BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Feb. 5, 2009 - Alabama Power officials announce that Jim Freind is assuming the role of area manager in the southern area of the company’s Eastern Division. In this position, Freind leads business office and accounting operations in the Anniston, Talladega, Oak Grove, Jacksonville, Clay County, Heflin and Indian Rivers/Alexander City areas.

Freind most recently served the company as Fleet Services manager in Birmingham.  He replaces Ken Deal, who will assume Freind’s previous position as Fleet Services manager.

“Jim’s proven leadership abilities and broad operations experience with Alabama Power make him well-suited to assume this critical role,” said Julia Harwell Segars, Vice President of Alabama Power’s Eastern Division. “His experience with power distribution from both a division and corporate perspective makes him an asset to our 49,000 customers in this area and a valued addition to our management team.”

Freind earned his electrical engineering degree from Auburn University, and then joined the company as a distribution engineer in its Birmingham Division. During the next 20 years, Freind progressed through positions of increasing responsibility, including several engineering and distribution crew supervisory positions. In 2001, he was promoted to operations manager in the company’s Western Division, and in April 2006, was promoted to his most recent position in Fleet Services.

Freind is married to the former Deborah Ann Boucher. They have two daughters.

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.
 

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Media Contact: Gina Warren (205) 257-4155 or gbwarren@southernco.com