POWERGRAMS

service, having climbed the ranks to senior Customer Service representative in the Anniston Business Office. "Pat truly cares about her customers and her co- workers, and treats us all like we are part of her family," said Anniston Business Office Manager Mike Magouyrk. "She operates our drive-thru with an entrepreneurial approach – just as if it were her own business. She is a wonderful mother and grandmother, and puts God and her family first." Her positive attitude is tested at times by unhappy customers. "Sometimes they get upset because we don't take debit or credit cards. Some will even insist they have paid it here before with one," she said with a sigh. She is able to exercise kindness with people of all stripes, backgrounds and problems who use the drive-thru to set up payment plans, reconnect service or change their address, in addition to paying bills. "We have a lot of single mothers and elderly people who are struggling to get by and come through here stressed out. Anything we can say or do to make their day better, we try to do. My heart goes out to them." Even an Alabama Power program like Budget Billing can work wonders. "I've offered to establish them on Budget Billing after explaining how it works to make their monthly bills lower and predictable. I have one customer who I set up — that was two years ago — and she still thanks me to this day for what she says was 'saving her life.'" Wilkinson says it's those encounters that make this the best job she has had. "I've gained great relationships, great memories and a wonderful sense of feeling I am contributing to something very worthwhile," she said. "I'm very proud to be part of the Alabama Power family." The feeling is mutual. "We are honored to have her on our team here in Anniston and our hope is that she will continue to run our drive-thru for many years to come," Magouyrk said. 32

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