Cody Tinney
Queen Creek,AZ
Summary
Results-driven professional with over 10 years of experience in utility locating, damage investigation, and infrastructure management. Extensive expertise in Arizona BlueStake/811 laws, regulations, and procedures across public and private sectors. Proven success in improving operational efficiency, ensuring full regulatory compliance, and promoting safe excavation practices. Ready to bring technical proficiency and a strong commitment to excellence to a progressive team.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
OSP Field Inspector
Lightpath Fiber
Arizona
05.2025 - Current
- Managed field construction crews and oversaw daily OSP (outside plant) fiber optic installation activities.
- Inspected construction plans, prints, and as-built documentation to ensure compliance with design specifications.
- Conducted pre-construction walkthroughs (precons), verified site conditions, and coordinated with contractors and stakeholders.
- Monitored running of fiber lines, splicing, installs, and related civil/conduit work for quality and safety adherence.
- Performed quality assurance inspections and documented findings to support project completion and client acceptance.
Underground Utility Damage Investigator
The Claims Center (Cox Communications)
Arizona
04.2022 - 05.2025
- Investigated damage to underground and overhead facilities owned by Cox Communications, Gigapower, and Comcast.
- Conducted interviews with locate technicians, excavation crews, homeowners, neighbors, witnesses, and suspects to gather evidence and clarify circumstances surrounding utility damage.
- Prepared detailed investigative reports and documentation of findings.
- Collaborated with law enforcement on criminal investigations, facilitating communication and documentation to support client reimbursement processes.
- Reviewed GIS maps to identify facility locations, sizes, and types, resolving mapping discrepancies through field investigation to ensure accurate utility line representation.
- Supported damage prevention by accurately identifying and verifying underground utility lines against 811 locator marks.
Locate Technician
Safe Site Utility Services
Glendale, Arizona
03.2021 - 04.2022
- Protected public and private underground facilities by accurately locating and marking utilities, ensuring safe excavation.
- Marked buried utilities (power, gas, communications, water, sewer, and special systems) employing various locating techniques to prevent damage during excavation.
- Collected data for CAD mapping models using GPS surveying equipment to enhance mapping accuracy.
- Interpreted prints and as-built drawings; operated and analyzed GPR (ground penetrating radar) data.
- Communicated effectively with contractors and homeowners to promote safe excavation practices.
- Conducted damage and quality assurance investigations.
- Maintained clean, safe vehicles and adhered to company safety and BlueStake/811 documentation requirements.
Locate Technician
ELM
Arizona
07.2018 - 03.2021
- Protected facilities owned by Arizona Public Service and Southwest Gas.
- Marked buried utilities, ensuring identification of power, communications, and water lines for safe excavation.
- Ensured safe digging practices by communicating effectively and providing accurate markings to prevent accidents.
- Conducted damage investigations and collaborated with excavators and property owners to resolve issues promptly.
- Maintained vehicles and followed company safety policies and BlueStake/811 documentation standards.
Horizontal Engineer (12N)
US Army National Guard
Arizona
03.2017 - 03.2021
- Qualified operator of heavy equipment (dump truck, scoop loader, backhoe, excavator, bulldozer, grader, scraper).
- Executed road, parking lot, trench, and ditch construction, land clearing, surveying, and operator-level maintenance, enhancing operational readiness.
- Led small teams or squads in horizontal construction tasks, providing guidance to junior operators on equipment techniques, safety procedures, and maintenance.
- Interpreted grade stakes, soil properties, and site plans to ensure accurate excavation, grading, and earth-moving operations.
- Conducted site preparation, stockpiling, backfilling, and compaction; verified work against specifications and documented as-built conditions in field reports.
- Supported project planning by calculating equipment and personnel needs, facilitating mobility/counter-mobility missions, and contributing to accurate construction estimates.
- Supervised equipment operations during complex tasks, ensuring adherence to safety standards and achievement of mission objectives in high-pressure environments.
- Completed military training including combat lifesaving, land navigation, marksman qualification, urban operations, and accident avoidance.
Locate Technician
USIC
Arizona
03.2016 - 07.2018
- Safeguarded Cox Communications and CenturyLink facilities through proactive protection measures.
- Conducted thorough damage investigations to identify and mark buried communication utilities.
- Ensured safe excavation practices by accurately marking utilities during projects.
- Communicated with contractors and homeowners to promote safe excavation activities.
- Maintained vehicles in compliance with company safety protocols and Bluestake/811 requirements.
Manager
Kneaders
Arizona
12.2013 - 03.2016
- Managed ~15 employees per shift while ensuring financial performance and operational success.
- Coordinated weekly schedules, monitored labor costs/productivity, and managed large corporate orders to optimize operational efficiency.
- Executed safety briefings and conducted audits for food quality, customer service, cleanliness, and hazard prevention to ensure compliance and operational standards.
- Partnered with corporate leadership to develop onboarding program for over 50 new hires during new store openings, enhancing integration and retention.
Education
High School Diploma -
Lincoln Academy
Houston, TX08.2013
US Army Corps of Engineers Course - 12N AIT
Fort Leonard Wood
Fort Leonard Wood, MOSkills
- CCTV/Sonde Locating
- GPR Data Analysis & Interpretation
- GIS Mapping Tools
- Utility Print/As-Built Reading
- Fiber optic installation
- Damage investigation
- Electromagnetic
- Acoustic
- Ferromagnetic
- Split Box/Induction
- Locatable Rodder
- Microsoft Office
- Data Analysis
- Safe Driving
- Vehicle Maintenance
- Construction management
- Strong Communication
- Construction management
Certification
- Graduation of BCT
- Graduation of Engineer Course
- Accident Avoidance Course
- Smiths Driving Course
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- OSHA Safety
- RF Awareness - Radio Frequency Safety
- Basic Electrical Systems
- Basic Sewer and Water Systems
- Basic Communications Systems
- Basic Radio Communications Systems
Timeline
OSP Field Inspector
Lightpath Fiber
05.2025 - Current
Underground Utility Damage Investigator
The Claims Center (Cox Communications)
04.2022 - 05.2025
Locate Technician
Safe Site Utility Services
03.2021 - 04.2022
Locate Technician
ELM
07.2018 - 03.2021
Horizontal Engineer (12N)
US Army National Guard
03.2017 - 03.2021
Locate Technician
USIC
03.2016 - 07.2018
Manager
Kneaders
12.2013 - 03.2016
High School Diploma -
Lincoln Academy
US Army Corps of Engineers Course - 12N AIT
Fort Leonard Wood