POWERGRAMS

19 Communications Specialist Katherine Beshear joined Alabama Power during the pandemic and recounts her experience at the 2022 New Employee Forum. Energy. People. These are words that come to mind when I think back on my experience at the New Employee Forum. For nearly two years, many of the attendees from this year's event have been working in remote or hybrid environments and, also for those in the field, there may not have been many opportunities to gather with other employees outside their organizations. Walking into the reception, you could immediately feel the excitement and energy to be around people again. That energy carried over through the expo and sessions the following day. It was wonderful to be in the midst of an incredibly diverse group of people who are all in the same shoes – new to the company and eager to learn what being a part of it means. At the expo, the employees working the booths took great care and time to speak to everyone who approached, helping the new employees take in information on organizations, programs and initiatives across the company. The sense of welcome for the newcomers and pride in what we do at our company was palpable. As we heard from speakers about safety, company culture and inclusion, we had the opportunity to learn more about the things that are integral to the success of the company and to our personal development within it. A few of my takeaways from the day were: Safety First. We hear that safety is our No. 1 value from co-workers and leadership on a daily basis, and this gathering was no exception. Getting to hear from a panel of people from across the company on the importance of safety and reasons we need to make safety personal helped us to internalize that message. The customer is at the center of everything we do. The breakout sessions were full of great information on everything from new solutions we're providing to our customers, like broadband, to ways we are doing all we can to provide the best experience possible. Relationships are important. The New Employee Forum offered a great opportunity to meet people from across the company, to connect with co-workers and others whom I've only had the chance to interact with virtually and to speak with leaders and other employees who have been with the company for many years. Hearing stories from those more tenured employees further reinforced the message that owning my relationships and continuing to invest in them throughout my career will be key. The New Employee Forum was an amazing experience from start to finish. I feel lucky to work for a company that invests so much in its employees and look forward to using the things I learned for many years to come. Thoughts from a new employee … From top, Ashlee Swindle and Jean Fuller; Mike Clelland talks with Olivia Holder; Chandler Stuedeman and Alex Newell; Pertonya Nix and fellow NEF attendees. Beshear Beshear met with other new employees.

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