Mike Bridges

Background: 

I worked for a utility for 23 ½ years then in 2000, I was hired on with MD&A. I was hired for my Westinghouse experience. Since joining MD&A I have worked on Ansaldo, Alstom, BBC, GEC ALSTOM, Westinghouse, Siemens, Allis Chalmers, MAN, Hitachi, and Mitsubishi turbines. Whenever asked about my familiarity with a particular machine that I hadn’t worked with before, I would respond by saying, “No, but I embrace new experiences without hesitation.” I have always been enthusiastic about accepting fresh challenges and seizing opportunities for growth and learning.

What do you do here at MD&A? What aspect do you enjoy most about your role at MD&A?

I am classified as a TFA, Technical Field Director, but have been doing overall project management 90% of the time and I love it. I get a lot of self-satisfaction by completing projects under the scheduled time and budget.   

Why is Pre-Outage Planning so important to a successful outage?

Good pre-outage planning is one of the key contributors to an outage’s success. If you go through past reports and plan for completing the recommended work, the fewer surprises there will be. Planning is good but being ready and willing to adapt to changes is great.

What is the coolest job you’ve worked on? What has been your favorite project at MD&A?

This is a hard question to answer. I’ve been on a lot of projects over the years, but I would have to say that working to bring a unit back from being de-commissioned has been the most rewarding. 

What countries have you worked in? 

Almost every state in the United States, Jamaica, Panama, Philippines, Aruba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Guatemala, and several plants in Puerto Rico.

What is your personal motto?

Be careful, be safe, no accidents. It is my responsibility to lead the crew in working safely, and I make sure to provide them with whatever they need to carry out their tasks in a secure manner. Safety is crucial, and I expect the crew to prioritize it at all times.