Greg Austin is the President of North Houston Pole Line, where he leads all operational aspects, including distribution, transmission, major underground projects, and various scopes of work.

A true Houstonian at heart, Austin’s linework journey began as a fourth-generation lineman, shaped by his family’s legacy. After graduating from Spring High School in 1985, Greg embarked on his career at North Houston Pole Line, starting as a dedicated groundman in 1986. His commitment and exceptional skills propelled him to the position of lineman by 1990, followed by roles as a foreman and, in 1999, as a general foreman. Throughout his distinguished career, Austin has achieved remarkable milestones. He extended his expertise to international projects, including rebuilding a line for Exxon Mobile in Chad, Africa, and contributed to several critical overhead projects for the U.S. Department of Defense. Austin’s unwavering dedication also shone during disaster relief efforts, as he played a pivotal role in responding to storms in 21 different states, including Hurricane Rita, Katrina, and Sandy.

In 2022, Austin assumed the role of President at North Houston Pole Line, marking a new chapter in his 38-year journey with the company. Beyond his passion for the line trade, Austin finds his greatest joy in family. He is a loving father to one daughter and grandfather to two cherished grandkids. In his leisure time, Austin finds solace in the great outdoors, where he passionately pursues his love for hunting and fishing. He also enjoys the art of repair, eagerly tinkering with anything in need of a fix. As someone deeply involved in commercial real estate and a dedicated collector of relics from the electrical line trade, Austin’s life exemplifies his boundless enthusiasm for his work and his unwavering commitment to both his profession and the people he holds dear.

Brandon Thompson serves as Operations Vice President for the North Houston Pole Line Transmission Group, providing operational and executive leadership for the Transmission and Substation Teams.

Thompson is a graduate of Doyle High School in Louisiana; he brings over thirty years of Heavy Construction and Electrical Delivery Industry experience to his position. Thompson began his career with North Houston Pole Line in 2004 as a Transmission Project Manager. During his tenure as Project Manager, he provided oversight for the successful completion of 300+ Projects totaling more than one billion dollars. Building on success, Thompson was elevated to Senior Project Manager in 2019, providing guidance and mentoring North Houston Pole Line’s growing Project Management and Controls Teams. He is also Program Manager for North Houston Pole Line’s Strategic Contractor Programs (SCP). He was promoted to Vice President of Operations in January 2022. 

He is a proud father of two sons and a daughter. Thompson is an avid diver and fisherman and enjoys spending time with his family.  

Brian Travis serves as North Houston Pole Line’s Vice President of Operations. Travis supports Distribution for Overhead and Underground crews between North Houston Pole Line and CenterPoint Energy.

Travis is a graduate of Aldine High School in Houston, Texas, with thirty-nine years of experience in the Electric Power Delivery Industry. In September 1983, he began his career at North Houston Pole Line as a groundman. In 1989, he started an apprenticeship with Greg Austin and graduated in 1992. He then spent three years honing his skills with hands-on experience as a lineman, progressing quickly to Foreman for eighteen years before moving to General Foreman. During his tenure as General Forman, he directed a large vessel move from Katy, Texas, to the Port of Houston, managing twenty-five overhead crews, including night shifts, lasting three days. In 2017, he was promoted to Vice President of Operations, and in September 2023 will mark his 40^th year at North Houston Pole Line.

He and his wife are proud parents to a daughter and their son-in-law, a Foreman at North Houston Pole line, two grandsons, and a granddaughter. They are passionate and supportive of the Houston Livestock Rodeo. Travis is an avid hunter and loves to spend time on his 26 acres with his family. 

Harl Sims serves as North Houston Pole Line’s Vice President of Major Underground Services (MUG). Sims provides operational leadership for a dedicated team serving CenterPoint Energy and multiple commercial clients in Houston, South Texas, and Louisiana.

Sims is a graduate of Marlow High School in Oklahoma with twenty-seven years of experience in the Electric Power Delivery Industry. He relocated to Texas in 1989, continuing to hone his skills and industry knowledge through hands-on experience, serving LE Myers Co. as a Heavy Equipment Operator and progressing quickly to Foreman and General Foreman.

Sims joined North Houston Pole Line in 2005 as the Construction Manager for MUG, focusing on expanding Major Underground Services to regional commercial clients. In this role, he provided the transformative vision to grow the MUG Group’s footprint significantly. Building on success, Sims was appointed MUG Vice President in 2015. 

He and his wife, Connie, are proud parents of two daughters, a son, and two grandchildren. They are passionate and blessed to support and contribute their time to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Camp Hope PTSD Foundation of America. Sims is an avid fisherman and enjoys spending time at the lake with family. 

Joe Miller is Senior Vice President of North Houston Pole Line’s Aldine Division. He provides Administrative Leadership and guides the Execution Strategy that powers North Houston Pole Line’s continued growth and success.

Prior to joining North Houston Pole Line, Miller served as Distribution Services Manager for Richardson-Wayland Electrical in Southwest Virginia and then as Large Transmission Utility Construction Projects Manager for Kenny Construction’s Power Group until Kenny was acquired by Granite Construction in 2014. Granite promoted him to Regional Operations Manager for the Southwest Region in 2016.

Miller joined North Houston Pole Line in 2018 as Vice President of Project Execution. In 2019, he was promoted to Senior Vice President. His service to the Transmission, Substation, Major Underground, and Energized Services Groups comprises the North Houston Pole Line Division and is predicated on building a World Class Team through the recognition, development, and interconnection of talented individuals for a greater common goal. 

Miller earned a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Scarritt College in 1977. He and his wife, Donna, live on Smith Mountain Lake in Moneta, Virginia. They are proud parents of two daughters, a son, and four grandchildren. Miller enjoys spending time with his children, reading, mentoring, and playing the guitar. 

Robert Palmer delivers unparalleled expertise to North Houston Pole Line as Vice President of Energized Transmission Operations. Approaching thirty years in the Electrical Power Delivery Industry, his experience spans the continental United States and the globe.

Palmer began his Electrical Power Delivery Industry career in 1994 as a ground man with Irby Construction. He achieved his Journeyman Lineman Certification in 1999 and Barehand Certification in 2005. From 2000 until 2010, Palmer continued to hone his skills and knowledge as he provided field leadership for numerous projects working with voltages from 69kV to 500kV. Realizing the growing need for and opportunities associated with alternative utility construction solutions, he focused his attention on energized (barehand) methodologies. 

In 2010 Palmer joined Quanta Energized Services (QES), where he served various roles, including Technical Advisor, General Superintendent, Barehand, and Robotic Arm Instructor. In 2017 he was named the QES Director of Operations and in 2018 he was elevated to QES Vice President. From 2020 until 2022, he filled dual roles –President of QES and Vice President of Energized Services at North Houston Pole Line. In 2022, Palmer focused on developing Energized Transmission Services at North Houston Pole Line. 

Palmer is a pioneer in the energized utility construction space who continues to be in high demand providing technical advice and solutions to our utility customers nationwide. Under his leadership, North Houston Pole Line’s Energized Group has realized and continues to experience tremendous growth and an expanding customer footprint. 

Palmer and his wife, Melody, live in Springbrook, Wisconsin. Palmer is an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoys working outdoors on his ranch.