Cody Ricks Is the PUD’s Newest Journeyman Lineworker

For The Dalles native Cody Ricks, achieving journeyman lineworker status at Northern Wasco County PUD isn’t just a career milestone. It’s the fulfillment of a dream to serve the community he’s always called home.
Cody’s journey to become a lineworker began in 2018 while working on wind turbines in Arlington. His neighbor, Ted Rosenburg, a Northern Wasco County PUD employee, often jokingly asked when Cody was “going to get a real job.” Through their conversations, Cody’s interest in the trade grew.
Becoming a journeyman lineworker isn’t quick or easy. Starting with obtaining his commercial driver’s license and first-aid certification, Cody worked his way up from groundsman through the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and began Northwest Line’s apprenticeship program.
When he first approached the Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, they advised him to start working as a groundsman or attend line school. Choosing the groundsman route, he proved his dedication and was ranked second in the West during the height of COVID-19.

His commitment to the trade meant spending time working in various locations in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Northern California, all while maintaining his home base in The Dalles.
“Working for my hometown means everything,” Cody says.
He recounts a particularly memorable moment from December 23, 2024, when he was called to restore power just 4 blocks from his house. As midnight approached on Christmas Eve, he found himself atop a pole, fixing a cutout a squirrel had damaged.
“Seeing all the lights come back on, with everyone watching—it really solidified everything, from getting my commercial driver's license to finishing the apprenticeship,” he says. “Here I was, doing exactly what I set out to do in my own town.”
Becoming a journeyman lineworker requires personal sacrifice and unwavering family support. Cody says his wife, Yasmin, has been the cornerstone of his success.
“She had to be OK with me being gone,” he says.
During Cody’s construction days, work took him far from home, causing him to miss holidays, birthdays, family dinners, and his son, Jordan’s, first New Year’s celebration. Despite these challenges, Cody says Yasmin’s support never wavered. She understood every missed moment was an investment in their future, and she continued to support his dedication. When emergency calls come in during odd hours, she’s there making coffee and getting him ready to go—sometimes even bringing coffee to the entire crew.
“She’s really great,” Cody says. “She really gets it. It’s all for the community.”
Their sacrifices have paid off. Jordan, 3, proudly declares he wants to be a journeyman lineworker like his father and even dressed as 1 for Halloween.
Cody’s journey took an unexpected turn in September 2022 when, just shortly after starting at the PUD, he was diagnosed with cancer. The support he received from his colleagues during his year-long battle demonstrated the tight-knit nature of the PUD community.
Cody returned to work full-time in January 2024. Today, he finds purpose in connecting with others going through similar experiences, offering support and hope through their own journeys.
For those considering the trade, Cody is passionate about promoting it as an alternative to traditional college.
“You still have to go to school, study, and take quizzes,” he says. “But you’re earning a wage with retirement and health insurance throughout your apprenticeship.”
He regularly encounters young people interested in the field and emphasizes how the trades can offer a different but equally valuable path to success.
“The learning never stops,” Cody says. As the first lineworker in his family— though perhaps not the last, given Jordan’s enthusiasm—Cody takes seriously the responsibility of passing on the trade’s knowledge to the next generation.
“There’s been a lot of blood, sweat, and tears put into training me,” he says. “I’m thankful for that because I will do the same for the next generation.”
Today, when he’s not keeping the lights on for his community, Cody can be found building Lego bricks with Jordan or participating in local events with his family. True to a colleague’s prediction during Cody’s construction days, he enthusiastically drives trucks in community parades, sharing these special moments with Yasmin and Jordan. He particularly enjoys watching his son sit in the bucket truck, acting as “king of the road” while honking the horn.

“Landing this position at Northern Wasco County PUD is 1 of the best things that ever happened to me,” Cody says. “I’m thrilled to be able to keep the lights on for everybody here.”
For Northern Wasco County PUD, having a dedicated local like Cody achieve journeyman status ensures the future remains bright for the community.
“We’ve got a good group of people here, all the way across the board,” Cody says. “I’m proud to be a part of that.”
Looking back on his journey, Cody is quick to credit Yasmin for her support through the apprenticeship, his battle with cancer, and the demanding schedule of a lineworker. With Yasmin’s steadfast support and Jordan’s growing enthusiasm for the trade, their family represents the heart of what makes Northern Wasco County PUD special: a deep commitment to serving their neighbors, no matter the hour or weather.
February is Cody’s birthday month, so if you see him around town, be sure to wish him a happy birthday.