Ahead of his retirement, Andy Ouellette reflects on his decades of commitment and volunteerism

From a winter thaw to last-minute storms to this year’s brutal arctic blast, Andy Ouellette has seen it all in his 24 years of volunteering to make snow for the Special Olympics Connecticut Winter Games.

“There was one year—I call it the Miracle of 2017—where we made snow the night before the games,” Ouellette recalled. “We were ready to go and tore our snowmaking equipment down earlier in the week, but then we had a big rainstorm and all of the snow disappeared. We scrambled to hook the pipes back up and we didn’t stop making snow until 5 a.m. the morning of the event. After that, we raced to break everything down and groom the courses for the athletes who would be arriving only a short time later. I don’t think anyone slept that night.”

Even with several close calls over the last two and a half decades, Eversource has never had to cancel the Winter Games due to a lack of snow, and that’s a record Ouellette is deeply proud of. Many think of him as a miracle worker for his tireless efforts and hard work, but Ouellette says he’s not the only one.

“Pulling this off wouldn’t be possible without our retired volunteers who come back every year to help make the snow. They could be sitting in Florida with a cold drink in their hand, but instead they show up in Windsor on overnights and weekends to monitor the equipment every minute it’s running and make sure there’s snow on the ground for these athletes.”

It was legendary snowmakers like former Eversource employees Bud Meyers and Paul Robotham whom Ouellette inherited his role from. He had no written instructions—just the masterful playbook and mentorship of the dedicated volunteers who came before him.

 “When Mother Nature is fickle, you have to be able to pivot,” Ouellette explained. “I’m always looking at the forecast and thinking of plan B, but also C, D, and E after that.”

Ouellette typically targets 100 hours of actual snowmaking time to get enough fresh white flakes on the ground for the snowshoeing and cross-country skiing courses. It’s time he always fits into his schedule in addition to his daily work of ensuring safe, reliable electric service for customers across Connecticut as Eversource’s Lead Safety Advisor.

“My wife would joke after Christmas and say ‘see you in March’ because during January and February, I usually spend so much time at work and then keeping our snowmaking on track on top of that. It’s a labor of love, but it’s still fun. It’s been a part of me for 24 years.”

And for 24 years, Ouellette says, the hard work and preparation have paid off with a reward that’s priceless.

“Behind the more than 100 athletes who will compete in the games, there are hundreds more people behind them between family, friends, and supporters,” Ouellette said. “Seeing all of their smiles and hearing their hooting and hollering during the competition – that’s what it’s all about. We come back every year because of them.”

As Ouellette gets ready to retire after this year, he says he still hopes to volunteer and make snow for Special Olympics. And as he passes on the torch of lead snowmaker, he’s confident that person—and the dozens of other Eversource volunteers who donate their time to make the games a reality—will continue to make it a huge success.

“Carry on the tradition. We’re the only organization in the country that makes snow for the Winter Games, and we’re not going to let the athletes down.”

Eversource is a proud sponsor of Special Olympics Connecticut and many other community events throughout the year that help strengthen charitable or nonprofit organizations around the state. Volunteers and spectators are welcome to cheer on the athletes at the Special Olympics Connecticut Winter Games on February 28 and March 1 at the Eversource Windsor Area Work Center on Blue Hills Avenue. For more information on Special Olympics Connecticut, visit www.soct.org, and follow Special Olympics Connecticut and Eversource on Facebook and X (#SOCT).