ATLANTA, Oct. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company has been named one of the 40 Best Companies for Diversity by Black Enterprise magazine.

Southern Company was recognized for its leadership in and commitment to diversity and inclusion in employment and business practices.

"Southern Company understands the value of a workplace where every employee feels valued and respected," said Southern Company Services Vice President of Human Resources Stacy R. Kilcoyne. "It's not just a corporate performance goal – sustaining a culture of excellence through inclusion is imperative to serving customers."

As part of its long-standing commitment, Southern Company's focus on ensuring diversity is reflected in leadership, workforce and suppliers, including its award-winning efforts in recruiting military veterans and people with disabilities. The company, through its subsidiaries, strives to be an employer of choice by offering a stable work environment, dynamic culture and competitive pay and benefits package.

In selecting the 40 Best Companies for Diversity, Black Enterprise conducted a comprehensive survey of the top 1,000 publicly traded companies and 100 leading global companies with significant operations in the United States – focusing on activities related to the participation of African-Americans and other ethnic minority groups as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Key areas of consideration included employee base, senior management, board of directors and supplier diversity.

With more than 4.5 million customers and approximately 46,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier energy company serving the Southeast through its subsidiaries. A leading U.S. producer of clean, safe, reliable and affordable electricity, Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states and a growing competitive generation company, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and affordable prices that are below the national average. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, Southern Company and its subsidiaries are inventing America's energy future by developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including nuclear, 21st century coal, natural gas, renewables and energy efficiency, and creating new products and services for the benefit of customers. Southern Company has been named by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer, listed by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the 40 Best Companies for Diversity and designated a 2014 Top Employer for Hispanics by Hispanic Network. The company earned the 2014 National Award of Nuclear Science and History from the National Atomic Museum Foundation for its leadership and commitment to nuclear development, and is continually ranked among the top utilities in Fortune's annual World's Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility rankings. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.

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SOURCE Southern Company