Kelley Balkcom
Georgia Power
Metro North Region Executive
Kelley Balkcom currently serves as Regulatory Affairs Director at Georgia Power Company. In this role, Kelley is responsible for building and maintaining constructive relationships with key external stakeholders impacting regulatory policy decisions.
Prior to serving on the Regulatory Affairs management team, Kelley was the Assistant To the Executive Vice President of External Affairs & Nuclear Development. In this role, Kelley was responsible for broad support of goal achievement among the organization’s cross-functional teams.
Since joining Georgia Power in 2003 Kelly has held various positions across many departments including Metro Sales, Commercial and Industrial Market Sales, Pricing and Rates, Customer Service Operations Financial Support and External Affairs, and Regulatory Affairs.
Born and raised in the Metro Atlanta area, Kelley earned a Bachelors in Finance from the University of Georgia and a Masters of Business Administration from Mercer University. She participated in the inaugural Georgia Chamber High Potentials program in 2018 and has been selected to serve on the University of Georgia’s Board of Visitors from 2019-2021. In addition, she is a member of Leadership Georgia’s Class of 2020.
Kelley and her husband, Jon, have two daughters, Holland (8 years) and Emory (7 years). Both girls attend Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School where Kelley and Jon are coaches in the youth sports programs.
Georgia Power
Metro North Region Executive
Kelley Balkcom currently serves as Regulatory Affairs Director at Georgia Power Company. In this role, Kelley is responsible for building and maintaining constructive relationships with key external stakeholders impacting regulatory policy decisions.
Prior to serving on the Regulatory Affairs management team, Kelley was the Assistant To the Executive Vice President of External Affairs & Nuclear Development. In this role, Kelley was responsible for broad support of goal achievement among the organization’s cross-functional teams.
Since joining Georgia Power in 2003 Kelly has held various positions across many departments including Metro Sales, Commercial and Industrial Market Sales, Pricing and Rates, Customer Service Operations Financial Support and External Affairs, and Regulatory Affairs.
Born and raised in the Metro Atlanta area, Kelley earned a Bachelors in Finance from the University of Georgia and a Masters of Business Administration from Mercer University. She participated in the inaugural Georgia Chamber High Potentials program in 2018 and has been selected to serve on the University of Georgia’s Board of Visitors from 2019-2021. In addition, she is a member of Leadership Georgia’s Class of 2020.
Kelley and her husband, Jon, have two daughters, Holland (8 years) and Emory (7 years). Both girls attend Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School where Kelley and Jon are coaches in the youth sports programs.
Deborah Boswell
Professional Speech Services of Alabama
President
As a business communication coach, trainer and consultant who gets dramatic results for her corporate clients throughout the country, Deborah Boswell brings an exceptional voice, passion, and expertise to the pursuit of confident business communication. She blends her skills in speech pathology with over 20 years of corporate experience to help solve a company’s specific communication problems. Deborah is author of the book, Become A Confident Business Communicator, which is filled with insights from her three decades of working in the trenches with hundreds of managers and executives, and training thousands more in seminar settings. Deborah received her undergraduate degree in education from Auburn University and a Master of Science degree from the University of Montevallo. She is president of Professional Speech Services of Alabama, P.C. and co-founder of ChildsPlay Therapy Center, both in Birmingham, AL.
Professional Speech Services of Alabama
President
As a business communication coach, trainer and consultant who gets dramatic results for her corporate clients throughout the country, Deborah Boswell brings an exceptional voice, passion, and expertise to the pursuit of confident business communication. She blends her skills in speech pathology with over 20 years of corporate experience to help solve a company’s specific communication problems. Deborah is author of the book, Become A Confident Business Communicator, which is filled with insights from her three decades of working in the trenches with hundreds of managers and executives, and training thousands more in seminar settings. Deborah received her undergraduate degree in education from Auburn University and a Master of Science degree from the University of Montevallo. She is president of Professional Speech Services of Alabama, P.C. and co-founder of ChildsPlay Therapy Center, both in Birmingham, AL.
