Meet Jenna Thames
Putting affordability first
Jenna Thames, analyst in Marketing Services at Mississippi Power, brings a customer-first mindset to her work, one grounded in affordability and action.
She supports customer‑focused strategies that help teams better understand customer needs and deliver solutions that improve everyday life. That focus comes to life through initiatives like Mississippi’s partnership with Single Stop, a resource hub that connects customers to critical assistance and federal benefits programs.
“Knowing this tool can help keep the lights on for a customer or put food on the table for a family really makes me proud of the work we do here,” she said.
Outside of work, Jenna’s energy is centered on her family. With children ranging from toddlers to teens, she says she’s in her “full‑blown mom era.” Whether she’s cheering on a state championship or celebrating first steps, Jenna has learned to “embrace the season of life “she’s in— bringing that same presence and care back to her work each day.
“Knowing this tool can help keep the lights on for a customer or put food on the table for a family really makes me proud of the work we do here,”
- Jenna Thames
Meet Josh Pierce
Planning the grid of the future
Josh Pierce, transmission planning manager at Southern Company, helps shape how energy is delivered long before it reaches customers’ homes and businesses. With more than two decades at the company, Josh and his team model what the electric system will need years into the future, ensuring energy is delivered “safely and reliably and affordably today and in the future.”
At the heart of his work is preparing the grid for uncertainty. “Reliability and resiliency is really at the cornerstone of what we do,” Josh said. His team plans not just for everyday conditions, but for a wide range of scenarios, from outages to extreme weather. That planning has paid off, helping Southern Company customers remain served during recent storms while other utilities faced challenges.
Josh describes the current moment as one of the most dynamic in the industry, driven by system growth, new technologies, renewable generation and evolving customer needs. Advanced tools and innovative solutions allow teams like his to remain on the cutting edge while maintaining a steady focus on safety and service.
Outside of work, Josh’s energy is fueled by family, music and the outdoors. He and his wife Lindsey enjoy traveling with their two children, exploring national parks, hiking and biking across the Southeast. A lifelong musician, Josh has played guitar for nearly 30 years and serves on his church’s worship team.
“I absolutely love what I get to do, and the people I get to do it with"
- Josh Pierce
Meet Veronte Stubbs
Turning service into care
Veronte Stubbs, customer service supervisor at Georgia Power, leads with heart— both for her team and the customers they serve. In her role, she guides a group of consultants at Georgia Power’s Customer Care Center who support customers with billing, outages and new service requests.
For Veronte, the work is grounded in empathy. “Exceptional customer service to me means that customers feel valued, heard and supported,” she said.
That people-first mindset is the cornerstone of her leadership. “I start by listening carefully to understand both the issue and the customer's perspective,” Veronte explained, a standard she models and teaches daily.
Her commitment to serving others extends beyond work into her community and family life. Whether helping customers navigate payment options or volunteering at local food banks, she finds purpose in making a difference.
“It is very satisfying to know that you have helped someone in need."
- Veronte Stubbs
Meet Eric Young
Going for gold in wellness
For Eric Young, lead cable splicer at Southern Company, staying active isn’t just a personal passion; it’s a way of life that fuels his work and inspires those around him. Eric’s 38-year career at Alabama Power has been marked by a commitment to both physical fitness and professional excellence.
“I’ve always played sports,” Eric shared, “Growing up, we didn’t have gyms or even parks to go to, so we played mostly outside.”
Eric’s fitness journey took a new turn when Southern Company introduced a gym membership reimbursement program. But after a shoulder injury and rotator cuff surgery, Eric shifted his focus from weightlifting to cardio, embracing cycling as a way to stay healthy.
This commitment to fitness led Eric to the National Senior Games, a multi-sport event for athletes aged 50 and older. The Senior Games are held every two years, bringing together thousands of competitors from across the country. Participants must qualify at the state level, and events range from track and field to cycling, pickleball, powerlifting and more.
“The Senior Games are very competitive. They’re people like me that want to stay fit. They prepare for it, and they take it very seriously,” Eric explained.
In his most recent Games, Eric earned a gold medal in powerlifting and a bronze in cornhole, competing alongside his wife and meeting senior athletes from all walks of life.
This commitment to fitness directly supports Southern Company’s mission to provide reliable energy.
“You’ve got to be fit to be able to get up and come out here sometimes at two or three in the morning,” Eric noted. “If you’re not physically fit, that task may not be so simple.”
He credits Southern Company for encouraging employee wellness.
“Even right now, they have physical function programs to keep you moving, to eliminate soft tissue tears and potential issues like that.”
These wellness programs are available to all Southern Company employees.
Meet Steve Hicks
Safety First at every trailhead
Steve Hicks, fire safety coordinator for Alabama and Mississippi, is no stranger to high-risk environments. Whether he’s training plant teams in confined space rescue or navigating rugged mountain trails, one principle guides him: Safety First.
“I came from a previous career where safety was important, but it wasn’t a priority,” Steve shared. “When I came to Southern Company, it was clear from the get-go that safety was the top priority. The company wants us to go home like we came into work.”
