Alumni who inspire: John Mazzone

This month, John Mazzone shares his insights and advice from his 33-year career in electrical power (WVU Graphic). 

This month we’re excited to introduce our alumnus, Mr. John Mazzone, a distinguished 1983 graduate of the Materials, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at West Virginia University.  

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

John Mazzone is a retired executive from American Electric Power with over 33 years of applied knowledge in the electrical power industry. AEP is one of largest utilities in the US, serving customers in 11 states. Mazzone spent his entire career at AEP after graduating from Statler with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1983. Over the next several years he was promoted through the ranks, becoming AEP’s youngest plant manager at that time. Always eager to learn and take on new challenges, Mazzone’s job performance opened doors of opportunity enabling him to lead organizations within the company as a director, managing director, and vice president. During his career, he’s had the privilege to lead traveling outage crews, railroad operations, a trans-loading coal terminal, a corporate strategic planning group, a fleet operations improvement team and a five-state territory of coal, natural gas, hydro plants and solar farms. During Mazzone’s final years in the company, he was asked to lobby in Washington, DC as the company’s subject matter expert and to also coach employees in the area of leadership. Mazzone completed the Executive Management Program from the Ohio State University Fisher College of Business and the Leadership in Changings Times from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute.   

Mazzone grew up in Weirton, WV and graduated from Madonna High School in 1979. The son of a steel mill machinist, he was the first in his family to attend college. Mazzone resides in Newark Ohio with his wife and four children, three of whom are WVU graduates.

What motivated you to pursue your degree in engineering at West Virginia University? 

Mazzone: WVU had always been entrenched in my family growing up. My father would take me to football games at old Mountaineer field in the early 70s. It was then that I fell in love with the university, making it my college pursuit. Also, I believe I was born to be an engineer. From the youngest age, I possessed a strong desire to figure out how things worked. I was one of those weird kids that never played with his toys but instead took them apart to understand how they operated.

What were some of your most memorable experiences during your studies? 

My academic interests came to me through the mechanical engineering program’s curriculum. My lingering questions as how and why came into focus as I learned physics, statics, dynamics, vibration analysis, heat transfer and thermodynamics. Being involved with activities like structure-building contests and egg drops and taking the hands-on Industrial Engineering lab course gave me a glimpse as to how these learned concepts are applied.    

I was motivated by the desire to make my mark in the world and apply what I’ve learned through my degree, with my parents being the biggest supporters. I was highly sensitive to the fact that I was first in my family to attend college and was expected to succeed, but moreover, knowing what my parents sacrificed for years to pay for my education was the primary driver.   

How did your time at WVU shape your career path? 

I immediately chose to work in a power plant as opposed to a corporate engineer. I felt that this was the best way to understand the business from a grassroots level. Learning opportunities tend to come to you if you seek them out and sacrifice some personal time. Persistence in this regard opens doors for more career opportunities, responsibility and advancement. Climbing the ranks quickly though can be a double-edged sword as eventually you’ll be faced with a challenge or circumstance that you have little to no experience in handling. In those instances, I’ve learned to show humility and vulnerability. Say you don’t know when you don’t and rely on the people around and beneath you. In the long run, you will gain more respect among your peers than by pretending. They won’t be fooled.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with current students? 

Embrace every opportunity and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. 

1). Develop strong oral and written communication skills.  Being able to express yourself properly in front of a group or face to face is paramount. If you can’t articulate your thoughts and ideas appropriately, you tend to lose credibility. Also, conveying your thoughts by writing technically and not like a story author is critical as well. 

2). Have a questioning attitude. Career development and opportunity tend to come through an individual’s persistence and desire to learn more and to take on challenges, understanding all along that your work-life balance may be compromised in this pursuit.   

3). Be humble, show humility and have empathy.  By virtue of one’s academic accomplishments or position within an organization, a larger ego can stand out in your persona. If you don’t know, say you don’t and ask for others assistance. Listen attentively when anyone is speaking to you regardless of their standing in life. Have a sincere, caring demeanor towards everyone regardless of if it’s the janitor mopping the floors or the company’s CEO; make no distinctions. This in my mind is a show of character that no one could ever deny. 

The  Alumni Who Inspire! Program recognizes alumni for their dedication to their professions and West Virginia University. The program was launched in Fall 2023 as a monthly discussion board with Statler alumni.  

Like Mazzone, there are so many Statler alumni here and around the world with amazing stories. Join us next month to learn more about our community members and their inspiring journeys. Let’s Go!

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