Speaker Details

Clayton Dowell is a native of Northeast Tennessee. He graduated from Northeast State Community College with an Associate of Science degree in Pre-Engineering and then went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering at Tennessee Tech University. Additionally, Clayton also holds a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management from the University of Tennessee.  He is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Tennessee.

Clayton joined Bristol Tennessee Essential Services (BTES) as a System Engineer and was quickly promoted to the Supervisor of Fiber Optic Engineering. He was promoted to his current position as the Director of Engineering in May 2011 where he is responsible for the Electric and Fiber Optic Engineering Departments which includes the Head End and telephone switch that provides Internet, telephone and cable television services to BTES’ more than 19,000 customers.  He is responsible for the planning, direction and control of all phases of the electrical transmission and distribution systems up to and including 161 kV facilities as well as fiber optic designs for integration into BTES’ existing fiber optic communications system. He creates solutions for various innovative technology and energy conservation projects including water heater management and peak load shifting.

Clayton serves as a leader on the Baldrige team at BTES, which led the organization to earn the Malcom Baldrige National Quality Award in 2017 - the nation’s highest honor for quality.  He was on the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence (TNCPE) Board of Examiners in 2010, is a 2011 graduate of the LEAD Bristol program and participates in numerous community activities.  He has served on the Bristol TN/VA Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors since 2012 and Northeast Tennessee Technology Council Board of Directors.