Blp's Director of Production Retires on June 30, 2011

Thursday, June 30, 2011, Grand Haven -- The Grand Haven Board of Light & Power's Director of Production, Dan Bush retired from his position at the J.B. Sims Generation Station on June 30, 2011.

"It's with mixed emotion that I'm leaving the BLP, which has truly been a great way to wrap up a 41 year career in the power industry," stated Bush during his retirement luncheon at the J.B. Sims Generating Station this afternoon.

In December 1969, Bush graduated with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree from Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan and began his career in the power industry in January 1970.

"It was during college I decided the power industry was for me," stated Bush. "I interviewed with three companies, two of which made job offers, and I accepted a position with Consumers Power to begin my long-term career."

While working for Consumers Power, Bush held several progressive technical and managerial positions in Kalamazoo, Jackson, Monroe and Bay City. Bush's long-term goal to work at their J.H. Campbell plant in Port Sheldon Township came to fruition in 1991 when he was offered a position as Site General Manager. Bush managed multiple stations and projects at this facility until he resigned in 1996 and accepted a short-term position with West Michigan Industrial Services in Grand Haven. Bush worked for Holland Board of Public Works as Director of Transmission and Distribution until opening his own business, Ottawa Precast and Supply, in 1997.

"During the period of transition from Consumers Power to owning my own business, I realized the security and responsibilities of working for an organization was more exciting than owning a private business. In 1999, I was delivering paving stones to a home in Holland when I realized the home owner was a former colleague, Jon Hoffman, who at the time was working as the Administrative Services Manager for Grand Haven Board of Light and Power. During our conversation, Jon mentioned the current Plant Superintendent was looking to retire, so I expressed my interest and the ball was rolling," stated Bush.

Bush entered into the last phase of his career in September 1999, just prior to Y2K, and has accomplished much during his eleven years with the BLP.

"Dan's engineering talent and creativity combined with his power plant expertise has been a major contribution in the reliability and affordability of service for our community," stated Annette Allen, General Manager.

During Bush's service to the BLP, he was instrumental in assuring the utility met or exceeded environmental regulations through a number of unrelated projects including reducing Nox with the installation of improved burners, overfire air and most recently, our UREA system. He also provided engineering expertise for an upgrade to our system in 2006, increasing our generation capacity by 7 megawatts, and initiated the blending of coal on our site to reduce emissions and cost.

One of Bush's most recent accomplishments includes working closely with City officials and GMB Architects to develop a feasible snow melt system for the City of Grand Haven.

"I feel the snow melt system truly is Dan's legacy to the plant and our community," stated General Manager Annette Allen. "Dan was instrumental in the system design that made the economics of the project feasible," added Allen.

Bush also worked to align union/management relations, which is the accomplishment he is most proud. "I am very pleased with the breakdown of the "us and them" mentality between union and management teams," stated Bush. "I feel the fine lines of responsibility have diminished to the point of understanding we are all in this together for results and the betterment of the plant for this community. We have an appreciation of the business sense, 'sacrifice yourself for the good of the company,' which leads to the healthy organization the BLP is today," added Bush.

Bush also commented he feels the municipal power business model is the model that should be used for all organizations, which is based primarily on a fair wage with a lot of responsibility for each employee and all working for the good of the organization and our community.

"Being community owned pushes this model, and the BLP is no exception," stated Bush.

Bush's retirement plans include enjoying the rest of the summer in West Michigan with his wife, Clare and family. "Summer in West Michigan has a lot to offer and keep us busy. Beyond the summer months is still a work in progress," Bush stated with a chuckle.

BLP Staff members and employees expressed appreciation for Bush's many contributions to the BLP during the past eleven years and wish Dan and Clare a long and happy retirement together.

Created in 1896 by Grand Haven residents,  the Board of Light and Power produces and distributes electricity for approximately 13,500 customers in Grand Haven and the surrounding area.  Grand Haven Board of Light & Power. Community-owned. Locally Controlled. Not-for-profit. Environmentally Responsible.