POWERGRAMS

39 HAPPY TRAILS Jim Prestwood knew it was time to retire. There was too much stress for the former General Services manager, whose job was to keep Alabama Power buildings outfitted with furniture and equipment; the heat and air conditioning running at just the right temperature to make everybody happy; and have every building from Corporate Headquarters to storage sheds looking immaculate. Now basking in nonstressful retirement, Prestwood is: • Sorting through 27 years of belongings in the Vestavia Hills house he has on the market. • Buying another house down the street. • Renovating his house in Fairhope. • Planning his son's wedding. • Joining a gym to start working out. • Attending whatever art shows he can wedge in. "Life is good in retirement, and I encourage everyone to join me as soon as they can," Prestwood deadpanned. Alabama Power has 6,800 employees with various personalities. But there weren't many who didn't like Prestwood. Gordon Martin, senior vice president of Corporate and Administrative Services, remembers an employee in Prestwood's group telling him, "There's not a finer manager at Alabama Power. He truly cares for the people in his group – and it shows! " "Jim had a tremendous amount of responsibility but was able to consistently keep his easy-going manner through thick and thin," added Corporate Services Vice President Don Scivley, who Prestwood reported to directly. "His great character qualities of being approachable and cordial will certainly be missed." Prestwood retired in March after 41 years with the company. "I do not miss working, but I do miss the social aspect of being at the office, my co-workers and our business partners, many of whom had become good friends over the years," Prestwood said. He admitted working at the company was not always a bed of roses. But of the roses there, they smelled pretty good. "Did I agree with every decision the company made? Absolutely not," Prestwood said while taking a break planning the wedding of his oldest son, Smith. "But overall there is not a better place to spend a career. My ability to do what I want in retirement is because the company provides the incentives and support to prepare its employees for the retirement years." Prestwood is a product of the western Birmingham suburb of Midfield, where his father ran Midfield Car Auction, the oldest car auction in Alabama, and where he and his brother got their first jobs. GENERAL SERVICES MANAGER MADE HIS MARK by Gilbert Nicholson Photography by Phil Free Prestwood relaxes in retirement inside his Vestavia Hills home.

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