In service to community, these employees are first to respond, last to leave

Across our footprint, dozens of Williams employees also serve as volunteer first responders — fighting fires, providing medical assistance and leading rescue operations. During natural disasters, they collaborate and coordinate with local response agencies.

Their motivations are as diverse as their backgrounds, but each shares a deep commitment to helping others.

A rescue that changed everything

For Stephen Lucero, an operations technician in Wyoming, it’s a way to pay it forward.

In 2017, he got a terrifying call: his three teenage sons were stuck on a perilous rock cliff known as Kortes Dam, with freezing temperatures and 18 inches of snow on the ground.

“We had to act fast,” Lucero said. “I called the Carbon County Sheriff and some guys I knew on the search and rescue team. We got approval to shut down the Kortes Dam so we could launch a boat and save them. I didn’t realize until later how big of a deal it was to shut down a dam.”

Lucero and his wife were so thankful their children weren’t harmed, they later joined the search and rescue team, along with two of their now-adult sons. Lucero serves as vice president of the team, which benefits from Williams first responder grants used to purchase radios and other equipment.

“Rawlins is a small town where everyone knows each other,” he said. “When someone’s in need, the whole community steps up.”

A family legacy of service

Like Lucero, Bill White’s dedication to emergency service is rooted in personal history — one that spans generations.

White serves with the Justus Volunteer Fire Company in Scott Township, Pennsylvania, where he’s also been fire chief. He volunteers on the dive rescue team, which has received grants from Williams.

“I grew up surrounded by it,” said White, a senior project manager. “I loved helping the community and the camaraderie. Fire service is often called a brotherhood. It’s a bond built through shared risks, training and a commitment to protect.”

Decades of dedication

In a neighboring community, Don Snyder brings two decades of experience and a family legacy of service to his volunteer work.

Snyder, a telecoms specialist, volunteers at the Chinchilla Hose Company, where he is assistant fire chief. He’s also an EMT, his father was a paramedic and his grandfather a police officer.

“It’s in my blood,” Snyder said. “I want to give back to the community I’ve lived in my whole life.”

He said Williams grants have enabled his fire company to buy thermal imaging cameras and radio equipment.

“You meet people on their worst day, but you’re there to help them get to safety,” he said. “When there’s a good outcome, it reminds me why I do this.”

Bridging safety at work and home

In West Virginia, Cris Jenkins has spent nearly 30 years balancing professional safety with community protection.

At work, Jenkins is responsible for keeping assets and people safe. Outside of work, he volunteers with the New Martinsville Fire Department.

As a safety specialist for Williams, those worlds often overlap. He helps lead safety drills and tours at Williams assets with regional first responders.

“I understand both sides, what first responders need and how our operations work,” Jenkins said. “That helps bridge the gap.”

He noted that West Virginia has 337 volunteer fire departments. Without them, response times would be limited and communities would face higher insurance rates.

Serving where services are limited

And it’s not just rural areas that rely on volunteers. In Tulsa, Seth Blackwell, a business development lead, volunteers for Green Country Fire Department.

The coverage area covers Keystone Lake and the Keystone Ancient Forest, a 1,400-acre recreation area that can be difficult to find injured or missing persons.

“I’ve been a firefighter and EMT for six years,” he said. “I do it because I’m passionate about serving and providing care where emergency services are limited.”

Blackwell recently paired with a search and rescue dog named Zara, purchased with help from Williams.

In Kansas, Doug Peters also has a partner with a nose for rescue.

Peters, a tech specialist senior, is a canine handler for the Civil Air Patrol Kansas Wing and Windom Rural Fire Department. His dog Mack is trained to find missing persons.

“If we can bring someone home, that’s everything,” Peters said, pausing. “We hope it never happens, but if it does, we’re ready.”

A culture of service

In 2024, Williams donated $660,000 to support 323 first responder organizations, including departments where our employees volunteer as firefighters and first responders.

Whether inspired by personal experience, family tradition or a calling to serve, these employees embody Williams’ values beyond the workplace.