Alabama Power announces leadership changes

The Alabama Power board of directors has elected Tony Smoke vice president of the company with responsibility for Marketing, effective May 19. His election is part of a number of leadership moves, all effective May 19, that are designed to strengthen the company’s focus on providing superior services for customers.

“Tony has been a valuable member of the Alabama Power family for years,” said Mark Crosswhite, Alabama Power chairman, president and CEO. “His broad experience and strong commitment to serving our customers make him an outstanding choice to head our marketing team.”  

Smoke succeeds Don Scivley, who has been named vice president of Corporate Services. Bob Weaver, who served as Corporate Services vice president, has been named vice president of Customer Services.

In his new position, Smoke will oversee all elements of marketing, including market planning, sales development and support, power contracts and power quality, and energy-efficiency programs. Smoke previously served as area manager for the company’s Birmingham Division.  

Weaver, in his new role, will be responsible for integrating all facets of the customer experience, including the use of technologies and research, to enhance the company’s relationship with its residential, business, and industrial customers across the state.  

Scivley, as Corporate Services vice president, will be responsible for facilities and fleet management, as well as real estate operations.

The company announced two other leadership changes focused on the Birmingham area. Foster L. Ware III has been named the area manager for the north region of the Birmingham Division, succeeding Smoke. Ashley Robinett has been named area manager for the south region of the Birmingham Division.

“These leaders bring a wealth of knowledge to their respective positions,” Crosswhite said. “They are very involved in their communities and dedicated to serving the customers of Alabama Power.”  

Smoke has more than 30 years’ experience at Alabama Power, having held a variety of roles of increasing responsibility in Transmission Design, Substation Design, and Distribution Engineering in corporate and division operations. He has served as manager for Commercial and Industrial Energy Sales and Efficiency for the Birmingham Division. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Auburn University and a law degree from the Birmingham School of Law.

Weaver joined Alabama Power in 1980 after graduating from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial management. He has served in roles of increasing responsibility, including positions in Human Resources, Power Delivery, Engineering and Operations, Commercial and Residential Marketing, and Sales and Service. He was statewide manager of Residential Sales and the assistant to the executive vice president of Alabama Power.

Scivley began his career with Alabama Power in 1984 as a junior accountant in the Western Division, based in Tuscaloosa. He has progressed through supervisory and management posts and has served as assistant to the executive vice president, and assistant to the senior vice president of Alabama Power. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

Ware joined Alabama Power in 2011 as an Industrial Account manager. He most recently served as Legislative Affairs manager for the company. Prior to his arrival at Alabama Power, Ware was director of Cardiovascular Solutions at Sg2-LLC and Government Affairs manager at Merck & Co. in Illinois. He holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Tuskegee University.

Robinett joined Southern Company, Alabama Power’s parent company, in 2001 as an engineer, providing analyses for the company’s wholesale subsidiaries. She most recently served as assistant to the chairman, president and CEO of Alabama Power and also has served as assistant to the executive vice president and COO of Southern Company. She received her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Auburn.     

Alabama Power, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company, (NYSE:SO), provides reliable, affordable electricity to more than 1.4 million customers across the state. To learn more, please visit www.alabamapower.com.