POWERGRAMS

25 lead a Southern Company operating company. Story emerged as one of Florida's most dynamic leaders, playing an influential role in the state's development efforts. She managed decisively through challenges that included Hurricane Ivan in 2005, when Gulf Power's main production facility was hit and hundreds of thousands of customers lost power. And she helped shape strategies and policies on key issues affecting Floridians, including economic development, education and energy. Story remained at Gulf Power until 2011, when she became president and CEO of Southern Company Services. And then American Water came calling. The largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility in the United States, the company recruited Story away in 2013. After a year as CFO of American Water, she was named CEO, a post she would hold for six years before her retirement three years ago. Looking back on her career, Story recalls her mentors. At each step into positions of increasing responsibility, she encountered people who provided guidance and moral support that helped her meet challenges and build on her successes. "Nobody does anything on their own," Story said. "I can't believe how fortunate I've been to have people pointing the way." That has continued in Story's retirement in Pensacola. Along with her husband, Dr. Joseph Story – a physician, medical innovator and serial entrepreneur who is also a product of Albertville High School and an alumnus of Snead State – the Storys have become active philanthropists. They have been especially focused on education initiatives in economically distressed communities, the latest example of their lifelong love of education. Most recently, the Storys made a $2 million donation to Snead State. Announced in April 2021, that gift followed one in the same amount to Auburn University, establishing a scholarship fund for first-generation college students. Supporting and recognizing the sources of her education and career path is important to Story She wants to honor the people and organizations who set her on the path to success. Her own nonprivileged background makes her acutely sympathetic to those facing obstacles to opportunity. She recognizes her good fortune. "I am the American dream," Story said. "That's not because of me, but because I attended Snead State and Auburn and went to work for Alabama Power. Each of those places is committed to supporting people, to making lives better and communities stronger. I benefited from that, and my life and career are the product of it. "I'm very grateful." At top, xxxxx xxxxxx x xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxxxxx x xxxxxxx x xxxxx x xxxxx x xxx x xxx x xxxxx PHOTOS COURTESY SNEAD STATE

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