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People Behind the Power – Meet Manny Bibian

Whether he is keeping the lights on for Middle Tennessee, spending time with his family or providing a life-changing opportunity for remote mountain communities in Guatemala, Manny Bibian centers his life on serving others.

Bibian is originally from the Golden State of California but has called Wartrace in Bedford County home since 2023. Bibian moved to the Volunteer State for a better and quieter life for his wife of 11 years and their two children.

Bibian has been a lineworker for eight years and has been a part of the Middle Tennessee Electric team for over a year now. He completes his daily responsibilities of working and checking on the system and also responds to power outages when needed. To him, though, it’s more than that.

“First and foremost, it’s about keeping the lights on for all the members here in Middle Tennessee,” Bibian said. “Within that, though, we are serving. Not only are we getting to serve and help people, but we also have this camaraderie every day of working alongside people who become your family.”

Bibian expanded that service and family footprint last month on a life-changing project to bring electricity to two rural villages in Guatemala. For 17 days, Bibian and 14 other lineworkers from six other Tennessee electric cooperatives worked in Corral Viejo and La Paz, villages that the men had to drive through some rough terrain and up some mountains to get to. The volunteer team built nearly 8 miles of power line to connect 28 homes, two schools and a small business to electricity for the first time.

“You should have seen how happy the community was when we arrived,” Bibian said. “Then that happiness turned into huge smiles and tears when we brought them power. It was a heartwarming experience for us all.”

While all of Project Highlight was an incredible experience for Bibian, his favorite part of the trip was the people.

“People over there are really oriented on family, being outside and supporting their community,” Bibian said. “It was really nice seeing a slower-paced life. It’s what I imagined Middle Tennessee being like 60-plus years ago.”

When the lineworkers weren’t hard at work, they spent their down time interacting with the people, especially the kids. Every morning the 15 men would bring different candy and treats from town for the children. The kids would line up and grab a few pieces. Some would even jump back in line for more, but the lineworkers didn’t mind. Evenings were spent playing soccer matches.

“While we played, all I could think about was how great it was to provide power to this community in general, but knowing that we brought power to two schools for these kids was even more rewarding,” Bibian said. “Now they have the power to learn and study. We were able to provide a life changing opportunity, and I am so thankful I was able to be a part of that.”

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Tennessee lineworkers bring light to two remote Guatemalan villages

NASHVILLE – 15 volunteer lineworkers from seven electric cooperatives across Tennessee have returned home after completing a life-changing project to bring electricity to two rural villages in Guatemala.

For 17 days the crew worked in the remote mountain communities of Corral Viejo and La Paz, building nearly eight miles of power line across rugged terrain to connect 28 homes, two schools and a small business to electricity for the first time. The work will allow children to study after dark, families to refrigerate food and store medicine and entrepreneurs to open or expand their businesses.

“It is impossible to fully grasp the impact this project will have on the people of these villages,” said Mike Knotts, CEO of the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. “Their lives will be forever changed thanks to the service and sacrifice of these volunteer lineworkers.”

The Tennessee team says the greatest impact wasn’t measured in miles of line or number of connections — it was in the relationships formed.

“The work we performed was excruciating at points,” said Chris Miller, a lineworker from Volunteer Energy Cooperative. “but at the end of the day, it was more gratifying than anything I’ve ever accomplished.”

For many residents, it marked the first time they could flip a switch and see their home illuminated.

“I thank God for this blessing that has come to our village,” said Corral Viejo resident Leonel Perez. “I have lived here for 34 years, and I never thought we would see anything like this.”

The work was especially important for one lineworker.

“I was born in Guatemala before I was adopted and brought to the states,” said Micah Hagan, a lineman with Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation. “I was really drawn to doing something for the people here, and it was a special opportunity. I’m thankful I was able to do it.”

The project was part of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association International Program, an ongoing effort to extend electric service to underserved areas, reflecting the cooperative principle of Concern for Community — a commitment that extends beyond state or national borders.

