POWERGRAMS

42 in the Thomasville Office. Even in those early days, solving problems was his forte. "When I first came on in 1974, I couldn't do electrical work," D'Andrea said. "But when the electricians, contractors or homeowners had a problem, I would show them how to trace it and how to fix it, and then I would leave. I was a resource." For the next 18 years, D'Andrea rose through the engineering ranks. He became manager of the Butler Office in 1992 and moved to the Brewton Office three years later. He returned as manager of the Thomasville and Butler offices in 2004. As in Thomasville, D'Andrea was heavily involved in the Brewton and Butler communities, where he served as chamber president. But some of his best memories involve an annual office Christmas project in Brewton. "We adopted families who had fallen through the cracks," he said. "I would dress as Santa, and we would go as a caravan to their homes to give them their gifts. Everybody usually cried, but we always had a good time." Throughout his career, D'Andrea has focused on mentoring new or younger employees. At Stork's request, he postponed his retirement two years ago to train Cynthia Tatum in her new role as Customer Service supervisor. "Danny is very knowledgeable and is willing to share his best practices," Tatum said. "He is a fast talker, and you really have to listen and pay attention. But he's very patient and always remains calm." Another employee who learned from D'Andrea is Hillcrest Manager Sharon Murrill, who worked with him when she joined Alabama Power in 1987. "When I hired on at the company, I knew nothing at all, especially about distribution," Murrill said. "Danny was always quick to step up and explain the processes. He was a great teacher for new employees like me." Christmas all year at the D'Andrea house For D'Andrea, it's "Christmas 365 days a year." That's because he is always busy working on his pet project: an annual holiday extravaganza. For the past 10 years, D'Andrea's yard, ablaze with more than 28,000 Christmas lights that dance to synchronized music, has become a favorite stop for Thomasville citizens during the holidays. "I start building my show the first week of November, and then, the lights go hot the day after Thanksgiving and come down New Year's Day," D'Andrea said. "I spend the rest of the year repairing and stringing lights, usually while I'm watching TV. It's my way of dealing with my frustrations." With his retirement, D'Andrea wants to travel with his wife, Jan, spend more time playing with his grandchildren, 5-year- old Emerson and 7-month-old Easton, and, of course, continue his work in the community. "I have thoroughly enjoyed every day of my career," D'Andrea said. "I may have had a rough day here or there, but I've had fun. They say if you love your job, you never work a day in your life." D'Andrea strings Christmas lights at home year-round. D'Andrea's 28,000-light display is popular between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.

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