As one of 11 siblings raised by a single mother, Danny McMillian learned the value of service at an early age. He remembers many different people offering a helping hand to his family throughout his childhood, and that has inspired him to give back.
His heart for service was recognized at the March Leadership Forum meeting, when he was named Citizens Energy Group’s 2022 Jefferson Award winner. President & CEO Jeffrey Harrison presented McMillian with a medallion and certificate and thanked him for the many ways he serves our customers and our community.
As a corporate partner of Multiplying Good (the non-profit that organizes the Jefferson Awards program), Citizens is proud to honor an employee or retiree each year with a Jefferson Award. The program showcases unsung heroes – ordinary people doing extraordinary things for others.
A Utility Service Specialist, McMillian’s work takes him to different parts of the city where he sees opportunities to bless others.
“Coming to Citizens made my heart bigger,” he said. “I care about people. I really like helping our customers.”
Friend and fellow Utility Service Specialist, Eddie Capler, said that McMillian would do anything to help a customer. For example, a customer experienced a gas leak and was without heat. McMillian came back to the residence with space heaters to keep the family warm for the night.
For the past few years, McMillian and Capler have purchased and distributed turkeys for Thanksgiving in a low-income area of the city.
Another fellow Utility Service Specialist, Kipper Mimms, shared a story about a family who experienced a house fire. The family was standing on the porch with nothing, and McMillian showed up with a meal for them.
Mimms described McMillian as the kind of person you want to live next door to because he jumps in with his time, energy, and money at the spur of the moment to help others. “Guys don’t like to be called ‘sweetheart’ but Danny really is,” he said with a chuckle. “I’m 58 years old and I’ve never talked so highly of anyone else in my life.”
Aaron Douglas, another Utility Service Specialist colleague, echoes Mimms’ sentiments. “He’s a fun guy to be around and he’s always there to talk me through a stressful situation.” Douglas said he and McMillian try to help as many people as they can, often sticking around after they complete their work for the day to assist elderly customers with various repairs around their homes.
McMillian also is an active member of Pathway Missionary Baptist Church, where he has served as a volunteer planting trees and mentoring youth, specifically teaching them life skills such as how to change a car’s oil and fix a flat tire. In addition, he volunteers throughout the year in the kitchen at Wheeler Mission.
“I love people, and I love to help people,” McMillian said. “I try to change people’s perspective and let them know there are people who care about them.”
McMillian will be honored, along with other winners from across the country, in late June at the national Jefferson Awards ceremony, which will be held in Indianapolis.
Top right and left: President & CEO Jeffrey Harrison presented Utility Service Specialist Danny McMillian with a certificate and medallion during the March Leadership Forum meeting.
Bottom left: Shared Field Services leaders Paula Birdsong, Joe Anthis, and Melissa Lawson congratulate McMillian on his Jefferson Award.
Bottom right: Harrison, along with coworkers Kipper Mimms and Aaron Douglas, surprised him with the award on March 24.
If you’d like to nominate a coworker who is an unsung hero and doing extraordinary things, visit the Corporate Affairs iTrust page, click on “Citizens for Good Volunteer Portal” from the main menu, then select “Jefferson Award” from the Volunteer Quick Links.
