CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Transmission lines, environmental impact, alternative energy sources, carbon capture, and winter power outages may not overwhelm the new president and chief operating officer of Appalachian Power. But there is one thing about the new job that has taken Charles Patton's breath away.

"As a flatlander, I remember thinking, 'Wow, this is crazy!'" Patton, 51, said with awe as he described riding in a service truck with an APCO crew.

"I looked up at a transmission line on the mountain and said, 'Wow! How do they do that?'" Patton said. He has been impressed with the skills and dedication of the Appalachian Power work force.

"The people of this company are incredibly dedicated to what they do," Patton said. "They work all hours of the day and night making sure the lights stay on. They are emotionally and professionally committed to what they do."

Patton has been on the job in West Virginia since June 1. Born in Nashville, Tenn., the understated company president is thankful for his aunt and uncle, who raised him.

"My aunt had a sixth-grade education, she was a domestic," he said quietly. "My uncle drove a truck -- a moving van." Patton was the first in the family to graduate from college, getting his bachelor's degree (cum laude) from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine.

How does a young man from Tennessee end up going to college in Maine?

"I had good grades, and my SAT scores were good," Patton said. "It was my guidance counselor, Mrs. Teresa Miller, who made sure I met with the different college representatives." The people from Bowdoin made the best pitch, and Patton was off to Maine. Good grades and test scores aside, Patton admitted he wasn't prepared.

"In the first two years, on average, I spent 10 hours a day outside of class, studying," he said. "So many of the others at Bowdoin went to prep school -- they were far ahead of me."

The hard work paid off.

Back in Tennessee, Patton worked with underprivileged youth before he left to pursue a master's degree from the LBJ School of Public Policy at the University of Texas-Austin. An internship with Houston Lighting & Power set him on his career path in the energy industry.

"I worked in the regulatory section -- the rate-making -- and at a time of change in the industry, I moved to policy/government affairs. Then, I was lobbying at the Texas Legislature. That led to federal lobbying in Washington, D.C."

He's traveled internationally to discuss government affairs and public relations with Eastern European utilities.

Recently, American Electric Power made a dramatic shift in the power structure of the company, and Patton said the move makes the company more customer-friendly. There are seven regional utility presidents under the AEP umbrella.

Appalachian Power provides electricity to about 1 million customers in southwest Virginia, Tennessee and West Virginia. As president and chief operating officer, Patton has the authority for distribution operations and a wide range of customer and regulatory relationships.

He's worked with AEP Utilities West (covering Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas), AEP Texas, and most recently was on the job in Columbus, Ohio.

"Our Appalachian Power customers are different than customers in Ohio and customers in Texas," Patton said. "We're putting the decision making closer to the customer."

Patton's family is settling into life in West Virginia. His wife has taken on the task of renovating their home, and his son, 16, is a student at George Washington High School. A daughter, 21, attends Agnes Scott College in Atlanta.

Patton loves to golf, loves to travel, loves family time -- but he also loves his work.

"We have an unequivocal duty to conserve our resources, and I am in the position to help make that happen," he said, as he sat in the Appalachian Power conference room overlooking downtown Charleston.

Patton's dedication to the job is obvious -- as is his dedication to the people who helped him get there. Remember Mrs. Miller, his high-school guidance counselor?

"She's retired," Patton said. "But I went back to see her recently. I appreciate what she did for me."

Reach Sara Busse at sara.bu...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1249.