ATLANTA, Dec. 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- POWER-GEN has named Southern Company Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Kimberly S. Greene its 2015 Woman of the Year. The award was announced during a ceremony on Monday night in Las Vegas, Nev.
Created three years ago by Power Engineering magazine, the award honors women who have dedicated their careers to advancing the power industry and have inspired young women to pursue careers in energy. Recipients of the award are also chosen based on the impact they have made on their communities and their ability to lead.
"Kim is an extraordinary leader with a unique understanding of the electric utility industry and the dedicated people who make it run," said Southern Company Chairman, President and CEO Thomas A. Fanning. "Her commitment to finding real energy solutions drives employees at all levels to find new and better ways to serve our customers."
A 24-year veteran of the power industry, Greene began her career as an engineer with Southern Company in 1991 and ascended to leadership roles at Southern Company, Mirant and TVA, before returning to Southern Company in 2013. She is currently responsible for Southern Company system operations, including generation, transmission, engineering and construction services, system planning, energy trading, fuel procurement, and competitive generation, as well as research and environmental affairs.
Greene holds a bachelor's degree in engineering science and mechanics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, a master's degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a master's degree in business administration from Samford University. In 2011, she completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
Among the three finalists for the POWER-GEN award was Southern Company's Roxann Laird, director of the National Carbon Capture Center in Wilsonville, Ala.
As POWER-GEN's 2015 Woman of the Year, Greene will deliver the keynote address during the Women in Power Luncheon today at the Las Vegas Convention Center and will subsequently participate in a panel discussion on inspiring women to enter the energy industry with the other finalists.
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