Article from EGSA's Q1 2023 Powerline Magazine:
"The Electrical Generating Systems Association (EGSA) is proud to announce that Rustin Riss of Kelly Generator & Equipment was named the 2022 Technician of the Year (TOYA) winner. EGSA's TOYA award is our association's way of honoring and showcasing the on-site power industry's first responders and unsung heroes, who determinedly give their time and attention to the power generation systems and packaged engineered solutions around the globe.
Rustin was raised in Alaska, graduated from Soldotna High School, studied Aviation Maintenance and has been a Master and Lead Startup Technician with Kelly since 2009. He has shown a deep commitment to his company and customers. He understands the devastating factors that come with losing power, especially when there is no working back-up generator. One example of this was when he willingly put himself in harm's way when there was a 911 tower generator down. Rustin was dropped off by helicopter, which landed in 10ft. of snow, on the top of the mountain to gain access to the genset. Knowing the importance of this unit, he didn't hesitate to volunteer for this mission. Needless to say, he did not disappoint and got the unit up and running. In addition to being a dedicated technician, Rustin is also the top trainer at Kelly. Not only does he train technicians and new employees in the field, but he has the capability to train anybody looking to advance their certification up to the Commercial level.
Generator technicians are responsible for servicing, maintaining, selling parts and providing customer assurance. In our industry, technical knowledge is respected and expected, but the ability to think and act under pressure is what separates elite technicians from the shade tree mechanic. These pieces of equipment are sensitive and complex systems that require expertise to keep the power on! The systems a technician works on can sometimes be the difference between a life or death situation.
Congratulations to our 2022 TOYA recipient, Rustin Riss, your dedication and hard work in service to your customers represents the best in our industry."
