Coral Springs Resident Reflects on Blackout That Shaped His Career

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Nick Campbell with his parents in the middle and his wife on the right. {FPL}

For Nick Campbell, the moment everything went dark remains unforgettable.

He was 19 years old, driving through Detroit when the streetlights suddenly shut off. Traffic ground to a halt, radios fell silent, and phone lines became overloaded as the Northeast blackout of 2003 plunged millions into darkness.

Even amid the confusion, Nick knew one thing.

“I knew I probably wouldn’t see my father for a few days,” he said.

His father, Steve, an engineering technician with the local electric utility for more than 40 years, was immediately called in to help restore power. For the next three and a half days, he worked around the clock to bring electricity back to the region.

The experience left a lasting impression on Nick and continues to shape his approach to the energy industry.

“You understand now it’s a 24/7, 365 business,” Nick said. “We have a duty to our customers to provide reliable power at all times.”

At the time, Nick admitted he took electricity for granted. It wasn’t until he entered the industry himself that he fully appreciated the responsibility behind keeping the power on, especially for families relying on air conditioning during extreme heat or customers with critical medical needs.

Growing up in Michigan, Nick originally expected to pursue a career in the automotive industry. That changed after an internship introduced him to the energy sector and the essential role utilities play in everyday life.

He ultimately joined Florida Power & Light Co., attracted by its focus on safety, innovation, and continuous improvement, as well as opportunities for professional growth.

Today, Nick serves as a regional plant manager in FPL’s power generation division, overseeing teams at facilities across Broward and Miami-Dade counties that help provide electricity to millions of Floridians.

His role takes on added importance during the Atlantic hurricane season, although preparation for severe weather is a year-round effort.

Before hurricane season begins each year, FPL conducts a comprehensive storm drill involving thousands of employees who assume emergency response roles in addition to their regular responsibilities.

For Nick and his team, the exercise is designed to replicate real-world conditions.

Preparation includes reviewing storm scenarios, coordinating workforce deployment, testing communication systems, and ensuring every team member understands their responsibilities before an actual emergency occurs.

“We don’t take those drills lightly,” Nick said. “We expect everyone to prepare like it’s a real storm.”

As storms approach, those preparations transition into action. Teams follow detailed procedures that include securing equipment, testing backup systems, and preparing facilities to operate through severe weather. Designated personnel remain on site during storms to make real-time decisions that help keep generating units operating safely and reliably.

The extensive planning is intended to position crews to restore service as quickly as possible once conditions are safe.

He said the work requires constant attention to detail, from anticipating risks to maintaining equipment and making disciplined operational decisions.

“We’re solving complex challenges every day behind the scenes, so our customers never have to think about it,” he said.

He credits much of his leadership philosophy to the example set by his father.

“I always try to lead as a mentor and a coach,” he said. “We have a lot of newer teammates, and it’s important to guide them so they’re making the right decisions and growing in their careers.”

He recalls watching his father answer weekend calls and leave family gatherings when duty required, while still making time for his family whenever possible.

Only after joining the industry did Campbell fully appreciate the balance his father maintained.

“I can call him at any point, day or night,” Campbell said. “Nothing’s ever changed.”

Now retired, Campbell’s father continues to serve as a trusted mentor, offering advice and perspective as the two discuss leadership challenges and their shared experiences in the utility industry.

The connection takes on added significance each Father’s Day.

From witnessing one of the largest blackouts in North American history as a teenager to helping oversee power generation for millions of customers, Campbell understands the responsibility that comes with the job.

For him, success is measured by the days when nothing unusual happens.

According to Campbell, the lights come on, air conditioners run, and families go about their daily lives without interruption — a sign that preparation, discipline and the work performed behind the scenes are doing exactly what they are intended to do.

In 2025, that approach helped FPL achieve its strongest reliability performance on record, with the fewest outages in company history.

It is the same mission Campbell watched his father carry out decades ago and one he is now proud to continue.

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Sharon Aron Baron

Editor of Talk Media and writer for Coral Springs Talk. CST was created in 2012 to provide News, Views, and Entertainment for the residents of Coral Springs and the rest of South Florida.