Meet APM Boilermaker, Timothy Shake!
Est. Read Time: 8 minutes
This month’s spotlight features APM Boilermaker, Timothy Shake! Tim first signed up for the apprenticeship program in 1987 and start working as a pre-apprentice. At first, he worked in combustion engineering then ABB, then Alstom, GE, and now APM. For the past 20+ years, he’s been the foreman and general foreman on jobs. His great uncle Eddie Dowell Sr. was a chartered member of local 45. Tim’s dad followed him in the trades and eventually Tim followed his dad. This spring Tim will complete his 37th year in the trade! Outside of work, Tim is also a father of three. We are so excited to spotlight Tim and congratulate him on his recent APM award win! Please read below for testimonials from his team.
“I met Tim in 2012 when I worked as a traveler at Mt Storm in WV. I quickly realized that Tim was a great foreman as he kept safety a priority and he made sure his crew had everything they needed to be successful. Fast forward 5 years and I had the opportunity to be the superintendent at Dominion Chesterfield Station where I was lucky enough to have Tim back as my GF. He served as my GF for several projects after that and was a huge part of our project success stories. Tim always made sure that the plan was communicated to the team and questions were answered before the tasks started. Tim is the kind of craftsman that you want on the team. He can motivate a diverse crew toward a common goal and is willing to meet any challenge with a can do attitude. I have always been impressed with Tim’s willingness to support a project, whether close to home or across the country, Tim is a steadfast and reliable leader in the field.”
- John Baierlein, APM US Boiler Sr. Operations Division Leader
“I met Tim Shake, for the first time, last year while we were preforming the reheat header and element replacement at Entergy Ninemile Point in Louisiana. I knew immediately that Tim was a great asset. Tim was on the opposite shift of me, but I got to watch his turnovers between shifts and his interactions with the crew. He has an invigorating ability to inspire the team to accomplish a common goal safely, with quality and integrity in mind. He was an integral part in smoothing the transitions between day shift and night to make sure the flow of work continued with excellent turnovers. In short, Tim Shake is a craftsman among craftsman.”
-Tommy Tucker, APM Boiler Superintendent
Read more to get to know Timothy’s perspectives on success and leadership, his old nickname, and top life highlights.
What is a typical workday for you?
I prefer working the night shift. I like to get there early and meet with my counterparts, walk to see where our troubled areas are and be able to have time to make a game plan for the men. I like to make sure everybody knows what’s going on, complete a good safe shift, go back to the motel and get some rest since most of the time I’m on the road. Keeping everybody safe and completing the days task are my top priorities.
What do you find the most challenging in your role?
The most challenging part of the shift is communication between me and my foreman, and the foreman and the men.
What do you like most about working with APM?
The best part of working with APM is the Superintendents. They have a game plan and know what needs to be completed. They get whatever tools we need and listen attentively. They make me feel like it’s a partnership. Whenever they have work in the area, and sometimes outside the area, they call and request me.
What is your proudest moment with APM?
My proudest moment was in 2001. We did the second phase of the SER‘s on unit one and two at Mount Storm, West Virginia. I was there for 10 months. The night I finished, I looked back at the plant and seen all the work that we did. I’ll never forget that feeling.
Who has influenced you most when it comes to how you approach your work?
My dad, great uncle, and the men of local 45 when I first got started. They took me in and made sure I knew what I was doing. Though times have changed, back then if they weren’t yelling at you, they didn’t care about you.
How do you prefer to spend your days off?
When I’m not working, it’s all about the family and spending time together. It’s easy now that all my children are grown and out on their own, but it was hard when they were little.
Tim’s Top Life Highlights
When I married my beautiful wife Beth 39 years ago. My three beautiful kids, Tim Junior, Sherri, and Courteney. And my two beautiful granddaughters ages, three and five. Iliza and Nova are the best things in my life and are a handful.
Tim’s Perspective on Leadership
True leadership to me means knowing what needs to be done being able to communicate and to listen.
Tim’s Definition of Success
Success to me is that everybody goes home safe the way they came. We get the job done on time or ahead of schedule. Do the job right the first time.
Tim’s Work Nickname
Back when I was young and still had red hair, they used to call me pumpkin head, but that was a long time ago now they just called me Tim.