POWERGRAMS

7 Level 5 for their generating performance: Upper Coosa, Lower Coosa and Warrior. "The outstanding performance of the generating plants during peak season was largely the result of the commitment, focus, teamwork and resiliency of our people," said Senior Production Officer Jim Heilbron. "Our plants have become more complex and available resources more constrained. Considering these and other challenges associated with operating and maintaining our plants, our folks and those who support them have done a fantastic job." …………. More than 200 seventh- grade students and teachers from Wilkerson, Wylam and Hudson middle schools thronged to exhibits at the Energy Awareness Fair hosted by the Birmingham Chapter of AABE at Alabama Power's 12th Street Crew Headquarters in Birmingham. The event was designed to introduce students to careers in technology, engineering, math and science, particularly jobs in the energy sector. For students interested in other careers, there were booths focused on business, human resources, marketing and accounting. The event was part of AABE's annual Black Energy Awareness Month. Phillip Coffey, chairman of the chapter's education and scholarship committee, said the organization is hoping to "generate a spark" in students. NOVEMBER Alabama Power and members of the Council on Culture and Inclusion honored the company's military veterans at Corporate Headquarters. Employees attending represented the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Army National Guard and Army Reserve. Military members in attendance, including guest speaker Wendell McLain, represented nearly 700 years of military service. Retired Brig. Gen. McLain, who served 35 years in the military, shared lessons learned during his duty. McLain was drafted into the Army in 1968, serving as a paratrooper, among other positions. He also enjoyed a 38-year career at Alabama Power, working in line construction and construction services in Southern and Eastern divisions until his retirement from a position at Corporate Headquarters. …………. The Alabama Public Service Commission took a moment during its meeting to recognize the work of Alabama Power employees after Hurricane Michael struck the Gulf Coast. Commission President Twinkle Cavanaugh praised the more than 300 covered employees who responded in October, along with contractors and support personnel. The work began in the Wiregrass, then moved into Georgia before employees finished a two-week deployment along the Florida Panhandle. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers was represented at the PSC by IBEW Business Manager Casey Shelton; Trussville Power Delivery Lineman Kennith Fine; and Auburn Power Delivery Lineman Britt Clayton. ………………. "The Blount County Education Foundation exists because of Alabama Power's leadership," said Mitchie Neel, executive director of the BCEF, an award- winning organization helping students excel in the classroom. Twenty years after it was founded, the BCEF continues moving the needle in education, having provided more than $3 million and 1,900 classroom grants for Blount County schools. Just last school year, the BCEF awarded grants totaling $124,497 to 157 teachers. Neel said the idea of an educational foundation to help students came from Alabama Power via Jim Henderson, who suggested it to the Blount County superintendent in 1998. Not only did Henderson initiate the idea, the Alabama Power Foundation provided seed money and has contributed every year since. Council on Culture and Inclusion honored military employees at banquet. Photo by Billy Brown

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