George Carlin, Rory Crane and Marcia Lafraugh consider themselves fortunate. Before the world wide web was invented, before the Hubble space telescope was placed into orbit and before the Berlin Wall fell, they each realized an opportunity of a lifetime – they became Central Arizona Project (CAP) employees.
Each joined the organization between September 1988 and November 1989 and rank among the organization’s most senior employees. Not a small feat given that the average years of service for CAP’s almost 500 employees is nearly 10 years.
Carlin is the most tenured of the three, and before he was hired at CAP, he was already very familiar with the 336-mile system.
“I grew up in the little town of Pima and had heard about funding and construction of the CAP system when I was in high school,” said Carlin. “In 1985, I got hired on with a subcontractor that was working on Picacho Pumping Plant which gave me insight into what a great organization CAP was.”
He was a journeyman electrician and applied a couple times before being hired as a CAP electrician at Brady Pumping Plant in September 1988.
Crane was also from a small town – Fort Thomas, Arizona — and happened to have an uncle who worked for CAP, giving him insight into what a great career opportunity it would be. He applied twice before getting hired as a maintenance worker in the Machine Shop; he started Nov. 14, 1988
“They called on Thursday and asked me to start Monday,” said Crane. “I was newly married, but I packed up, got in the car, drove to Phoenix and stayed with my cousin until I could move my wife here.”
Lafraugh knew first-hand that CAP was an amazing place to work because her then-husband worked in the Control Center. She had a variety of work experience – IT, accounting, purchasing, administrative — however, it took a while to find the right position.
“I knew from my husband’s experience that CAP was the place I wanted to work,” said Lafraugh. “I applied for positions in water control or payroll, but couldn’t be hired for them because of the department he worked in.”
Ultimately, Lafraugh was hired as a purchasing clerk, a position she held for four years before moving into the Information Technology Department (IT).
Each of these employees fondly reminisce about those early days more than 35 years ago. Lafraugh recalls Headquarters being in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by dirt roads and pitch-black skies. Crane recalls safety being secondary to accomplishing the job, spending time sandblasting pump covers in the middle of a parking lot wearing jeans, a hood and welding jacket.
One of the biggest changes they all experienced has been the advancement of technology.
Carlin remembers requesting electric typewriters so they could type reports instead of handwriting them … but the request was turned down. He smiles as he looks at his desk that now has a laptop and two tablets, technology that is essential for his job.
Lafraugh moved to the IT Department in 1994 as a computer support specialist, so she had a front-row seat for the evolution of technology at CAP.
“In the beginning, we had green screen terminals and one giant dot matrix printer,” said Lafraugh. “The first PC was purchased for Tom Clarke (the general manager) and was operating system 2.”
Times have definitely changed, but technology is not the only thing that has advanced. All three experienced considerable career growth in their years at CAP.
Crane worked as a maintenance worker in the Machine Shop and Checks and Turnouts before applying and being selected for an electrical apprenticeship, which was paid for by CAP. He successfully completed his apprenticeship in 2004 and became the electrician at Waddell Pump Generating Plant, a position he has held for more than 20 years.
“I have been fortunate to work at CAP with a lot of really great employees, talented electricians, millwrights and mechanics who generously shared their knowledge with me,” said Crane.
Even Carlin, who was an electrician when he joined CAP in 1988, has experienced a career full of growth and opportunities. He has been an electrician, team lead, pumping plant supervisor and project manager. He even retired in 2019 and after two years away, he returned to CAP and has worked as a maintenance engineering technician and an electrical engineering technician.
“I am one of the luckiest guys in the country, career wise,” said Carlin. “I’ve grown my technical skills and leadership skills. CAP has been a great opportunity for me and I’m glad I got to spend my career here.”
Lafraugh’s IT career flourished. CAP emphasizes professional development, so she was able to attend training classes, earn certifications and grow her knowledge and career. Today, she works as an IT systems architect.
“Working in technology is such a challenge, that’s why I wanted to end up here,” says Lafraugh. “Things change every day; I’m constantly learning and constantly challenged.”
Individually, Crane, Carlin and Lafraugh have each spent more than half their life at CAP. Together, they have spent more than 105 years ensuring reliable water deliveries for Arizonans. When asked about the best part of working at CAP and the reasons they stayed for so long, it’s pride for a job well done and so much more.
“I tell all new employees that CAP is absolutely the best place in the world,” said Lafraugh. “I have had challenges over the years, but there are very few places in the world like CAP — where you can get excellent benefits and a pension.”
Crane echoes that and expresses appreciation toward the opportunities CAP provided.
“I wanted to better myself and build toward a future, which I was able to do thanks to CAP,” said Crane.
Carlin, who literally helped build CAP, says he’s enjoyed the challenges and knowing the work he – and all CAP employees do – is important. But ultimately, it’s about the people.
“There are many things that are great about working at CAP,” said Carlin. “But in the end, the people are the best part.”
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