Issue link: https://alabamapower.uberflip.com/i/1389329
30 atop machines as new winners' earnings are displayed on overhead video screens. A woman walks down a long hallway alongside a companion, both of them excitedly debating their strategies. "I tried it both ways," one says. "I went tap-tap-tap-tap, then I went tap … tap … tap." They enter a restroom amid an animated gaming discussion. "Clean Team" members continually walk from one machine to the next, one chair to the other, circling the casino as they spray disinfectant and wipe all surfaces clean. Employees wearing umpire jerseys follow the green-clad cleaners to call out anything they've missed. Signs encourage gamblers to "Play It Safe" for their health. Surrounding the circular gaming area are buffets, high-end restaurants, hot dog and burger stands, some open 24/7 like the slot machines, others offering more "normal" dining hours. Though drinks can be ordered from the big "Walking Dead" slots, or any other machine for that matter, in the middle of the circular setup is a standard bar with seats surrounding a six-sided, 3,500-gallon aquarium. Dozens of colorful tropical fish, highlighted by a huge silver "lookdown," circle a man-made coral center behind 4-inch- thick plexiglass. The bartender, echoing employees throughout the complex, says he is "blessed" to work for a company that continued paying each worker when Wind Creek closed for three months in 2020 because of COVID-19. Wind Creek officials worked closely with Dr. David Thrasher to determine a "safe, thoughtful" way to keep guests and employees safe when the casino and hotel reopened, says Ken Rohman, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of Wind Creek. He says their approach has had "a ripple effect to not send sick people back to the communities they came from." Business for the hotel and casino has been "as strong as we could have hoped for," Rohman says, noting "candidly, there were not a lot of other options for people to get out of the daily grind, escape a little bit from the pandemic." And what is fun for visitors becomes fundamental to improving the community. Wind Creek frequently funds charities in Atmore, such as providing $1 million for the local hospital. When tornadoes struck near Auburn in 2019, the Poarch Creek Tribe spent more than $100,000 for the funerals of the victims. Wind Creek Hospitality provided over $1 million in community support statewide in 2020, which Rohman says "is in addition to the hours of service performed by our team members and the in-kind contributions we made of food and other supplies such as PPE and soft goods during the COVID closures and beyond." Primary beneficiaries were schools, health care and first responders, charitable service providers and veteran organizations. "We respond on a moment's notice when our community needs help," says Rohman. "We are a purpose-driven organization, not a bottom-line- driven organization." ATMORE ALABAMA POWER OFFICE Ricky Martin has been with Southern Company 38 years. He began his career at Gulf Power on Aug. 15, 1983 and moved to Alabama Power's Atmore Business Office on May 28, 2011. At Gulf, Martin worked in Employee Relations, Labor Relations, was Customer Service Business Office manager in Chipley, Florida, Security supervisor, Customer Service manager responsible for field service reps in The four-diamond luxury lodge has 236 rooms. Fire Steakhouse was named the best in Alabama.