and he meets with the board chair. He still has oversight of large projects.
“Walt has been CEO since 1995 and he is very engaged. He’s a hard worker and puts in lots of hours.”
Dickenson said he, too, has heard that Bussells will eventually be named chief financial officer under Peyton, but expects Bussells will return to JEA full-time shortly after Peyton takes office July 1.