How would you describe your job? Generally speaking, maintenance on the cell towers in and around the area. We take care of outages, customer trouble tickets — whenever customers have problems. A lot of driving and a lot of off hours.

(ENLARGE)

Steve Bontempo, age 34 Elizabeth City Network Field Engineer US Cellular, 10 years

Has your job been affected by changes in technology or other changes? It has affected us quite positively. In a way, a lot of our equipment has become more software driven than hands-on. Using a laptop, we are allowed to log in to our switch, which is in Greenville, and do the work as if we were actually in Greenville. So remote access is a great thing we've had here. We've only had it in the last six years.

Besides salary, what benefits do you derive from your work? There's the 401(k) plan, which is very nice. A pension plan that US Cellular puts 100 percent into, and it also matches our 401(k). Holidays and up to three weeks vacation time.

What are the long-term or indirect benefits of your job? We have many training classes, and a lot of times when we get a new hire, they have to go to Nortel schools and to Harris schools. These are all manufactures of the equipment we use. The company spares no expense when it comes to training.

How do you see your job benefiting the larger community? In times of natural disasters, we're out here on the road 24/7 as long as the road is passable, and sometimes even when the road is not. Our phones are going to work, one way or another.

— Will Harris