Ron Natter, who began working at Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) in 1966, has been recognized as the company’s longest-serving employee as FPL marks its centennial year. Natter’s career with FPL spans nearly sixty years, during which he has worked primarily as a radio technician in the information technology business unit.
Natter is responsible for repairing and installing radio communication systems used by various FPL groups, including power delivery, generation, nuclear, solar, metering, emergency planning, and corporate security. He also addresses customer concerns in the field and collaborates with power delivery crews to resolve issues.
“I enjoy being out in the field, interacting with customers,” Natter said. “I’ve learned over the years that when the customer tells you something, he’s the one that really knows what’s going on and I need to listen to help win his trust and solve his problem.”
Before joining FPL, Natter served as an aircraft mechanic in the Air Force Reserves at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. After returning to Miami and working at Miami International Airport for $1.97 an hour, a friend encouraged him to apply at FPL. He started as a helper and winch truck operator before entering a four-year apprenticeship program focused on equipment repair. He later earned both a Federal Communications Commission license and a ham radio license through night school.
“As a kid, I always liked repairing things and taking stuff apart,” Natter said. “I still like doing it to this day.”
Known for his inventive work within field communication services, Natter has received more than a dozen recognitions for innovative solutions over his career. Among his inventions are a tripod stand for receiver units used to track TV electrical interference and SatNat—a lift system for storm satellite dishes—developed at FPL’s former General Office building in Miami.
Natter’s influence extends to his family; his daughter Julie Natter Graf joined FPL in 2015 as a dispatcher clerk in Melbourne. She uses radio systems her father helped install.
“Many of my childhood memories are of working alongside him in the garage while talking about my day,” she recalled. “While he listened, he took apart my broken Game Boy, laying everything out with careful precision, pointing out some corrosion on the electronics board damaged by both water and a bad leaking battery. He moved around his well-organized garage with its labeled areas and organized bins, pulled out some spare parts to show me how to resolder some battery contacts on the circuit board while we talked about the importance of being kind to others.”
Reflecting on her father’s example, she described him as dedicated and passionate.
Tim Lewis, senior manager of IT field communication who has worked with Natter for 35 years across FPL’s service territory, commented: “He has always been very creative and in terms of how he approaches his job, his emphasis is always on safety.”
Natter remains committed to continuing his work at FPL without plans for retirement.
“I don’t want to sit at home and watch TV,” he said. “I’m real busy but I like it, and it’s also good to have a new challenge every day.”
