POWERGRAMS

CONTENTS YEAR IN REVIEW Alabama Power and its employees reached many milestones in the past year. Highlights from each month include safety, customer service, community involvement, education and storm restoration accolades. Page 1 TARGET ZERO Alabama Power has a new safety theme for 2017: Recommitting to Target Zero. CEO Mark Crosswhite, Vice President of Human Resources and Ethics Jeff Peoples and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers System Council U-19 Business Manager Casey Shelton are urging employees to take a proactive approach in the new year. Page 7 TARGET ZERO It's a different kind of workplace for employees and contractors who head into the swamps to upgrade transmission towers in the habitat of snakes, alligators and other wildlife. Page 9 OUR TOWN Demopolis has come a long way in the 200 years since it was founded as the Vine & Olive Colony by French settlers. The city is now home to major industries and nationally recognized historic homes and businesses. Page 13 OUR TOWN SIDEBAR Theo Ratliff left his hometown two decades ago to gain fame as a basketball player at the University of Wyoming and then reach All- Star status in the NBA. He shared his riches by founding the Theo Ratliff Center. Page 23 COMMUNITY Seventeen years ago, Gene Phifer had an idea to clean the Coosa River of the eyesore garbage on the banks near Plant Gadsden. His idea has since helped remove millions of pounds of refuse from waterways across the Southeast through Renew Our Rivers. Page 25 APSO Across the state each day, Alabama Power employees volunteer to take hot meals to elderly and shut-in citizens who otherwise might be alone and hungry. Page 29 CUSTOMER SERVICE Pat Wilkinson is a fixture in the Anniston Office, continuing to greet customers with a smile long after the age when many employees retire. Page 31 PROFILE Clay County Business Office Manager Debbie Whatley and her husband, Rick, support orphans living near Lake Victoria in Kenya. Last summer they visited an orphanage that has other connections to Alabama Power. Page 33 ENERGIZERS Two Human Resources employees received the 2016 Sam Booker Award for their efforts in support of Alabama Power retirees. Cindy Freeman and Brad Hilsmier are the first duo to receive the Booker Award. Page 35 PROFILE Many artists require a photograph from which to paint, but Alabama Power retiree Freddie Nell Jones needs only her imagination to create award-winning artwork. Page 37 HAPPY TRAILS The inaugural salute to retiring Alabama Power employees recognizes Art Scroggins, who has spent most of his 45-year career in Selma. Co-workers say it won't be the same without the long-time Distribution manager in the office each day. Page 41 HISTORY Ed Bridges' new book "Alabama: The Making of an American State" recognizes Alabama Power's significant role in the development of the state. Page 43 PHOTO CONTEST The Powergrams Photo Contest returns, providing employees and retirees an opportunity to show their skills. Deadline for submissions is Feb 28. Page 45 RETIREES Page 46 OPT IN Page 46 IN MEMORIAM Page 47 THUMBS UP! Page 48 JANUARY - FEBRUARY • 2017 EDITOR Chuck Chandler 205-257-3651 cchandle@southernco.com ART DIRECTOR Jay Parker WRITERS Donna Cope Carla Davis Gilbert Nicholson CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Leah Rawls Atkins CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Dan Anderson Wynter Byrd Christopher Jones Nik Layman Meg McKinney Chuck St. John Ted Tucker ON THE COVER Alabama Power Line Inspectors Tommy Sellers and Steve Bell head down the Mobile River toward swamps where they led efforts to upgrade transmission lines. Photo by Dan Anderson Story on Page 9 POWERGRAMS © Alabama Power Company 2017 SEND YOUR POSTCARDS TO POWERGRAMS Whether you're beach-bound, headed to a National Park or loading the SUV for Six Flags, don't forget Postcards to Powergrams. All it takes is a quick cellphone selfie to show Alabama Power co-workers and friends where you went on vacation. Grab the latest Powergrams magazine, hold it up and take a picture of yourself and the whole family (or get someone else to snap a few frames for you). Send your best shot by email to cchandle@southernco.com or snail mail to Powergrams, P.O. Box 2641, Birmingham, AL 35391-0666. Be sure to include your name and work location, IDs of anyone else in the photo, and the location of the vacation.

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