Issue link: https://alabamapower.uberflip.com/i/1046201
42 from the group and started sharing lunch and breaks by themselves. "We were friends for a while, and then we realized we really liked each other," Pai said. "When we started dating, we had to keep it quiet because you weren't supposed to have a relationship with someone in the same department." The couple tied the knot in 1980. With the "cat out of the bag," the two were separated at work, with Pai moving to Treasury as a clerk for the next seven years. Pai then took a job in Corporate Planning and later became a rate specialist in Regulatory Pricing. The past 12 years, she worked with 60 rate consultants from across the nation who represent commercial and industrial customers in energy- related issues. She managed the operations and maintenance (O&M) budget for Governmental Affairs and Regulatory Affairs. Meanwhile, Steve remained in Corporate Accounting, moving up through the ranks. As Accounting coordinator for more than 20 years, he worked with pool billing, the program through which Southern Company Services bills APC and other operating companies for their portion of system energy sales and purchases. Steve played a lead role in ensuring the company's books were balanced each month. "When I started at the beginning of August in 1977, I was there in time to close the books for July business," Steve said. "Since then, I've participated in every month-end closing of the company books until May 2018. That's 489 closings without a break. They even called me back to close the books when I was on strike duty in Valley, Alabama, in 1982." Ivy Estes said Steve trained her to step into his shoes when he retired. "He was always very patient and a great teacher," said Estes, Fuel Accounting coordinator. "Steve had the ability to calmly think through complicated accounting issues, and he taught me that same analytical process." Norma Jacobs, who has been friends with Pai and Steve for 30 years, said they "complement each other in a unique way." "Pai and Steve are both perfectionists. If they can't do it right, they won't do it," said Jacobs, executive secretary, Financial and Corporate Planning. "Steve Knain was the most dedicated employee I've ever seen, and Pai was the same way. Her recordkeeping was so phenomenal that you could walk into her office, and she could put her hands right on anything you needed." Outside the office Pai and Steve enjoy traveling, especially to St. John in the Virgin Islands. In 1994, Steve was invited to take the trip as a participant in a successful Chamber of Commerce effort. "That was our first taste of the island," Pai said. "As we were leaving, he kissed me on the dock and said, 'I'll bring you back one day.'" Although it took a while, VP Regulatory Affairs Richard Hutto, Patti and Steve Knain, Assistant Comptroller Wendy Hoomes.