PCCA Journal|4
th
Quarter 2012
23
“Our People Are Who We Are”
The company website is straightforward: “Silvey is a people
company. Our people are who we are and they strive to
provide you, our customer, with ‘peace of mind’ services
for all of your projects.” And it’s not just lip service. Silvey
is an employee stock ownership company (ESOP), and the
employee-owners strive for the highest of quality workman-
ship with close attention to details and honesty and integrity
at the heart of every decision.
“All of our officers, managers, and co-workers are key per-
sonnel in our company,” Tommy said. “Without them Aubrey
Silvey Enterprises would not exist in our present form. We
have 370 key people and don’t want to lose anyone.”
Initially 35 percent of the company was ESOP, and they
went 100 percent in 2000. Each employee has a block of
stock based on their salary and years with the company. The
longer they stay, the more they get. When they leave the
company, they can roll it into an IRA without paying taxes on
it. “The ESOP program has worked quite well, especially with
the older workers,” Tommy said. “It helps us attract good
people and keep good people in the company.”
Tommy also acknowledges some key people for his suc-
cess in the business. “Aubrey Silvey and J.T. Becker were
my two mentors, and I give both of them credit for where I
am today,” he said. “They taught me the business, how to
work hard, and how to get along with my fellow worker and
depend on them for help.”
“Aubrey has been like an older brother to me,” he contin-
ued. “He taught me the business, how to estimate jobs, how
to construct them. A real influence on my life. He took me
under his wing and showed me the ropes.”
Tommy worked on Becker’s crew when he started with the
company. “He was the hardest working man I ever knew, and
the fairest. When he told you something, you could take it to
the bank.”
Before being drafted, Tommy had worked briefly for
Richards and Associates. Aubrey Silvey worked there as well.
“One of our mentors in our business was Mr. Roy Richards
the founder of Southwire Company located in Carrollton,
Ga.” Tommy said. “Although it was a remote relationship, we
always admired what Southwire had done for Carroll County
and surrounding counties. He was a dedicated, hands-on
type person with strong morals and values that he instilled in
his people. He was a real influence on me and on Mr. Silvey.”
Small-Town Values
One of the first things you notice on the Silvey website is a
block of text that reads, “A comprehensive company with
small-town values,” and Tommy Muse exudes those values,
especially when discussing his family and his upbringing.
“My family background was pretty simple,” he said. “I was
raised in rural America by a good Christian Mom and Dad
and attended public schools because that was where the bus
stopped that came by my house.”
He attended West Georgia College in Carrollton, transferred
to Southern Tech, and graduated in 1970. During college, he
married his childhood girlfriend, Brenda, and 45 years later
they are still happily married. They have one son, Tommy
Jr., who manages Silvey’s engineering company, Associated
Substation Engineering, Inc., and is married to Cindy Mussel-
white Muse. Tommy Jr. and Cindy have two sons, Logan and
Tyler.
“Brenda is my wife and my best friend,” Tommy said. “We
grew up together, have been through some valleys, hung in
there, and climbed back up the mountain together. I credit
her for where I am today.”
“Tommy Jr. grew up in the business,” his father recalled.
“He worked for me when he was 13 or 14, and he was a
darned good substation worker. I was rougher on him than
Continued on page 24
Tommy & Brenda Muse
All the Muses: Tommy, Brenda, Tommy Jr., Cindy, Logan & Tyler
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