Each November, CarolinaPower salutes all veterans who have served this great country – including 17 of our own employees who are now focused on delivering exceptional value to CarolinaPower clients across the two-state region and beyond.
This year, we are spotlighting Jake Creese, Director of Operations, in our Columbia office. Jake served in the U.S. Army as a combat engineer from 2006 to 2012, based at Fort Hood, Texas. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, Jake spent 15 months on his Squadron Commander's Personal Security Detachment in Iraq, where he worked as a driver, dismount, and gunner.
Fast-forward to 2026: As Director of Operations for CarolinaPower, Jake is responsible for day-to-day operations of the Columbia office, which has served the Midlands region of South Carolina up to the North Carolina border for nearly 20 years. The Columbia office has experienced tremendous growth and momentum over the past 12 years, evolving into a key contributor to CarolinaPower’s success, particularly in the commercial and healthcare sectors.
Before joining CarolinaPower last spring, Jake was branch manager for a national crane company. Elaborating on how he got into the construction industry, Jake noted “After the Army, I gave college another try, but soon realized it just wasn’t the right fit. That led me to the heavy-equipment side of construction, where I spent 11 years in sales before moving into management for four years.”
When asked about any takeaways from his military service that still help him today, Jake explained, “My time in the Army had a lasting impact on me, teaching me discipline, accountability, leadership, and how to make sound decisions under pressure. Those lessons made the transition into construction feel natural and continue to shape how I lead my crews today. I was a ‘knucklehead’ before joining the Army, but the experience taught me quickly that it was time to grow up and take responsibility.”
We thank Jake Creese and all veterans at CarolinaPower for their service!