Sanford native joins REC crews as journeyman

Sanford native Ty Mortensen has joined the crews at San Luis Valley REC, bringing great experience and Valley perspective.

“I graduated from Sanford High School, where I actively participated in basketball, football and baseball. Following graduation, I spent two years traveling and working in the oil industry alongside REC colleague Dakota Barr. For over a year, we resided together in northern Montana... after several years in the oilfield, I recognized that it was not the ideal environment for building the family life I envisioned. Inspired by my uncle, Perry Sowards, who found fulfillment in his career as a lineman, while providing a stable life for his family, I decided to pursue a similar path. So, I enrolled in the line worker program at Mesa State College,” Ty explained.

Upon completing the program in spring 2013, he secured an apprentice position with La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) in Durango, Colo. where he took on a four-year apprenticeship. After successfully completing it, Ty advanced to the role of troubleman, spending eight years troubleshooting and resolving outages across Durango and La Plata County. “This experience significantly enhanced my expertise in the field. While I cherished my time in Durango, I believed the small-town atmosphere of the Valley would better suit my children,” he said.

“As a proud father of four—Axtyn, Indy, Navy, and Rev—my children are my greatest priority. In my leisure time, I find joy in hunting, riding dirt bikes, and running. If I am at work, I prefer to have my hooks (boot attachments for climbing poles) on or at least working lines ‘above ground.’” Ty commented.

Ty is grateful for the opportunity to serve this community and further his knowledge in the high-voltage industry across the Valley. “REC has a great community environment; the leadership seems open-minded, and they carry experience in the industry. Along with that, the grid has a large dual voltage footprint, so I am excited to hit the ground running on this new endeavor and be an asset alongside the rest of the organization in this quickly changing industry,” he said.

Welcome to the team, Ty, we’re happy to have you here!