Profile

Clifford Swoape

Middle Tennessee Natural Gas

Bio

Born in Virginia, Cliff is proud to have grown up as an "army brat" who, until the age of 26, had never lived longer than three years in any one place. He has now called Woodbury, Tennessee home more than all of the service time put together.

Cliff earned a B.A. in History with honors and departmental distinction from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, and pursues additional education relentlessly.

Cliff has been employed with Middle Tennessee Natural Gas Utility District since 1987, in a variety of positions from Meter Painter to Manager of Safety & Training, the position he currently holds.

In addition to being actively involved in number of industry associations, Cliff has been an active member of the Woodbury Lions Club since 1992 and is a founding member of the Historic Cannon County Chamber of Commerce. Cliff has worked on natural gas industry efforts that include PIPE, damage prevention, operator qualification, public awareness, school education programs, safety, and knowledge transfer.

Notable to Cliff in the “personal goals accomplished” category is having completed the Country Music Marathon in 2003, 2004, and 2005.

Cliff lives in a former Bed & Breakfast in Woodbury, Tennessee with his wife, Katherine, their children, and a menagerie of pets. Cliff is proud to be a UT Dad, Tennessee Tech Dad, and MTSU Dad; a family doing their part to support higher education across the state. Cliff and his family are active members of the Woodbury First United Methodist Church.

Honors and Awards

Certified Utility Safety Administrator
National Safety Council (NSC)

Chair
Leadership Cannon
2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007

Chair - Distribution Technical Training Committee
Southern Gas Association (SGA)
2008

Chair - Education Steering Committee
Tennessee Gas Association (TGA)
2009,2010,2014,2015,2016

Chair - Technology Training Committee
Southern Gas Association (SGA)
2013

Community Volunteer of the Year
MIddle Tennessee Natural Gas Utility District (MTNG)
2003

Dad
God
1994,1997,2003

District Governor
Lions Clubs District 12S
2010,2011

Guiding Lion
Smithville Lions Club
2007,2008,2009

Husband
God & an Amazing Woman

Leadership Award
Lions Club International
2009

Leadership Cannon Graduate
2005

Leadership Upper Cumberland Gradaute
2000

Lion of the Decade
Woodbury Lions Club
2007

Lion of the Year
Lions CLubs District 12S
1998,1999

Lion of the Year
Woodbury Lions Club
1998,1999

Lion of the Year
Lions of Tennessee
2008

President
Leadership Upper Cumberland (LUC)
2001,2002

President
Leadership Upper Cumberland Alumni Association (LUCAA)
2005,2006

President
Historic Cannon County Chamber of Commerce
1999,2000

Resolution for Tennessee Public Awareness Effort
Tennessee Gas Association Board of Directors (TGA)
2009

Safety Management Excellence Award
American Public Gas Association (APGA)
2015

Secretary
Tennessee Plumbing & Mechanical Inspectors Association (TPMIA)
2016,2017

Senior Lions Leadership Graduate
Lions Clubs International
2009

Silver Flame Award
Tennessee Gas Association (TGA)
2019

T.S. Staples Award
History Deparment, Hendrix College
1989