Alabama Power Taps Infrastructure Titans for Strategic Board Overhaul

BIRMINGHAM, AL – July 24, 2026

In a move that signals a deliberate fortification of its strategic capabilities, Alabama Power announced today the election of Tom Hand and Mike Kemp, Sr. to its Board of Directors. While board appointments are a routine part of corporate governance, these particular selections represent a clear and calculated decision to embed deep expertise in infrastructure, engineering, and large-scale project management at the highest level of the utility’s leadership. The move suggests Alabama Power is gearing up for a period of significant investment and transformation as it navigates the complex demands of grid modernization, the clean energy transition, and regional economic growth.

"We are pleased to welcome Tom and Mike to our board and appreciate their willingness to serve," said Alabama Power chairman, president, and CEO Jeff Peoples in the official announcement. "Their strategic leadership and commitment to Alabama communities will be valuable to our board."

Peoples’ statement, while standard, underscores the dual nature of these appointments. Hand and Kemp are not merely corporate strategists; they are deeply entrenched figures in Alabama’s business and civic landscape, bringing a potent combination of technical know-how and local influence to one of the state's most critical enterprises.

Bolstering the Board with Strategic Expertise

The collective resume of the new directors reads like a blueprint for building a 21st-century utility. Tom Hand is the chairman and CEO of Volkert, Inc., a storied professional services firm with a century-long history in shaping America's infrastructure. While founded on transportation projects, Volkert has evolved under Hand’s leadership to focus heavily on energy, program management, and urban infrastructure. This background aligns perfectly with Alabama Power's most pressing strategic imperatives. As the utility invests hundreds of millions in hardening the grid against severe weather, building new substations to support industrial growth, and exploring large-scale renewable projects, having a director with a lifetime of experience in complex engineering and construction provides an invaluable internal resource.

Mike Kemp, Sr. brings a complementary and equally crucial skill set. As the founder and CEO of the KMS Family of Companies, Kemp has built a formidable reputation for delivering sophisticated program management and consulting services across 16 states. With a track record of managing over $6.8 billion in construction projects, his expertise lies in execution—ensuring that massive, multi-faceted initiatives are completed with precision, on time, and on budget. In a capital-intensive industry where cost overruns can directly impact customer rates and shareholder returns, this focus on performance is paramount. Kemp’s firm has even developed its own proprietary software, Frameworq, to bring data-driven oversight to complex projects, reflecting an innovative approach that could benefit the utility’s own operational efficiency.

Together, their expertise directly addresses the challenges posed by the influx of large-load customers, such as data centers and advanced manufacturing facilities, which require significant and rapid infrastructure build-outs. The ability to plan, engineer, and execute these projects efficiently is a core competitive advantage.

Deepening Local Influence and Political Acumen

Beyond their technical and business acumen, Hand and Kemp bring a vast network of connections that span the highest echelons of Alabama's political, business, and community spheres. Both are graduates of the prestigious Leadership Alabama program, a clear indicator of their status within the state's power structure. Their concurrent service on the board of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Alabama further cements their role as trusted stewards of major statewide institutions.

Hand’s influence is particularly notable. He serves on the executive committee of Alabama's Workforce Board as an appointee of Governor Kay Ivey, placing him at the center of discussions about the state's labor and economic development policies. His roles with the Business Council of Alabama and the Alabama Roadbuilders Association give him a voice in virtually every major infrastructure and business initiative in the state. For Alabama Power, having this level of insight and influence on its board can be instrumental in aligning corporate strategy with public policy, smoothing the way for regulatory approvals and public-private partnerships.

Kemp, meanwhile, holds key roles with the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama and the board of First Horizon Bank. His extensive work across diverse industries and his recognition as a top minority business leader provide a perspective that is crucial for a company serving 1.6 million customers from every walk of life. Their combined presence ensures that Alabama Power's board isn't just making decisions in a corporate vacuum but is deeply connected to the economic and social fabric of the communities it serves.

Navigating Synergies and Governance in a New Era

The appointment of directors whose primary businesses—engineering and program management—are directly synergistic with the utility's operations presents both immense opportunities and critical governance responsibilities. The potential for Volkert or KMS to contribute to Alabama Power projects is clear, offering the utility streamlined access to top-tier expertise. However, it also raises the potential for conflicts of interest, a common challenge in boardrooms across the country.

Experts in corporate governance note that the key is not to avoid such expertise, but to manage it with transparency and robust protocols. A well-structured board will have clear policies to ensure that any potential business dealings are conducted at arm's length and are demonstrably in the best interest of the company and its ratepayers. The focus for Alabama Power will be to leverage the invaluable strategic counsel of Hand and Kemp in the boardroom while maintaining impeccable fairness and transparency in its procurement and contracting processes.

This dynamic underscores a broader trend in corporate governance: boards are moving away from being passive oversight bodies to becoming active strategic assets. The selection of Hand and Kemp shows a deliberate choice to prioritize hands-on, relevant experience over more generalized business leadership. It reflects an understanding that in a rapidly changing energy sector, having directors who intimately understand the technical, logistical, and political realities of building and maintaining critical infrastructure is no longer a luxury, but a necessity.

Ultimately, these appointments are a powerful statement about Alabama Power’s future direction. The utility is not just adding names to its letterhead; it is strategically assembling a leadership team with the specific skills required to execute an ambitious agenda. By bringing titans of infrastructure and project execution into its inner circle, Alabama Power is signaling its intent to not just respond to the future of energy, but to actively build it.