ATLANTA, Nov. 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power has announced the recipient of the first-ever Preston Arkwright Award for service – Misty Fernandez, project manager at the company's Customer Care Center in Henry County.  The company created the award to spotlight and recognize the exceptional commitment to service demonstrated by thousands of employees working every day in communities across the state. Jack Dogan, energy services representative in Augusta, and Bobby Wilson, operations support manager in McDonough, were also selected as runners up for the award during a special ceremony held recently at the annual Citizens of Georgia Power statewide meeting.

"Enriching our neighborhoods and improving the lives of those around us is a passion shared by all Georgia Power employees – not just today, but since the very beginning of our company," said Paul Bowers, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power. "I am proud of Jack, Misty and Bobby's dedication to their communities and honored to recognize the impact they have made for so many."

Fernandez has worked with Georgia Power for more than 16 years and has embraced the company's service philosophy in tandem with her personal dedication to the community. Among her many volunteer activities, she has functioned as a court appointed special advocate for foster children in Clayton County, taught English as a second language (ESL) classes since 2000 and she currently serves on the board of Welcoming Atlanta, a City of Atlanta initiative to promote inclusion for immigrant and refugee communities.

The Preston Arkwright Award was created in honor of Preston Arkwright, the company's first president who coined the phrase "A Citizen Wherever We Serve" more than 100 years ago. Employees were nominated by their colleagues for the award, with finalists selected by a panel and winners chosen by employee voting. As part of the award, Fernandez will receive a $5,000 donation to a nonprofit of her choice. Dogan and Wilson will each receive a $1,500 donation to nonprofits of their choice.

A commitment to citizenship is at the heart of Georgia Power's culture. In 2015, the company and the non-profit Georgia Power Foundation together invested more than $17 million in communities and non-profit organizations across the state. In addition, 6,000 employees and retirees completed more than 160,000 volunteer hours – an all-time record for the company. To learn more about how Georgia Power is working to make Georgia an even better place to live and work, visit www.georgiapower.com/community.

About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.5 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, 21st century coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the company is consistently recognized by J.D. Power and Associates as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower) and Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower).

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SOURCE Georgia Power