(This week The Columbian-Progress spotlights Bill Pittman, manager of accounting and financial services at Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association.)
Q: When and where were you born?
A: I was born in Biloxi on July 15, 1973, but grew up in Columbia most of my life.
Q: Where did you attend school?
A: I attended Columbia High School then went to Ole Miss, got a master’s degree in business from Millsaps and later got an accounting degree from Mississippi College.
Q: Where all have you lived?
A: I lived in Jackson for about 15 years then moved back here in 2010.
Q: Where do you work? Tell us about your job/company.
A: I’m the manager of accounting and financial services. I am in charge of all the accounting, finance and billing operations for Pearl River Valley Electric — for the entire company, not just this office. We have four district offices. On a day-to-day basis it just depends. I deal with customers who have billing issues and do a lot of the high-level accounting and finance tasks and responsibilities.
Q: What led you to your profession?
A: I enjoy numbers. I got a degree in economics then got a degree in business with an emphasis in finance and got a degree in accounting, so business, numbers and I just mesh well. That led me to my career path, which I worked for a telecommunications company in a finance capacity before I came here. I’ve always been in business and finance in some shape or form.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
A: I enjoy when we get an opportunity to help somebody. But I also enjoy having an opportunity to benefit the membership of this organization by making good financial decisions. That’s not always a sexy thing, but the decisions I help make have zeros attached to them, meaning we save tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars if we make a correct decision. That helps us in the long run to lower electric rates or keep them low for our members.
Q: What was your first job?
A: The first job I ever had was as a delivery boy for Callender Stationery Company here in town for two hours every day.
Q: Who is the person who has been most influential in your life?
A: First and foremost would be my parents. My dad was a banker here for years, and he instilled in me a sense of responsibility and not only just values but how to handle money and the importance of handling money correctly. My parents, Bill and Ginger, just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this past year, so they’ve been an example to me throughout my life. Also, I’m a believer in Christ, and that influences everything that I do.
Q: If you could relive one day from your life, what day would you choose?
A: My grandfather, Percy Scarborough, was a World War II veteran. In 2013 he and I went on the Honor Flight — they used to do them all over the country but have slowed down because a lot of the World War II vets have passed on — when he was 88. This guy was an infantryman, one of the first waves who went in on D-Day, was in the Battle of the Bulge and earned a Bronze Star. With a lot of other veterans they flew us up to Washington D.C. There was a hero’s welcome when we got there. We went to the World War II Memorial, Air Force Memorial and coming into the airports — everywhere we went it was truly a hero’s welcome. There were standing ovations, firetrucks with their hoses crossing where we walked under it, school children had written a bunch of thank you letters to them and everything. I’ve never seen appreciation like that. It brought me to tears. It meant the world to the veterans, and it meant the world to me watching his reaction. We went in October, and he had a heart attack Thanksgiving Day and was gone three weeks later. That was a good day, and I would relive that day in a heartbeat.
Q: What is your spouse’s name? What does she do for a living?
A: Natalie Pittman. She has a degree in journalism and a master’s degree in public relations, but right now she has the toughest job in the world as the mom of my two girls (Anna, 16, and Caroline, 12).
Q: If you could have anything for your last meal on earth, what would it be?
A: It would be some type of seafood with sweet potatoes and homemade baked banana pudding.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: I’d like to have the opportunity to travel to Europe and go check out a lot of those places you read about in history books.
Q: What hobbies do you like to do in your spare time?
A: Right now it’s kind of whatever my daughters are in to. I like to hunt and fish, but the older I get the less I get to do the sports part I enjoyed when I was younger. I enjoy spending time with my family, though.
Q: What do you enjoy about working in Columbia and Marion County?
A: Growing up here, I never thought I would move back here. It’s a small community, a good community, but the opportunities I thought were somewhat limited for young professionals. But I’ve enjoyed being here. It’s a tight-knit community with good family values and a great place to raise a family. You know your neighbor here.
Q: If you could have lunch with anyone from your life or history, who would it be and why?
A: The default answer for me would be Jesus Christ, but I’m afraid the conversation would be so far over my head. I read a lot of books, so it would really depend on what I read last piquing my interest at a particular time. Right now I’m reading a Sherlock Holmes spinoff, so right now it might be Arthur Conan Doyle.
Q: Would you rather read a good book or watch a good movie and why?
A: It depends on what kind of mood I’m in. You can sit down with a movie for an hour-and-a-half to two hours and be done with it, while a book can go on for quite a long time. But I’d probably go with reading a good book.
Q: What moment in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
A: The birth of my second daughter because she, Caroline, was born with down syndrome. It changes your perspective on life, what you think is important and how you view success. We’re a very materialistic society and very blessed in this country. My daughter is just an absolute joy. She also had a congenital heart defect that we had to have fixed when she was about four-months-old. That changed the way I looked at life and looked at people. I’m much more tender than I ever was before. I was just a guy, but since that time I’m much more appreciative of life and much more tender-hearted and sensitive to people who can’t help themselves.
Q: What would be the No. 1 thing on your Bucket List?
A: I would like to see several of the natural wonders of the world. I enjoy being outside and enjoy nature, so that would be high on my list.
Q: If you could describe your morals in three words, what would they be?
A: Follower of Christ.
Q: How would you like to be remembered?
A: As a good dad, a good husband and someone who did the right thing.
— Joshua Campbell
Pictured Above: Bill Pittman, manager of accounting and financial services at Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association, said he enjoys saving customers money while helping his company simultaneously. | Photo by Joshua Campbell
