Bill DeFoor, Director

  • BDeFoor1Length of time w/ company: Hire Date – March 1, 2006
  • Based in: Rabun Gap, GA
  • Educational background:
    • Bachelor of Science in Building Construction – Georgia Institute of Technology
    • Stephens County High School, Toccoa, GA
  • Employment History:
    • Regional Office Manager for a regional consulting engineering firm
    • Natural Gas Director for a Georgia municipal system
    • Project Manager for general contractors and utility contractor
  • Professional achievements worth noting:
    • Completed RSPA’s (now PHMSA) Regulator Compliance for Natural Gas Operations Industry Course, Oklahoma City, OK
    • Former Member and twice Chairman – GMA Gas Section Executive Committee
    • Presenter – President’s Council on Y2K Readiness/FERC Industry Working Group Meeting
    • Presenter – Atlanta Year 2000 Utilities Forum
    • Former Arbitrator – American Arbitration Association
    • Participant in APGA SIF Working Groups for development of OQ Evaluation Materials, O&M Procedures, Compliance Training, and DIMP Development Tool, O&M Manual Development Tool
    • SIF Board of Directors
  • Certifications or designations worth noting:
    • Gas Authority 1997 Marketer of the Year
    • APGA Harry M. Cooke Personal Service Award
  • Favorite thing about working with SRCS:
    • I get up every morning knowing that I can help someone that day.

Tim Franklin, Manager

  • TFranklin1Length of time w/ company: Hire Date – March 15, 2006
  • Based in: Demorest, GA
  • Educational background:
    • Gainesville College, Gainesville, GA
    • Jackson County High School, Jefferson, GA
  • Employment History:
    • Senior Pipeline Safety Inspector for Georgia Public Service Commission
    • Operations Supervisor, Crew Foreman, Training Instructor, and other positions for large investor-owned natural gas distribution company
    • United States Marine Corps
    • United States Army Reserve
  • Professional achievements worth noting:
    • Participant in APGA SIF Working Groups for development of O&M Procedures and O&M Manual Development Tool
    • Member of Georgia Pipeline Emergency Response Initiative (GPERI) organizing committee
  • Certifications or designations worth noting:
    • PHMSA Transportation Safety Institute (now Training & Qualifying)
      • General Pipeline Safety Awareness
      • Pipeline Failure Investigation Techniques
      • Joining of Pipeline Materials
      • Pipeline Safety Regulation Application & Compliance Procedures
      • Safety Evaluation of Gas Pipeline Systems
      • Operator Qualification
      • Fundamentals of Liquefied Natural Gas
      • Liquefied Natural Gas Safety Technology Inspection
      • Fundamentals of Gas Pressure Regulators
      • Gas Pressure Regulation & Over Pressure Protection
      • HAZWOPPER Refresher for Pipeline Safety Representatives
      • External Corrosion Direct Assessment
      • Internal Corrosion Direct Assessment
      • High Consequence Areas
      • Fundamentals of Basic DC Electricity
      • Fundamentals of Pipeline Corrosion Cathodic Protection
      • Corrosion Control of Pipeline Systems
      • Investigating and Managing Internal Corrosion of Pipelines
      • Gas Integrity Management Protocol Seminar
    • Favorite thing about working with SRCS:
      • Having the opportunity to help our Subscribers navigate through the maze of regulatory requirements that are necessary for the safe delivery of natural gas to their customers.

Maurice Chaney, Assistant Manager

  • MChaney1Length of time w/ company: Hire Date – January 7, 2007
  • Based in: Trion, GA
  • Educational background:
    • Trion High School, Trion, GA
  • Employment history:
    • Assistant Gas Superintendent for a Georgia municipality
    • Gas system employee for two Georgia municipalities
    • Operations Specialist – United States Navy
  • Professional achievements worth noting:
    • SIF Working Group for development and maintenance of Anti-Drug and Alcohol Misuse Prevention Plan development tool
  • Certifications or designations worth noting:
  • Favorite thing about working with SRCS:
    • Deciphering complicated regulations and then working with my Subscribers to help them comply. It fits my personality; sort of a calling.

Bruce Bagnasco, PE, Senior Analyst – Engineer

  • Hire Date – March 1, 2020
  • Based in Hartwell, Georgia
  • Education:
    • Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering – University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    • Page High School, Greensboro, North Carolina
  • Employment History:
    • Director of Natural Gas Engineering for a national consulting engineering firm, 2013-2020
    • Vice president for a regional consulting engineering firm, 1997-2013
    • Project Engineer for a regional consulting engineering firm, 1987-1997
  •  Certifications:
    • Professional Engineer, Georgia, North Carolina and New York
  • Favorite thing about working with SRCS:
    • Being a member of a team of professionals with a common goal of providing guidance and assistance to natural gas system operators.