Outside of work, Steve is an avid bicyclist whose passion for biking began nearly 20 years ago when he signed up for a triathlon. Several years later, he fell in love with mountain biking.
More than just a hobby, mountain biking is a way for Steve to stay fit, clear his mind, and even brainstorm new ideas for emergency response training.
“Cycling is my thinking time,” he said.
His dedication to mountain biking has taken him to the heights— literally— of the Leadville Trail 100 MTB race in Colorado. Known as the “Race Across the Sky,” the grueling 105-mile ride climbs to 12,500 feet. Steve has completed the race ten times, earning the coveted 1,000-mile buckle.
This year, the race took an unexpected turn.
“A rider went over the handlebars right in front of me,” Steve recalled. “He was knocked unconscious briefly and had severe shoulder pain. I stayed with him until emergency rescue services arrived.”
That moment underscored the connection between his personal passion and professional purpose, both of which have elements of risk that need to be managed.
Steve concluded: “We work in a demanding environment from generation to transmission to distribution. They’re high-risk jobs. That’s why Safety First is our top value.”
Meet Christopher Kingsbury
Power chords and power grids
Christopher Kingsbury, a supervisor for Operations Support at Georgia Power, knows firsthand how reliable power fuels more than just homes and businesses— it powers dreams. As a multi-instrumentalist regularly performing for rock fans, Chris is living his own dream.
“Electric guitar— what’s in a name?” Chris says. “You need power. You need to plug in, hopefully with reliable power.”
As part of the team responsible for the network management system and distribution control interfaces, Chris helps ensure that Georgia Power’s operators have the tools they need to safely and efficiently manage the grid.
“What I do connects with my music in this way: providing power reliably so folks can live out their dream to be a rock star,” he said.
That same reliability infuses Chris’s passion as a musician. Performing with eight bands last year alone, Chris’s musical prowess and artistry have been in high demand around the Atlanta music scene.
Chris’s musical journey began in Clermont, Florida, where his dad’s classic rock and his brother’s MTV favorites filled the house. What kicked his music career into gear was a chance encounter with a bass player at a local street festival.
“I don’t think I’d ever heard bass guitar isolated before. It made a huge impression on me,” he said.
Over the years, Chris added drums and guitar to his repertoire. His versatility has earned him a reputation as a reliable musician capable of filling gaps in any band, either as a creative partner or a “hired gun.” He’s also added music production, recording a solo EP under the moniker Hypermile.
Today, Chris lives in East Atlanta Village, a neighborhood he describes as the beating heart of Atlanta’s DIY music scene.
His neighborhood’s appreciation of music is exemplified by the EAV Strut, a festival that brings together community members, artists and local businesses to celebrate East Atlanta Village’s unique music and art culture. This year, Chris is playing a leading role coordinating the "porchfest” portion of the festival, where bands perform on locals’ porches and neighbors can listen from the street.
“I feel like I’m giving back to my community in that way,” Chris said, “Hopefully, we can help make the festival this year very special.” The festival takes place Sept. 27.
Whether he’s modeling the grid or playing a packed venue, Chris’s work is a reminder that energy makes it possible— for communities to thrive, for music to be heard and for people to connect.
Meet Rachel Monroe
A hole lot of heart
Rachel Monroe, property accounting supervisor at Georgia Power, brings the same dedication to her neighborhood that she brings to her role managing Georgia Power’s fixed assets. A longtime Atlanta resident and East Lake neighbor, Rachel’s commitment to community shines through her volunteer work—especially her involvement with the TOUR Championship.
Since moving to East Lake in 2012, Rachel has been deeply involved in neighborhood initiatives and organizations such as the East Lake Neighborhood Community Association and Neighbor in Need, which provides home repairs for low-income and elderly homeowners. She has also served in leadership roles with the Girl Scouts and the PTA of East Lake’s Drew Charter School.
Rachel’s volunteerism at the TOUR Championship is a highlight of her year. “One of my favorite days to volunteer at the TOUR Championship is on Education Day,” she shares. Students from Drew Charter School explore the SO Cool Zone and learn about energy through hands-on activities.
“It’s just so much fun to be a part of an event that is important across the country and so important on a hyper-local community level,” she shares.
Southern Company’s support of the TOUR Championship directly benefits the East Lake Foundation, which in turn supports Drew Charter School and the surrounding community.
“It’s a pretty unique opportunity to see my employer directly supporting my neighborhood,” Rachel says.
East Lake’s transformation is a story of intentional investment and community partnership. Once a neighborhood facing significant challenges, East Lake was revitalized through the efforts of the East Lake Foundation, Southern Company, and other partners.
The TOUR Championship has played a key role in sustaining this progress. Proceeds from the event support educational programs, housing initiatives and neighborhood development. Through Southern Company’s PGA TOUR partnership, more than $60 million in proceeds has been invested in the communities we serve.
For Rachel, volunteering at the tournament is more than just lending a hand; it’s a way to contribute to a legacy of change.
“Seeing community partners invest their time and money in the East Lake neighborhood really motivates me— how can I not give some of my personal time to do this?”
