POWERGRAMS

42 HAPPY TRAILS John McLean characterizes his career at Alabama Power as a "lifestyle not a job." Since walking through the doors of the Southeast Division Office 40 years ago, McLean has mentored many employees, lived through natural disasters, successfully dealt with disgruntled customers, made lifetime friends, and seen changes inside and outside the company. He retired last Sept. 5, saying it's time for younger employees to take the reins. "Alan Martin (retired executive vice president) told us 'What's important today is important, but what's important today is subject to change,'" said McLean. "We have changed so much from the way we treat customers to the way we treat employees to the way we act. We've modified everything from Southern Style to the logo. But you've got to be flexible. We've become a kinder, gentler company and are more customer- focused." When he was named Southeast Division area manager in 2014, McLean said it was the "dream job" he had been seeking for two decades. In this role for the past three years, he managed the efforts of 48 employees in the division's 13 local offices. McLean also kept his finger on the pulse of economic development and community efforts in southeast Alabama. He managed company charitable contributions in his area, served as Southeast Division governmental compliance coordinator and acted as a sounding board for his employees, answering their questions and offering advice. The hardest part of the job, McLean said, was the daily 150-mile roundtrip commute. Although he worked in the Southeast Division Office in Eufaula, McLean continued to live in Enterprise, where he and his wife, Ellen, raised their children, Kelsey and John. "John has been such a mentor to me," said Enterprise Manager Trent Dillard, who has worked with McLean for 10 years. "He was always willing to listen and give good advice. He didn't have a problem correcting you if you were off target, but he would give you information or advise you in a constructive way. I really appreciated that." A finger on the pulse McLEAN ACTIVE IN SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY FOR FOUR DECADES By Carla Davis Former Wiregrass Electric CEO Mike McWaters hands McLean gavel as president of the Wiregrass Economic Development Corp. McLean, center, was joined by Southeast Division employees for a farewell portrait.

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