It’s rare today for individuals to remain in the same industry for their entire career, and even rarer with the same company. This is not the case for three Pineland employees who are reaching a new career milestone. Sidney Rhoney, Jim Sherrod, and Ken Scott are retiring this month, with a combined total of 103 years of dedication and service at Pineland. Each has contributed an immense amount of support, skill, and knowledge to Pineland’s operations over the years, and although they will be missed, we are excited for them to begin this well-deserved chapter.
Sidney Rhoney – 36 years of service
In 1987, Sidney Rhoney attended his high school graduation on a Friday and began his career with Pineland Telephone the following Monday. His first position was within Pineland’s Inside Plant where he assisted in the changeover to the DMS 10 telephone switch. Over the next thirty-six years, Sidney worked in almost every department of Pineland, holding multiple positions. He was part of the construction crew, burying copper cable, and became Foreman of the two-man crew; the cable cutover crew which implemented the upgrade to the copper plant; and the Install & Repair department as a serviceman. He returned to the cable cutover crew as Crew Leader, became Supervisor of the Install & Repair and Cable departments, served in engineering, and became part of the Southeast Fire & Burglar team as an alarm technician. With Pineland’s expansion of service to Americus, GA, Sidney returned to Pineland operations where he served as Americus’ Lead Install & Repair Technician. After two years, he returned to the cable department, where he serves as a Cable Technician.
In his retirement, Sidney will focus on his fiber splicing operation, Core Fiber Optics, LLC. He is excited for the additional family time with his wife Renee, his children, and grandchild. He hopes to start travelling, and plans on continuing his hobbies of hunting, fishing, and golfing.
Jim Sherrod – 35 years of service
Jim Sherrod joined the Pineland family in January of 1988, shortly after turning 19 years old. He originally served as the serviceman for the Midville area, with his territory expanding to Twin City and Garfield. When Pineland first established its Network Operations Control Center (N.O.C.C.), Jim was recruited as a N.O.C.C. Technician. He returned to Install & Repair a year later, covering the Claxton, Vidalia, and Swainsboro areas. Jim currently serves as Lead Install & Repair Technician covering several of Pineland’s territories.
He plans to stay busy in his retirement operating his business, Sherrod’s Quality Deer Processing, returning to his love of gardening, fishing, serving on the Emanuel County Board of Commissioners, and working on the honey-do list. He is looking forward to enjoying family time with his wife Bobbie, five children, and three grandchildren.
Reflecting on his time at Pineland, Jim expresses his gratitude, “I’ve been good to Pineland,
but Pineland has been good to me.” When asked if he had any advice to share, he replied,
“Pineland is built on family, and I hope the newer employees realize the competition is not within these walls, it’s outside.” He hopes the family atmosphere and Cooperative values of Pineland continue, “Something about the Co-Op life is different, you’re taken care of.”
Ken Scott – 32 years of service
In 1991, Ken Scott began his 32-year career with Pineland Telephone. He was originally stationed in the construction department where he buried cable, becoming Foreman in 1996. Ken transitioned to Install & Repair in 2003 and worked as the serviceman for the Twin City area for fifteen years. He returned to construction where he currently serves as a Cable Technician.
Ken’s plans for retirement include helping his son Kenton farm and raise cattle on the family’s Four County Farms, and spending time with his wife Alisa, a teacher in Twin City, and daughter Alaina, a registered nurse in Bulloch County.
