Doug’s story is fantastic! He was born in Middletown, New York on November 22, 1958, and lived in New York for 20 years. He then decided to see the country and drive to California. Upon arriving in Tennessee, he met a bootlegger who told him he could find work in Bryan/College Station because the oil field business was booming there.

Doug did as he was told, and barely made it to the job site as his gas tank needle showed the big E -- for empty. The next day, he started work for a construction company and contracted for GTE for 4 years.

Officially, his contracting gig turned into a career with GTE in January 1982. And the rest is history. Take a moment to enjoy Doug Thornton’s views of what matters most to him in the OSP.

Explain what you do for a living in 20 words or less.
I am a Verizon Local Manager over Operations and Construction for the Southwest Division in Texas; I have contractors, lineman, air pressure techs, and cable splicers reporting to me. I have 18 employees to manage every day. I ensure they have the training and the tools to do their jobs safely and as productively as possible.

What is the favorite part of your job?
Seeing my employees leave happy and return to work the next day feeling the same way.

When do you feel the most frustrated professionally?
When I can’t meet a customer’s desired due date or I can’t provide them with all of the telecom bells and whistles that we can offer in more populated metropolitan areas.

Fiber or Copper for the future?
Fiber and copper are both needed, especially because 4G is the telecommunication of the future.

What is the quality you most admire in a colleague?
Honesty.

What treat do you keep hidden in your office/desk/truck that helps you through an OSP day?
A picture of my 2 grandsons.

Where would you vacation if money were no object?
Any place without phones -- landlines or cell!

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Memory. As soon as they can install new memory chips in the brain I am going to sign up.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Lying to me.

If you had only ONE OSP tool, what would it be?
Safety knowledge.

If you could change one thing about the OSP, what would it be?
I would encourage better communication processes -- not only across the departments of our company but between all telecommunication companies. After all, we all share the same goal -- to provide the best service we can.

Where and why do you read OSP magazine?
I read it in my office so I can keep up with new issues and new technologies.

When do you feel the most satisfied professionally?
When I know I have done my best. It is especially rewarding when my team and I are acknowledge with a “thank you” for our efforts.

What’s your favorite quote?
I was told the first day at work that in a big corporation you sometimes “step over a ten dollar bill to pick up a dime”. That can be true.

Tell us the most extraordinary/unusual experience you’ve had out in the field.
When I was an associate for Operations, I went into a customer’s house to fix a jack. It was while I was looking for the bad jack I saw some things looking back at me! They had more than 50 cats in a single-wide trailer! Let me just say, all these years later, I still remember noticing that the care of the litter box was obviously not high on their priority list.

Tell us the funniest customer experience you’ve experienced, or seen, in the field.
When I was a zone tech, a customer claimed the train behind her house was filled with space aliens. She was convinced these aliens were tapping into her phone line and were constantly harassing her. I had to go with her outside and chase them away. I still laugh till I cry when I remember all of the things I had to do to “chase them away”. But it all paid off, because she was finally convinced they were gone and she was very happy when I left.

Tell us how you got into telecommunications. By chance or plan?
It was by chance. I was working for a construction company and one of my co-workers mistakenly cut a major cable to an airport that included FAA circuits. He was terminated. My boss told me to take his place. The GTE telecommunications inspector told me if there was another cable cut I would join my buddy. It didn’t, and here I am.

If you could have your perfect job in telecom, what would it be?
I would like to oversee all departments so I could make us all work together as a team.
 

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Safety Perspectives from Doug
Verizon’s Safety Champion Interview

We always applaud those in telecom who have the official title of Safety Director. But, we can’t help but admire those folks in the OSP who take safety seriously even when it’s not their official job. (Even better, some people become so well-versed in safety, they ultimately make it their job.)

Doug Thornton is just that person. Interestingly, his role with Verizon did not begin in safety. His passion led him to that role. That’s why you’ll enjoy reading his insight about the role of safety in the OSP.

OSP: What’s your biggest safety concern?
My biggest concern is two-fold. It is safety on the job sites and also road safety. Safety has always been foremost with me.

Recently, however, safety has become even more important in my role. I’ve become the University District Safety Representative and I take it very seriously. You see, our district is home to 2 universities. And universities are synonymous with young drivers on the roads who text and talk at the same time. The problem is dangerous and running rampant.

OSP: What is one simple thing Verizon teams can do to remain safe?
We can’t become complacent with safety. Nothing is as important as our employees going home safe at the end of the day. The way we try to combat safety complacency on the job is to be constantly vigilant.

We make safety a part of the job by ensuring everyone is following Verizon’s safety procedures on the job site; company vehicles pass monthly inspections; vehicle maintenance is done in a timely manner; and all tools are inspected to make sure they are safe and function properly. If not, the tools are replaced or recalibrated.

OSP: What safety no-no do you see in the field (with other companies, of course) that irks you?
Sometimes, I see OSP folks not setting up their work locations properly on the side of road ways. By focusing totally on their job without taking safety into account, the job site can become a safety hazard to the employees, in addition to other drivers and/or pedestrians.

OSP: Why did you become so interested in safety?
I want my associates and all Verizon employees to go home safe at the end of the day. I never want to tell someone that their mother, father, sister, brother, son, or daughter will not come home.

OSP: What’s your most important safety-oriented tool?
The best tool is me. I am conscious that I must lead by example. I cannot talk the talk without walking the walk. Because of this, I realize it is critical to implement and support monthly safety meetings, safety rodeos, and safety training for both management and associates.

OSP: What’s the most dangerous situation you’ve been in and how did you get out of it?
One of my construction co-workers was standing on the side of a ditch that was 14 feet deep when it caved in. He was halfway covered. I jumped in to save him. I frantically pulled away dirt and dragged him out before it caved in again. He was badly injured but would have been dead if I hadn’t been able to get him out when I did.

OSP: Safety means…
Paying attention and using common sense.

Doug Thornton is also a proud parent and grandfather. Doug has 2 gorgeous daughters. The oldest is Melissa who is 30 and is married. She is a registered nurse and gave him 2 outstanding grandsons: Mason and Maddox. Jacque, the youngest is 26. She recently graduated as an Ultra scan technician. His wife and better half of 31 years is Julie who is also from New York and was his high school sweetheart.

For more information, email Doug at doug.thornton@one.verizon.com.