POWERGRAMS

32 32 Alabama Power, when she was given the option of working in the Call Center or trying face-to- face customer service. Gaddy is sure she made the right decision. "Since I've been with the company, I've always been in a customer support or service role," she says. "I enjoy that. I enjoy serving people, customers, the community: that's my forte." Customer Service Representative Lisa Roberts says the Valley Office is like "one big family," and their customers fit into the same kind of framework. "Everyone knows everyone in Valley," she says, having spent the past five years there aer 16 years in the Phenix City Office. "Our customers feel so comfortable with us, especially our elderly customers, coming in month aer month." As Roberts talks, an older customer brings in an envelope of money from his recently cashed retirement check. Roberts takes out enough to pay the power bill, then hands back the cash and envelope. Some seniors need help balancing their checkbook. Others send in a relative asking if the CSR can come to a car to take a payment. But Roberts and the others behind the pay windows don't mind: they frequently are repaid with home- baked cookies or muffins. Roberts is a Valley native, graduating from Beulah High School before marrying LaWendell Roberts 23 years ago. They have a son, LaWendell Jr., and are members of Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church, where she sings in the choir. "Working in Phenix City was good but nothing like coming home, seeing everybody on an everyday basis," says Roberts, who's an Alabama Power Service Organization member and has been conducting Safe-T-Opolis demonstrations in local schools for 18 years. "Just being part of a company that lets us go out into the community really makes a world of difference to me." Power Delivery-Distribution General Clerk Mary Henderson has worked for Alabama Power for 19 years, all of it in Valley. "The community is very caring and everyone takes care of each other for the most part," she says. Customer Service Representative Beth Branch returned to Valley from Atlanta a dozen years ago and is happy to be back home. The Valley High School graduate aended Southern Union State Community College and has worked for APC four years. "I love that I am able to live so close to my family," says Branch, who, with husband William, has five dogs and three cats. "The proximity to larger cities like Atlanta, Auburn and Columbus is also beneficial." Customer Service Representative Julie Jennings joined Alabama Power four years ago aer working in sales for companies dealing in restaurant equipment, cable and internet. "To be in customer service, you have to have a sales mentality," says Jennings, who is an APSO member. Jennings is from Phenix City, and a graduate of Central High School, but her husband, Bobby, is a Valley native. They have a home a few miles south of town on the Alabama side of Lake Harding. They have three children and seven grandchildren. Julie enjoys her adopted hometown. "I like the small-town feel; everyone is so friendly here," she says. "Phenix City was the same way." And Jennings is even more complimentary of her company. "Everyone here would do whatever they can for you. That's hard to find these days," she says. "When they say, 'Your brothers' and sisters' keeper,' they mean it." Merchandise Salesperson Joni Hubbard joined the company, APSO and Valley Office team two years ago. She is a Valley High School and Southern Union graduate. In her off-time, Hubbard is majoring in Business Administration APC Valley Office employees (seated) Branch, Humphries, Cookston; (standing) Gaddy, Hubbard, Henderson, Andrew Moore, Jennings, Roberts.

• Cover