HOLLIDAYSBURG, PA, July 06, 2023 - Ken Bilek has been inducted into Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Mr. Bilek is a retired lineman and electrical field worker who serves as a lead technical training advisor and established entrepreneur in Pennsylvania as the owner and operator of two successful businesses. In 1999, he founded Global Live Line Inc., a training and consulting business that provides decades of expertise and industry knowledge to help clients better train their personnel. Offering a myriad of programs and classes, his technical training and consulting business specializes in transmission and distribution electrical work. Mr. Bilek subsequently launched Global Powerline Academy (GPLA) in 2010, a 10-week training program and boot camp that teaches fundamental skills to individuals as they prepare for future apprenticeship programs. Since 2021, GPLA began partnering with Clarion State University by offering an associate's degree program in line construction and engineering technology, resulting in more than 90% of students earning employment in the trade.
Having joined a local electrical company as a lineman in 1972, Mr. Bilek spent more than two decades as a union journeyman for the Pennsylvania Electric Company. He subsequently became a Live Line Demonstrator for the A.B. Chance Company (now Hubbell Corporation) in 1992, focusing on transmission and distribution. Among many opportunities throughout his professional career, Mr. Bilek garnered experience abroad in 26 countries and 38 U.S. states. He became fluent in understanding and teaching high voltage techniques and proper tool application. He also became a job safety and training specialist for the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association, served as a consultant and subject matter expert for Bashlin Industries, American Hotline, Yale Cordage, and Ritz Live Line Equipment, and was an expert witness on numerous legal cases.
Among Mr. Bilek's many career accomplishments, he was hired by one organization in Israel to help improve customer reliability. Through extensive training in energized maintenance, he was able to help Israel Electric Company (IEC) reduce customer outage time by 50% within one year.
Giving back to various causes, Mr. Bilek has been an active donor to the Jewish Fund. He also recently paid for several Russian Jews to be flown to Israel to flee Russia. In 2021, Mr. Bilek paid for the construction of a well, in a village of a third world country, to provide fresh water to its residence.
Mr. Bilek grew up in East New York. After high school, he served his country in the U.S. Navy. Mr. Bilek is a professional member of the National Rifle Association of America.
In recognition of his contributions to his field, Mr. Bilek was inducted into the International Lineman's Museum and Hall of Fame in 2013. He notes his affinity for the work, commitment to learning specialized skills, and willingness to go where the work is located for much of his success. Additionally, Mr. Bilek credits his wife for her ongoing support, his grandfather and father, who were both entrepreneurs and strongly influenced him and his work ethic, and two incredible mentors, Fred Fritz and Ed Nelson, two A.B. Chance demonstrators whom he greatly admired.
About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Marquis celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2023, and Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
Contact Information
Marquis Who's Who Ventures LLC
Uniondale, NY
USA
Voice: 844-394-6946