Lori Lamberth, PE, Senior Analyst – Engineer

Chris Cawley, Senior Compliance Analyst

  • CCawley1Length of time w/ company: Hire Date – June 1, 2009
  • Based in: Augusta, GA
  • Educational background:
    • Samford University, Birmingham, AL.
    • George P Butler High School, Augusta, GA.
  • Employment history
    • Safety and Operations Training Manager for large investor-owned natural gas distribution company
  • Professional achievements worth noting:
    • Presenter, AGA Training Round Table, Montreal, Canada
    • Presenter, Pipeline Safety Seminar sponsored by Georgia Municipal Association.
    • Adult Learning Presentation Southern Gas Association Training Roundtable
    • Presenter, VNG Pipeline Safety Seminar, Virginia Beach, VA
    • Presenter, Southeastern Gas Association Safety Conference
    • Member, Untapped Labor Sources Subcommittee of the Georgia Energy and Industrial Consortium
    • Chairman, Southern Gas Association Distribution and Transmission Committee
    • Chairman, Southern Gas Association Technical Training Committee
    • Member, Southern Gas Association Training Committee
    • Member, Southern Gas Association Operator Qualification Committee
    • Member, Atlanta Tech HVAC Advisory Board
  • Certifications or designations worth noting:
    • Industrial Hygienist
    • OSHA Training Institute, Registered Outreach Trainer – Construction Industry, General Industry, and Disaster Site Worker
    • Certified Safety Executive, World Safety Organization
    • Certified Welding Inspector Plant and Pipeline, National Welding Inspection School
    • Certified Smith System Driver Trainer
    • OSHA 30 Construction Industry / OSHA 30 General Industry, Safety and Health
    • OSHA Disaster Site Worker Training
    • Certified Driving Instructor, National Safety Council
    • Welder Certificate
  • Favorite thing about working with SRCS:
    • Having the freedom to work independently with my Subscribers while knowing I have the full support and assistance of my fellow team members.

Sam Yarley, Senior Compliance Analyst

  • SYarley1Length of time w/ company: Hire Date – March 8, 2010
  • Educational background:
    • Southwest Georgia Technical College – Welding
    • Bainbridge College
    • Cairo High School, Cairo, GA
  • Employment history
    • Pipeline Safety Inspector for Georgia Public Service Commission
    • Gas Superintendent for a Georgia municipal system
    • Corrosion Technician for regional natural gas consultant/contractor
  • Professional achievements worth noting:
    • Safety Trainer and Evaluator for municipal natural gas systems and contractors
    • Volunteer Fire Fighter
    • PHMSA Transportation Safety Institute (now Training & Qualifying)
      • Pipeline Evaluations
      • Failure Investigations
      • Joining Procedures and Materials
      • Corrosion Control
      • Liquefied Natural Gas Requirements
      • Operator Qualification
      • Odorization
      • Over-Pressure Protection
      • Enforcement of Pipeline Safety Regulations
    • Certifications or designations worth noting:
    • Favorite thing about working with SRCS:
      • Being part of a great team and providing a reliable service to our members

Wade Sharpe, Compliance Analyst

  • Length of time w/ company: Hire Date – January 1, 2019
  • Based in:  Dublin, Georgia
  • Educational background:
    • Middle Georgia College
    • Georgia Southern University
    • East Laurens High School
  • Employment history
    • Gas Superintendent, Gas Compliance Officer, and Engineering Technician for a Georgia municipal system
    • Estimator/Supervisor for water and sewer pipeline contractor
    • Self-employed welding and fabricating company owner
    • Welder and pipe fitter for various companies
  • Professional achievements worth noting:
    • UGA Governmental Management Training
    • OFTC Customer Service Training
    • GMA Personnel Management Training
    • GMA Gas Section Operator Qualification Training

 

Gene Taylor, Technical Analyst

  • Length of time w/ company: Hire Date – May 16, 2017
  • Educational background:
    • Flint River Academy
  • Employment history:
    • Gas Regulations & Supply Specialist and other positions for Georgia municipal Operator
  • Professional achievements worth noting:
    • Under Construction
  • Certifications or designations worth noting:
    • Under Construction
  • Favorite thing about working with SRCS:
    • Under Construction

Chris Welborn, Compliance Analyst

  • CWelborn1Length of time w/ company: Hire Date – January 1, 2015
  • Educational background:
    • West Georgia Technical College
    • Troup County High School
  • Employment history:
    • Pipeline Safety Inspector for Georgia Public Service Commission
    • Gas Superintendent and other positions for two Georgia municipal systems
  • Professional achievements worth noting:
    • PHMSA Transportation Safety Institute (now Training & Qualifying)
      • Safety Evaluation of Distribution Integrity Management Programs
      • Safety Evaluation of Gas Pipeline Systems
      • Gas Pressure Regulation and Overpressure Protection
      • Plastic and Composite Materials
      • HAZWOPER Refresher for Pipeline Safety Representatives
      • Welding and Welding Inspection of Pipeline Materials
      • Pipeline Failure Investigation Techniques
      • Pipeline Safety Regulation Application and Compliance Procedures
      • General Pipeline Safety Awareness
      • Corrosion Control of Pipeline Systems
      • Evaluation of Operator Qualification
      • Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Safety Technology and Inspection
    • PHMSA web-based training courses
      • Fundamentals of Liquefied Natural Gas
      • Introduction to Pipeline Welding
      • Regulatory Overview
      • Fundamentals of Plastic Pipe
      • Public Awareness Programs for Pipeline Operators
      • Operator Qualification
      • Investigating and Managing Internal Corrosion of Pipelines
      • Fundamentals of Basic DC Electricity
      • Drug and Alcohol Testing for the Pipeline Industry
      • Fundamentals of Pipeline Corrosion and Cathodic Protection
      • HAZWOPER Training
      • Fundamentals of Gas Pressure Regulators
      • Introduction to Part 192
      • Natural Gas Odorization
      • Introduction to Gas Laws
      • Introduction of Distribution Integrity Management Program
    • Natural Gas Firefighting
    • National Incident Management System courses
  • Certifications or designations worth noting:
    • GSWCC Soil and Erosion Control Certification
  • Favorite thing about working with SRCS:
    • When I hear an Operator say, “I’m glad you showed that to me.” It’s satisfying knowing that the resources that are available to me through the SRCS can have a positive impact on the Operator and the consumer.