POWERGRAMS

SALUTING VETERANS Mobile Operations assistant follows in family's footsteps Hobbs graduated from "A" School in March. Mobile Division Operations Assistant Cathy Hobbs had worked at Alabama Power for 12 years when her deeply held patriotism led her into the Coast Guard Reserve. "I wanted to serve and give back to my country," Hobbs said. "Both of my grandfathers served in World War II and no other members of my family have since, so I was inspired by them to serve." Hobbs attended Coast Guard boot camp in September 2012. From January to March 2013, she attended the Marine Science Technician "A" Hobbs, right, congratulated on School, graduating as a completing Container Inspector College in May. third class petty officer. She now serves as a marine science technician one weekend each month and for a two-week stint each year. "Since she has gotten back from boot camp, she has used her training in leadership, organization and work ethic that she developed and brought to her job," said Patrick Turner, Mobile Division Control Center supervisor. "When Cathy approached me about going into the Coast Guard, it was a different take because she had been working for the company and now wanted to go into the military," Turner said. "But it fell right into her character of always looking for different things to focus her energy on and achieve." Hobbs, who now works in the Mobile Division Operations Center, credits her first four years with Alabama Power on the line crew as her main inspiration during boot camp. 4 "Those years on the line crew working with the guys taught me to stand up for myself and to do things on my own," Hobbs said. "The same principles stand in boot camp. That experience gave me the determination to get through boot camp." Operations Supervisor Shayne Hennis worked with Hobbs on the line crew and saw her overcome obstacles. Hennis applauds Hobbs' military service and knows she approached joining the military with the same determination from her line crew days. "It was a challenge and, just like when she was an apprentice, she worked hard and prevailed," Hennis said. "She proved herself as a female on the line crew. She's really smart and an extremely hard worker." Hobbs' ongoing search for something new not only led her to join the Coast Guard, but to her role within the reserve. "I chose the environmental group because I wanted something completely different so I could gain another kind of experience," Hobbs said. "The main focus is investigating pollution incidents, monitoring pollution cleanups, conducting harbor patrols for port safety and security, inspecting waterfront facilities, supervising the loading of explosives on vessels and inspecting containers." Hobbs' OSHA training in chemicals for the reserve turned into another role with Alabama Power when she was named the hazardous communication coordinator for her office. "She took initiative and volunteered for that role," Turner said. "Cathy approached it like she has with all of her military experience and training and said, 'I learned this and now I'm going to use it to Alabama Power's benefit.'" By Katie Kilcoyne

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