Issue link: https://alabamapower.uberflip.com/i/1181510
35 Tuscaloosa Crew Headquarters. Ellis graduated from Childersburg High School and Faulkner University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a master's degree in Business Management. She is active in the community and the Alabama Power Service Organization, as are her new co- workers. "I love what I do," she says. "It's an opportunity to make an impact. There's self-satisfaction and there's satisfaction seeing our company helping a community." Retail Sales Consultant Lisa Rushing is a Fayette County native who has worked for Alabama Power 11 years, based in the Fayette Business Office but also working in the Jasper Office. She's watched as appliance stores in the area have closed their doors but APC has maintained a full showroom. Rushing is happy to serve the basic needs of her customers who buy washers, dryers and refrigerators. In 2016, she received the company's most prestigious honor for Merchandise sales, the Jerry Bell Award. Rushing is a 1993 Fayette Academy graduate and received a medical transcription certificate from the UAB Walker Campus in 1996. She is a member of the Fayette County Fair Board. Rushing is married to Scott, who works at Nelson Funeral Home. Their daughter, Ashley, 21, recently started classes at the University of Alabama majoring in elementary education. "I love being part of anything that gives back to our community," Rushing says. "I also enjoy do-it- yourself projects, restoring my 1940s home and being with my family." Customer Service Representative Cynthia Harcrow was born in Houston, Texas, but has lived in Alabama most of her life, including 25 years in Pickens County before moving to Fayette. She's worked for Alabama Power since 2008, the past seven years in the Fayette Business Office. "I have developed very dear friendships with many of the customers that have come in," she says. "I enjoy helping resolve customer issues and helping them understand not only their bill, but their usage most of all. Nobody likes high utility bills and I like troubleshooting their issues to try to help them understand what may be the cause. It's always rewarding when the customer comes back later and says, 'You know, you were right. My bill is now lower!'" The 1991 graduate of South Lamar High School has five cats and "one very spoiled" 31-year-old African grey parrot named Bart. Harcrow enjoys going to plays put on by local performing groups. "The town is not very large, but it conveniently has almost everything one might need," she says. "It really is a nice place to live. Fayette's roots run deep with history and I'm proud to be living here." Customer Service Representative Anita Cargile moved to Fayette in 1985 when she married Greg, who has worked for Georgia Pacific in Belk for more than 40 years. She has been with Alabama Power for eight years. "I love being there for our customers and just seeing the smiles on many of their faces," she says. "I feel we all have a purpose in life, to serve others. Being a customer service representative gives me the perfect opportunity to do just that." She is a graduate of Winfield City High School and Brewer State Junior College. The Cargiles are members of Mount Vernon United Methodist Church. They have two children: Emily, who lives in Hoover, is married to Jon Andrew Castleberry and they have a daughter, Poppy Mae; and Scott, who lives in Columbus, Mississippi, and is married to Megan. Cargile is on the Fayette County Fair Board. She enjoys living in a small town with friendly people. "I love just walking down Temple Avenue and seeing our beautiful courthouse, civic center, depot and gorgeous church buildings," she says. "I feel our community takes great pride in making our small town beautiful and welcoming. I consider it a blessing to live in Fayette." Frog mural downtown takes humorous view of Fayette's origin as Frog Level. Fayette employees Ellis, Rushing, Cargile and Harcrow

