Issue link: http://alabamapower.uberflip.com/i/1497060
Contents ENVIRONMENT The award-winning Renew Our Rivers volunteer cleanup program returns to a full schedule this year. Page 1 MILESTONE Mark Crosswhite retired as president and CEO of Alabama Power on Dec. 31, 2022. He leaves a lengthy record of service to the company and community. Page 2 SAFETY Alabama Power employees frequently go above and beyond the call of duty to take extraordinary efforts to save or sustain the life of another person both on and off the job. Nine heroes are the latest to receive the Presidential Award of Honor. Page 6 PROFILE On Dec. 18, 2022, Land Acquisition Coordinator Rickey Reed celebrated his 50th year working for Alabama Power. It's been a successful journey for the Winfield native who started out digging ditches. Page 9 HISTORY On Jan. 1, 2023, Gadsden Steam Plant was retired. It was built during the administration of Alabama Power President James Mitchell and was at one time the largest electric- generating plant in the state. Page 12 OUR TOWN Alabama Power in Haleyville has been serving customers for 101 years. The employees in the Business Office and Crew Headquarters are part of a vibrant community that continues to thrive in rural north Alabama. Page 16 OUR TOWN SIDEBAR Haleyville native Mark Forrester gave his life in the fight for freedom on Sept. 29, 2010, in Afghanistan. His family and friends continue to honor their American hero through the foundation begun in his name. Page 22 APSO The Mobile Chapter of the Alabama Power Service Organization has been helping Mulherin Home for many years. The company volunteers recently took on another project to make life beer for the residents. Page 23 PROFILE Susan Story made history at Alabama Power and Southern Company, establishing several firsts for female employees. In 2013, Story le Alabama to lead American Water in New Jersey before retiring three years ago. Page 24 ENERGIZERS Mark White worked 40 years for Alabama Power before retiring in 2016. Soon aerward, White was involved in a second career as an organizer of the Skilled Trades of West Alabama Apprenticeship Program. Page 26 RETIREES Page 27 IN MEMORIAM Page 28 THUMBS UP Page 29 JANUARY - MARCH 2023 EDITOR Chuck Chandler 205-257-3651 cchandle@southernco.com ART DIRECTOR Jay Parker CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Phil Free W R I T E R S Donna Cope Carla Davis Mark Kelly CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Nik Layman Meg McKinney ON THE COVER Mark Crosswhite was the 11th president of Alabama Power Company, having begun his term in 2014. See page 2. Photo by Phil Free. P OW E RG RA M S © Alabama Power Company 2023 During the 2022 International Association of Business Communicators Southern Region annual conference, Powergrams received the Silver Quill Award of Excellence, marking the sixth time in the past seven years winning the highest IABC rating. Communications Specialist Carla Davis received the Award of Excellence for her January 2022 cover story "Golden Rules: Employee widely known for special efforts" about Field Service Representative Malinda Golden of Eufaula. Content Manager Michael Sznajderman received the Award of Excellence for a profile of Freedom Rider Catherine Burks-Brooks on the Alabama News Center, which received the Award of Merit for Communication for the Web. The Southern Region is the largest in the IABC, with members across 13 states, the Caribbean and Latin America.