Meet Josh Brown, KEC’s Purchasing Agent.
Josh has been with the cooperative for four years. He ensures the cooperative has the right materials, at the right time, at the right price, so the lights stay on and our system stays reliable.
Tell us about your background and what led you to KEC.
I had always heard that KEC was a great place to work. I really wanted a job where I could serve the local community—that’s what originally led me to law enforcement. I served as a sheriff’s deputy for Kootenai County for four years. Before that, I spent 18 years with a non-profit in Post Falls, where I wore many hats, including human resources and purchasing.
My time with the Sheriff’s Department also gave me experience in security and facilities. I loved the job, but the night shifts were tough with a young family. I applied for several jobs at KEC before I was offered the purchasing agent role.
What does a typical day look like for you as the purchasing agent?
It starts with a massive amount of coffee and a continuous stream of requests to purchase everything from pencils to transformers. I try to find the best price and lead times. I also conduct research on materials that are new to our organization.
With my experience at the Kootenai County Jail, I have a background in facility security, so I sometimes assist with facility, building, or security-related requests as well.
How does your role change during power outages?
During storms and outages, my job shifts to acquiring, cooking, and distributing food to the crews. When a storm hits, the crews will start by working 24 hours straight, and we have to keep them fueled. I usually work 18-hour days to make that happen. Additionally, if a major piece of equipment is damaged in a storm, I have to track down a replacement—whether from another area utility, a vendor, or a supplier.
One of the things I value most is cooperation among electric cooperatives. We often share materials and crews to get through storms and restore power to our collective members.
By making sure the right materials are on hand when they’re needed, I help keep projects on schedule and outages as short as possible, especially during major storms when every minute counts.
What is the biggest challenge in your job?
Keeping up on all the capital and construction projects to ensure materials are ordered well in advance. Some materials have very long lead times, and I have to stay on top of those timelines and keep other departments informed so we can get projects done on time.
Right now, for example, ductal iron poles have a 30-week lead time. KEC and other electric utilities are using these poles more and more as a fire mitigation strategy. These poles can last up to 100 years so it means less maintenance as well.
What is the best part of your job?
The cooperation within the organization is great—we all try to help each other do our jobs better. And the cooperative community as a whole is just a wonderful group to be part of.
What is your favorite thing about our community?
I grew up in Coeur d’Alene, and I’m in the stage of life where I’m focused on my family. I enjoy cooking and I attend my daughters’ sports and school activities.