POWERGRAMS

Combining her rich cultural heritage from India and an American "can-do" spirit, Chitra Kirpalani is living her best life. Born in Chennai, one of India's largest cities, Kirpalani immigrated to Birmingham in 1986. Her parents schooled her about the importance of a strong work ethic as she worked in the family business, Hong Kong Tailors in Homewood. Specializing in "bespoke" garments, made to suit the unique qualities of the individual, the company focuses on providing top customer service. Even as a child, Kirpalani's parents provided her with firm guidance about helping customers. For 18 years, she spent each day after school in her family's store, where she developed a robust work ethic and learned much about customer service. Those early lessons about serving others and hard work – dealing with all kinds of customers and situations – remain with her. Kirpalani graduated from John Carroll Catholic High School in 2003. She studied accounting at Samford University, taking an internship at Alabama Power from January to May 2007 during her senior year. From the beginning, Kirpalani was impressed and felt at home at the company: "I liked the culture, people's caring for each other's well-being — being your brother's and sister's keeper — supporting each other's successes and a sense of belonging," she said. Seeing those strong values in action, Kirpalani decided she wanted to pour her life's work — and heart and soul — into a career at Alabama Power. "I saw the company and its culture as nurturing, thoughtful and taking steps toward always striving for excellence in inclusivity," Kirpalani said. "I'm a first- generation immigrant, and my small-business-owner parents emblazoned in my spirit that there is no substitute for hard work, customer service, gratitude and loyalty." In January 2007, she joined the company as an accountant on loan to Power Delivery, serving as Alabama Power's liaison to the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) and Mobile County Commission (MCC) regarding billing for highway reimbursement projects. Company management wanted to strengthen its relationships with ALDOT and MCC. Since April 2018, Kirpalani has been a manager in Sales, Service and Financing, where she leads credit support, compliance and financing reporting. She collaborates with Corporate Accounting and compliance teams while working with internal and external auditors to ensure compliance. Her responsibilities include reviews of data for four business units to produce complete and accurate financial statements and maintain effective internal controls. Kirpalani collaborates with Corporate Accounting and compliance teams while working with internal and external auditors to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations. Finding herself with a "full plate" this year, Kirpalani is excited about the year ahead. "The ability to make and see business decisions that are made is so interesting," said Kirpalani, who earned a master's degree at UAB's Collat School of Business in 2017. "But I most enjoy the people – Alabama Power has a great family environment, which is very much like a family-owned business. Forging toward a bright 2021 Despite the pandemic, Kirpalani said the past few months have brought many blessings to her family and work life. In spring 2020, her family shuttered Hong Kong Tailors in compliance with Gov. Kay Ivey's order to close retail stores statewide. But she and her family believed they had to help 15 MAY ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH INDIA NATIVE ENJOYS WORKING OUTSIDE HER FAMILY'S BUSINESS BY DONNA COPE • PHOTOS BY BILLY BROWN

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