Connections

3 "Remember why you do what you do." Between the busyness of the day, doing one's job and taking care of your family, life sometimes gets in the way of the purpose behind what we do, Trey Hayes has observed. "I want us to remember why we do what we do in APSO," said Hayes, 2015 state APSO president. "It's not good enough to volunteer, to fill in a box on a page. We want to make an impact. The danger is getting too caught up in the numbers and forgetting the why." Year after year, members serve in more than 250 projects that merit impressive statistics: 50,000 service hours. Hayes cautions members to forget the numbers – based on numbers' sake – and simply continue to take pride in their community accomplishments. "APSO has been a part of every team I've ever been on in our company," said Hayes, who began his Alabama Power career seven years ago as an engineer at Trussville Crew Headquarters. "Volunteering in APSO has been prevalent in people I look up to. It's who we are." The relationships he's made along the way smoothed Hayes' transition to Commercial and Industrial Marketing a couple of years ago. He said the job change was virtually seamless, as he discovered many new co-workers were tapped into APSO. For the seven years Hayes has been at Alabama Power, he's helped push the company's Run for the Reason fundraising project for the American Cancer Society. The reason is personal: Close friends at Hayes' church have suffered this deadly disease. About three years ago, Hayes donated bone marrow to a cancer-stricken youngster he's never met. From occasional progress reports, Hayes knows the youngster survives, and hopes to someday meet him. For now, mustering his strength for the two-and-a- half day Run for the Reason must suffice. "I'm very sold out to Run for the Reason," said Hayes, a longtime marathon runner who has trekked more than 100 miles for the event. APSO chapter members throughout the state are visible contributors, cooking meals for the runners and delivering bottled water and snacks to keep the teams' energy up. With chapter leaders sharing ideas during the annual business meeting, all 10 groups discussed statewide, coordinated efforts in which to take part. Projects such as Renew Our Rivers, Good Roots and Family Place will continue to permeate throughout APSO. Hayes believes the various sub-areas within the chapters help people who could otherwise fall through the cracks. "I want to promote the ability of the sub-areas within our chapters, to empower local boards and APSO presidents to do what they need to do at any given time," he said. "With the resources we have, the pieces are in place to allow us to do bigger and better things." By Donna Cope 2015 APSO State President Trey Hayes Whether fighting the enemy from the trenches or dealing with fellow employees and customers on the front line, Bruce Bright believes the best leaders are personally involved in the lives of people they lead. Bright's surefire method? Show the love. For nearly 30 years as a lieutenant colonel, commanding officer and F/A-18 fighter pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps, Bright has proved the strategy over and again. As CEO of On Target Leading, Bright has spent 10 years motivating others, teaching leadership concepts to employees of Fortune 500 companies. "If you want people to believe in you, follow you and accept your leadership, you've got to connect with them emotionally," Bright told members of the Alabama Power Service Organization during the annual APSO convention themed Power to the Promise: Pay it Forward. Bright learned the secrets of being a successful leader as he guided young Marines and their families. "God is always first; my own family is second; and the lives of my men and their families followed," Bright said. Acting as a servant leader in his everyday life came down to personal choice. Bright reviewed APSO's goals and service projects performed by APSO members the past 20 years, and said he knows members' hearts are in the right place. "My method is to love on people," Bright said. "When you connect emotionally, it's the most important, most powerful thing you can do. The connection you make emotionally is where the leadership is." He believes that when people take care of the emotional side, it's easier to work through any aspect of the business side. Want to be a leader? Show the love APSO State President Hayes has run more than 100 miles in support of Run for the Reason and the American Cancer Society. In the spotlight: APSO Connections Survey (Please circle appropriate response) Is Connectionsyour primary news source regarding APSO? Yes / No Do you think Connections includes interesting stories? Yes / No Does Connections help you understand APSO's goals and projects? Yes / No Does Connections inspire you to volunteer in the community? Yes / No Do you think Connections articles are factual? Yes / No Does Connections adequately recognize members' achievements? Yes / No Are you interested in knowing about the activities of APSO's 10 chapters? Yes / No Do you prefer a print copy of the newsletter, or an online version? Printed / Online What would you like to see in Connections? _______________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Please clip and mail intracompany to Editor Donna Cope, Corporate Headquarters, MN-0668. ✁ Bruce Bright "We have a higher purpose. When we understand the why, the numbers take care of themselves."

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