Issue link: https://alabamapower.uberflip.com/i/1087775
15 Michael Burroughs doesn't predict the future with a crystal ball. But he can prey much tell you what's going to happen at Alabama Power's fossil plants. "Equipment usually malfunctions at the end of the day or on the weekends," he said with a laugh. But it's no laughing maer for Burroughs, who last year climbed the ranks of Southern Company to become manager at Barry Steam Plant outside Mobile. In fact, that was his response to a question about the part of his job he doesn't enjoy. It means on weekends, Burroughs sometimes has to turn off Saturday football games on television and go to work. On the other hand, that kind of spontaneity is what he likes about the job. "I love the variety and uncertainty of most days," he said. "It's usually non-stop and never boring." The 58-year-old Burroughs has had anything but a boring career. He aended high school in the shadow of Alabama Power Corporate Headquarters – at Phillips – one of Birmingham's oldest schools. Aer earning a mechanical engineering degree from UAB in 1990, he was hired to work where he is now plant manager. A look at Burroughs' jobs during his first stint at Barry would make one wonder if there was anything he didn't do at the generating plant. He was plant engineer, maintenance team leader, electrical and instrumentation team leader, heat rate engineer, operations team leader and planning team leader. The operative word is "leader." Company managers obviously recognized that character trait early on. "I consider it an honor to have worked and been a team member with Michael through many years," said Sco Moore, senior vice president for Power Delivery. "When I think about people that absolutely make a difference for our company, Michael's name rises high on that list. "He not only exhibits great technical knowledge and operational expertise, he genuinely cares about people," Moore continued. "Great leaders have a way of helping people be the best they can be. Michael has always been that kind of influence for me and I know he is a great asset to not only our company but the industry as a whole." Aer more managerial jobs at Plant Lansing Smith with Gulf Power near Panama City, Florida, Burroughs returned to the Magic City to serve as "assistant-to" now-retired Jerry Stewart, who was the chief production officer of Southern Company Services and senior production officer of Alabama Power. Burroughs