Inspiring Everyday: Leading by example and delivering results

August 16, 2024

Sometimes you meet people that feel like an old friend from your very first conversation. Jamie Dozier is one of them. Warm, engaging and personable, he chuckles and rattles off a story about a motorcycle road trip with his wife, weaving personal tales into his talk about work and why he enjoys his job.  

It’s this positive vibe and his reliability as a coworker that has led Jamie from an individual technical role to a leadership position at Ascend’s Decatur, Alabama site. He started in 1997 as an analyzer technician, putting his electronic engineering degree to work calibrating and servicing delicate instruments. Although he excelled at the job, a leadership role wasn’t on Jamie’s radar until a mentor challenged him to think bigger.  

“I got a new boss who was a PhD chemist, and she saw something in me that I really didn’t see in myself,” says Jamie, who took her advice and invested in himself with personal development and leadership training. “Over the next few years, I moved into a lead analyzer role and then into supervision over an array of different specialty groups.” 

Although he still loves to tackle individual challenges, Jamie has risen to senior maintenance manager at the Decatur plant where he’s well known for being an energetic leader that delivers results.  

“Jamie engages daily with operations and maintenance teams to meet the production and equipment needs of our site,” says senior site director Scotty Hall. “He empowers his team and displays a positive attitude toward any challenge. He has also used his continuous improvement mindset to provide certification and training opportunities for the career development of his entire team.” 

Jamie leads by example, saying he doesn't expect anything from his teams that he wouldn't do himself. "I enjoy a challenge and I enjoy helping others. I always want my team members to know that I will walk through the valley with them."

He attributes his work ethic and positive attitude to his parents, who always taught him to be the best at any task he took on. As a teenager he recalls them rolling him out of bed at dawn to work in the garden, his father helping to pick whatever produce was ready before he headed off to work for the day.  

“My parents have always had servant hearts, whether it be in the community or in church,” Jamie says. “They led by example and wanted to be change-makers where they could impact something.” 

Their legacy is alive and well with Jamie, who serves on the local board for Habitat for Humanity and leads the housing pillar and numerous other projects in Decatur for the Ascend Cares Foundation. He also frequently helps others through trips with his church and has followed the footsteps of his father, a career fire chief, by serving as a firefighter and EMT with Ascend’s emergency response team.  

“He’s always willing to go the extra mile for his team, the Decatur plant, and Ascend,” Scotty says. "Simply put, Jamie is a person you can count on anytime.” 

Away from work, Jamie enjoys golf, spending time with his two grandsons, and riding his Harley Davidson with his wife. They have a long trip to the northwest planned for this fall.  

“We are attempting to hit all 48 continental states on our bikes, and we’re over halfway there,” he says cheerfully.

With this inspiring leader guiding the way, it will undoubtedly be a fun ride.