PUD Superstars: David Popach

Most people like having a road map or guidance for a project before jumping in. David Popach seems to prefer the opposite!

Give him a challenge with no plan or a new initiative nobody has fully figured out, and he’ll get to work. From helping lead the PUD’s wildfire mitigation efforts to improving system reliability analytics, David has earned a reputation as someone who gets things done and brings others along with him.

That hard work has earned David, a Professional Engineer in System Planning & Protection, our Employee of the Month award for October.

“David has taken on complex projects at the PUD and has excelled each and every time,” said PUD Chief Operating & Legal Officer Colin Willenbrock. “He has built strong relationships with several groups throughout the PUD. They all know they can trust David and come to him to get results. One of my favorite examples was watching David’s unwavering drive to get the PUD’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan across the finish line."

“One of the biggest things that stands out about Dave is the passion level and desire to go above and beyond,” said John Hieb, the PUD’s Manager of System Planning and Protection. “He really works to make sure things are done right. He is passionate about doing the job the way it should be done and not taking any shortcuts.”

David’s responsibilities span a wide range of critical work. He supports distribution protection across the PUD’s north service territory, contributes to reliability reporting and helps analyze and configure protection systems throughout the PUD. He also plays a key role in initiatives such as SnoSMART and ongoing system reliability improvements.

“David has been an outstanding contributor to the SnoSMART project,” said IT Project Manager Travis Olson. “He has taken ownership of complex challenges, asked the right questions and helped shape solutions that will benefit the PUD for years to come. His dedication and collaborative approach have made him a trusted resource across multiple teams.”

While the technical side of his work is impressive, it’s the way David approaches challenges that stands out.

“David consistently takes on challenges that many would shy away from,” John said. “He is willing to take on tasks that have no clearly defined processes and tirelessly works to define the problem, scope a solution and initiate projects to address needs. David has been working on PUD-wide initiatives with low tolerance for failure, and he’s risen to the occasion every time.”

When the PUD’s Wildfire Risk Program was recently developing, David again showed a willingness to take on responsibilities in an area he knew little about at the time. He immersed himself in learning from other utilities and industry partners, helping shepherd the program forward and becoming one of its key contributors.

“One of the best memories I have with Dave, which speaks to his ability to do other duties as assigned, was we said, ‘Hey, we need to do wildfire stuff!’” John said. “Just having conversations with him where he’s like, ‘I don’t know wildfires. I’ve never thought about wildfires.’ Then seeing him take ownership and find places to learn from and how quickly he learned to lead that wildfire effort. That makes me really proud of Dave for stepping into that unknown so willingly.”

That dedication has translated into meaningful results. David has helped coordinate wildfire analytics updates, represented Engineering and Planning on the Wildfire Mitigation Team, supported development of reliability metrics and contributed to major initiatives focused on improving the reliability and resilience of the PUD’s electric system.

He has also played a key role in configuring technology and data systems that help the PUD better understand outages and improve future performance.

“David’s willingness to step up, solve problems, and support others has earned the respect of his peers and leaders alike,” said Amy Carstens, the PUD’s Senior Manager of Transmission & Distribution System Operations & Engineering. “His contributions help strengthen our organization and improve the service we provide to our community.”

Those who work closely with David describe someone who is dependable, approachable and deeply committed to helping others succeed.

“He’s an awesome dude.”

“He’s an awesome dude,” said Jeff Jewell, a Serviceman for the PUD. “He takes care of business, gets stuff done and cares about the job. He likes to get answers.”

“He’s dedicated – he cares a lot about his job and the customers,” added Serviceman Mike Black. “We work well together to make north county circuits more reliable for our customers.”

The appreciation goes both ways. David is proud of all of his work but spotlighted collaboration with the Energy Control Center (ECC) and Servicemen as particularly enjoyable.

“I’ve had many projects that have gone to completion and have seen benefits of those projects or seen them operate live in action,” David said, “but my biggest and most rewarding is improving the relationship and collaboration between my group and the Energy Control Center and the Servicemen out in the field.”

And even with a workload full of major initiatives, David still finds time to bring a little personality to the workplace.

Co-workers describe him as a technical expert with a playful side. They point to his friendly trash talk and occasional prankster streak as qualities that help create a positive atmosphere for those around him.

“He’ll show up with a smile on his face and sometimes you can see a twinkle in his eye when he knows he’s going to get you on something,” John said. “He brings a really good energy to the group.”

David was born in the Ukraine but moved to the U.S. when he was a few months old. He grew up in Everett and was a star for the Seagulls basketball team. His first job was serving as an apprentice electrician for his brother, which he credits for guiding him to study Electrical Engineering at the University of Washington.

After graduating, David was an intern in the PUD’s Customer Engineering department before getting hired full-time in Facilities. Six years ago, he moved over to System Planning and Protection.

Outside of work, David enjoys playing (and coaching) basketball, golfing and spending time cooking and smoking barbecue. A former youth basketball coach, he also appreciates the flexibility and work-life balance the PUD provides.

But the biggest perk for him is the amazing group of co-workers he gets to collaborate with daily.

“This recognition really reflects the support of the people I work with every day,” David said. “Without my co-workers stepping in when needed, collaborating on projects, reviewing my work and helping balance the workload, I would not be receiving this honor. I’m incredibly grateful to work with this team and want to thank them for always being there when needed.”