25 Aug 2026
When Alex Hernandez joined Renegade four years ago as a journeyman lineman, he saw something he hadn’t necessarily found during the earlier years of his career: an opportunity to build a home.
Before Renegade, Alex had moved between several companies, spending a year or two at each. Arriving as Renegade was rebuilding and expanding its power line operations gave him a reason to stay.
“When I started, they were starting back their power line process, getting back into it,” Alex said. “I saw that as an opportunity to just stay here and find a good home. We’ve built quite a bit since the beginning.”
Alex has grown alongside the operation. Within his first year, he was promoted from journeyman lineman to foreman and given responsibility for running a crew.
His early work included helping establish Renegade’s maintenance work for Austin Energy. After a couple of years, he moved over to help get the company’s Bluebonnet work underway.
Now another step is approaching. With General Foreman Max Sechrist preparing to retire, Alex is set to move into his position.
“Within four years, I’ve moved up the ladder quite a bit,” Alex said. “Renegade’s been a very good company to me.”
The transition carries particular meaning because Alex and Max Sechrist started at Renegade at around the same time. Alex credits Max, along with John Bell and Shane Cooper, with helping him develop into the leader he is today.
“Max has been a mentor to me,” Alex said. “Between him, John and Shane, they’ve taught me a lot. They’ve brought me up the ladder. It was with their knowledge and experience that they gave to me that I am where I am today.”
For Alex, that willingness to invest in people is a major part of what makes Renegade different.
“I’ve given this company my all,” he said. “I’ve never been this committed to anything in my life. I think they’ve noticed that as well. Whatever I’ve given them, they’ve given right back to me.”
The opportunities continue to grow with Renegade’s power line business. Alex estimates the operation can have 60 to 70 line workers across its projects on a busy day, with crews working in Pflugerville, the Bluebonnet service territory and South Austin.
Those crews are tackling increasingly significant projects.
In Brenham, Renegade is constructing power lines for Bluebonnet as part of a major data center project. The double-circuit job includes 55-foot poles set 13 feet into the ground.
“That’s probably one of our bigger projects we’ve had,” Alex said.
Meanwhile, crews in College Station are setting concrete poles and completing highway crossings – work Alex says demands significant coordination and experience.
As the company grows, Alex believes there is considerable opportunity for the next generation of line workers. His advice to anyone considering the trade is straightforward: arrive with the right mindset and be willing to learn.
“You’ve got to be level-headed,” Alex said. “Come in with the right attitude. Every day I come in happy. There’s nothing that can really bring me down.”
Most importantly, he encourages new employees to recognize the possibilities in front of them.
“Be open-minded. There’s a lot of opportunity, especially coming into Renegade,” Alex said. “If you just stick it out, you’ll make it in this company pretty good.”
His own four-year journey from journeyman lineman to incoming General Foreman is evidence of exactly that.
And while Alex is moving into a larger leadership role, he sees Renegade’s continued success as a team effort.
“We need everybody to keep the wheels turning in this company,” he said.