Lighting the Way: A TEP Apprentice Who Turned Mentor

Bryant working for Tucson Electric Power (TEP).

Bryant Farrow is a true example of the student becoming the teacher. Once an apprentice with Tucson Electric Power (TEP), he has since graduated and now serves as a trainer for their Registered Apprenticeship Program, coming full circle in the very place where his career began.

Bryant mountain biking with his daughter.

“I was the only one at my school who signed up for a tour of the local power plant and campus, where I met many people who had been with TEP for 20-30 years. This led me to believe that it must be a good place to work if employees are sticking around for decades,” said Bryant Farrow about how he found TEP. “I submitted an application/essay for their scholarship program and was awarded the scholarship to pay for my Pima Community College classes.”

After being an apprentice in different departments at TEP, Bryant discovered his passion for Electronic Communications and applied for the program. He was selected as a pre-apprentice, setting the foundation for his future career.

“Working as an Electronic Communications Pre-Apprentice for one year before starting my four-year apprenticeship was intimidating. I had worked at Discount Tire before TEP and was worried that I did not have enough experience,” said Bryant. “Fortunately, the certificate program and internship helped prepare me for my new career in electronic communications.”

Bryant hiking Yosemite.

Bryant credits much of his growth to the journeymen who trained him and the extensive hands-on experience he received. He was challenged often, and he believes those challenges shaped him into a stronger, more capable technician.

“The equipment and communication protocols, and methods are changing all of the time. This requires us to be extremely skilled, knowledgeable, and adaptable,” explains Bryant when stating why he is passionate about this position. “It’s never boring because of this.

“I’m on the Joint Apprenticeship Committee, which helps manage all TEP’s apprentices and their programs, because I’m passionate about apprenticeships. I owe my entire career to my apprenticeship and the journeymen who taught me, and I have a responsibility to give back and do the same for future apprentices,” said Bryant.

He believes apprenticeships are underutilized and should be expanded across industries to standardize training, increase opportunities, and improve overall work quality. To him, apprenticeship and mentorship ensure structured, accountable training that benefits both workers and employers.

Bryant rock climbing.

Outside of work, Bryant leads an adventurous life, traveling around the world to places like Italy, Greece, the Caribbean, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, and more. When he’s not traveling, he enjoys scuba diving, mountain biking, snowboarding, hiking, camping, spending time with his wife and daughter, and working toward beginning his master’s degree. He hopes to inspire his five-year-old daughter to become his future mountain biking, snowboarding, and outdoor buddy.

“Own your apprenticeship; it belongs to you, so make sure it’s successful, and that you get as much as you can from it. Make sure that you seek out what you need, do not wait for anyone to give it to you,” states Bryant.

For those interested in exploring opportunities, visit the Arizona Registered Apprenticeship Program website.