“The people in the villages are experiencing something that we experienced in our communities 80 years ago,” said Mike Partin, CEO of Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative and president of the NRECA board of directors, “and it will change lives forever.”

The volunteers are excited about the opportunities created by the project and the bond formed with fellow lineworkers from across the state.

“For me to be able to come here and maybe initiate a small spark that might help these communities to grow was an opportunity I really wanted to jump on to,” said Nick Gipson, a line foreman for Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative and team leader for the project. “These were some of the best men that I’ve ever worked with, and I would work with them anywhere in the world.”

In addition to building power lines, Volunteer Energy Cooperative donated 50 pairs of shoes for the children in the villages, while Middle Tennessee Electric, Duck River Electric Membership Corporation, and Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative provided six new laptops for the village schools. These gifts will help students take their first steps into a brighter academic future and give teachers new tools to prepare the next generation.

Tennessee co-ops, along with supply partners United Utility Supply and Gresco, also provided new hardhats, work gloves, rubber gloves and headlamps for the lineworkers at the local Guatemalan utility.

The volunteer lineworkers for the project were Chase McSpadden with Appalachian Electric Cooperative; Micah Hagan, Josh Kennedy and Jake Perry with Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation; Lucas Burke, Chase Cares and Cody McIlwain with Duck River Electric Membership Corporation; Donny Thomas with Gibson Electric Membership Corporation; Manny Bibian, Mike Diggs and Terrence Floyd with Middle Tennessee Electric; Nick Gipson and Danny Walker with Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative; and Chris Miller and Kaleb Waldrop with Volunteer Energy Cooperative. Mike Knotts and Trent Scott with the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association and Mike Partin with Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative attended the project inauguration.

The project would not have been possible without the support of the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, CoBank, TVA, United Utility Supply and Gresco.

“We especially thank the participating co-ops,” Knotts said. “There’s no other way to say it – lives were changed as a result of their investment and support of this program.”

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Village of La Paz energized

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Project Highlight crews welcomed to the region by the mayor of the Municipalidad de Guastatoya

The Project Highlight crew was welcomed to the region this morning by the mayor of the Municipalidad de Guastatoya. Mayor Guerra has a massive social media following in Guatemala. You can watch his interactions with the crew below.

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Tennessee lineworkers bring hope, power and opportunity to Guatemala

15 Tennessee electric lineworkers are preparing for a trip to Guatemala to provide hope, power and opportunity.

“This is a mission for us to go and be a part of something bigger,” said Nick Gibson, the team lead of the trip and a lineworker with Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative.

This mission marks the first for a full Tennessee crew to go on this type of trip with NRECA International. 13 lineworkers and two apprentices will leave for their journey on July 23 and work for 16 days to bring a whole new way of life to a community in need. Before they arrive, locals are preparing the area and setting poles. The team has a goal of building two power lines for two different villages. That means they will pull all the wire, hang the transformers, pull the secondary wire and help wire in all the houses and schools in that area. The project extends for around 38 poles.

“It’s one project together, but we’re knocking out quite a bit of work,” Gibson said. “We get this opportunity to help those that are in need and in want of something, though. We are going to get to help these communities grow and become more productive.”

Micah Hagan with Cumberland Electric Membership Corporation is one of the men going on the trip, and he has a unique connection to the mission. Hagan was born in Guatemala and moved to the U.S. after he was adopted at 8 months old. Not only is he excited to see where he is originally from for the first time, he is also eager to return the kindness they showed him.

“To me, it’s a way to give back to a community that gave me a chance to have a better future,” Hagan said. “Originally being from Guatemala, I’m excited to go back and give a little bit, even though they gave more for me than I can give in this instance. I’m looking forward to it.”

The Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association is proud to support this mission and asks that you keep these men in your prayers as they travel and bring light to Guatemala. To keep up with these lineworkers and their time away, follow the hashtag #ProjectHighLight on TECA’s social media accounts. You can also track their progress on our Project Highlight website.

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