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When Ron Natter first walked into the Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) office in Miami in 1966, little did he know he was embarking on a career spanning nearly six decades. This year, as the company celebrates 100 years of service in Florida, Natter is recognized for his contributions as FPL’s longest-tenured employee.
As a radio technician in the information technology business unit, Natter repairs and installs the radio communication system used on-site and in company vehicles by various groups, such as power delivery, power generation, nuclear, solar, metering, emergency planning and corporate security.
He also handles customer concerns, conducts fieldwork, investigates and works with power delivery crews to resolve these issues.
His favorite part of his job, he said, is helping customers.
“I enjoy being out in the field, interacting with customers,” Natter said. “I’ve learned over the years that when the customer tells you something, he’s the one that really knows what’s going on and I need to listen to help win his trust and solve his problem.”
Natter joined FPL after a career as an aircraft mechanic in the Air Force Reserves, stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX.
After his service, he returned to Miami, where he worked at Miami International Airport earning $1.97 an hour, when a friend from the reserves encouraged him to join FPL.
His career at FPL began as a helper and winch truck operator working on underground and overhead systems. Eventually, he pursued a four-year apprenticeship program at the equipment repair center, becoming a journeyman and learning how to weld, test and fix electronics and equipment used on power lines.
After two years, he began attending night school and earned a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license as well as a ham radio license to work in the FPL radio shop.
Through his dedication, he advanced to the radio shop, where he has worked since, repairing and programming radios and locating radio and TV interference.
“As a kid, I always liked repairing things and taking stuff apart,” Natter said. “I still like doing it to this day.”
Often regarded as an innovator, Natter is known for his inventions in the field communication services team. Over his career, he has been recognized more than a dozen times for innovative solutions, including a special stand made from a tripod for receiver units used to track TV electrical interference, and a lift system, SatNat, used to raise and lower storm satellite dishes at the former General Office building in Miami. SatNat was nearly patented.
Natter’s legacy at FPL extends to his family. His daughter, Julie Natter Graf, has been with the company since 2015.
She’s a dispatcher clerk in Melbourne, communicating with field personnel over a radio that sits on her desk in a service center. She’s part of a second generation using the systems her father put in service to help deliver power to the community.
“Many of my childhood memories are of working alongside him in the garage while talking about my day,” she recalled. “While he listened, he took apart my broken Game Boy, laying everything out with careful precision, pointing out some corrosion on the electronics board damaged by both water and a bad leaking battery. He moved around his well-organized garage with its labeled areas and organized bins, pulled out some spare parts to show me how to resolder some battery contacts on the circuit board while we talked about the importance of being kind to others.”
Reflecting on her father’s influence, she said he leads by example, wanting everyone to succeed and be their best. He is dedicated, passionate and a great teacher.
Tim Lewis, senior manager of IT field communication, said Natter is very conscientious about his work.
“He has always been very creative and in terms of how he approaches his job, his emphasis is always on safety,” said Lewis, who oversees field communication across FPL’s service territory and has worked with Natter for 35 years.
Natter’s unwavering dedication to his job and his ability to innovate and solve problems have left a lasting impression on his family and coworkers. As he looks to the future, he has no plans to retire anytime soon.
“I don’t want to sit at home and watch TV,” he said. “I’m real busy but I like it, and it’s also good to have a new challenge every day.”
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