Tyler Cook
Georgia Power
Senior Vice President, Finance & Enterprise Transformation Office
Tyler Cook is Director of Finance and Business Transformation for Georgia Power. Tyler is responsible for oversight of the company’s financial planning, financial analysis, and budgeting functions. She also leads the recently established Results Delivery Office.
Since joining Southern Company in 2000, Tyler has held various positions of increasing responsibility in finance at both Georgia Power and Southern Company Services. In these roles, she performed financial analysis for multiple projects and initiatives across the company. Tyler also served in financial and budgeting roles at Georgia Power, where she was responsible for the implementation of two financial model rewrites and provided support for multiple regulatory filings with the Georgia Public Service Commission. Financial plan.
Tyler earned a bachelor’s degree in management information systems from the University of Georgia and an MBA with a concentration in finance from Georgia State University.
Georgia Power
Senior Vice President, Finance & Enterprise Transformation Office
Tyler Cook is Director of Finance and Business Transformation for Georgia Power. Tyler is responsible for oversight of the company’s financial planning, financial analysis, and budgeting functions. She also leads the recently established Results Delivery Office.
Since joining Southern Company in 2000, Tyler has held various positions of increasing responsibility in finance at both Georgia Power and Southern Company Services. In these roles, she performed financial analysis for multiple projects and initiatives across the company. Tyler also served in financial and budgeting roles at Georgia Power, where she was responsible for the implementation of two financial model rewrites and provided support for multiple regulatory filings with the Georgia Public Service Commission. Financial plan.
Tyler earned a bachelor’s degree in management information systems from the University of Georgia and an MBA with a concentration in finance from Georgia State University.
Princess Cullum
Center for Creative Leadership
Leadership Solutions Partner
Experience
Princess is a Leadership and Culture Executive with more than 15 years of global experience in multiple industries including investment banking and financial services, utilities, healthcare, education, technology, and manufacturing/consumer products. More specifically, she has worked for world-class companies such as Bank of America, Duke Energy, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, International Capital and Management Corporation-St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, Hewlett-Packard, General Mills, and Hallmark Cards.
Princess is a sought-after expert in the areas of Leadership Assessment and Development, Executive Development, Learning and Development, Competency Identification, Diversity and Inclusion, Succession Planning, Performance Management, Organizational Development, and Employee Engagement. Princess is also a scholar-practitioner with experience at colleges and universities in Georgia, Texas, and Nebraska, teaching and conducting research in learning technologies, management, and marketing.
Current Role
Princess serves as leadership solutions partner for the design and delivery of custom leadership development solutions. Her focus is designing and delivering leadership programs for managers and executives in a variety of corporate and government fields. Building on years of leadership practical application, she connects the leadership competencies desired by client organizations and their leaders with the world-class portfolio of CCL® solutions. She is certified on Targeted Selection and Leadership Facilitator Development Dimensions International®, Situational Leadership II®, Achieve Global®, and MindGym®.
Educational Background
Princess holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of North Texas at Denton, a Master of Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis, and a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. She is certified to deliver feedback in all CCL 360-degree assessments, Zenger Folkman® assessments, DiSC ® assessments, Insights Discovery®, and Hogan® assessments.
Professional Affiliations
Princess has presented at the Academy of Human Resource Development International Research Conference, iConference, AECT International Convention, International Graduate Student Seminar on Design Based Research, and other conferences. She is a published author in the International Journal of Business and Management, iConference, Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development and the Association for Educational Communications & Technology TechTrends.
Center for Creative Leadership
Leadership Solutions Partner
Experience
Princess is a Leadership and Culture Executive with more than 15 years of global experience in multiple industries including investment banking and financial services, utilities, healthcare, education, technology, and manufacturing/consumer products. More specifically, she has worked for world-class companies such as Bank of America, Duke Energy, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, International Capital and Management Corporation-St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, Hewlett-Packard, General Mills, and Hallmark Cards.
Princess is a sought-after expert in the areas of Leadership Assessment and Development, Executive Development, Learning and Development, Competency Identification, Diversity and Inclusion, Succession Planning, Performance Management, Organizational Development, and Employee Engagement. Princess is also a scholar-practitioner with experience at colleges and universities in Georgia, Texas, and Nebraska, teaching and conducting research in learning technologies, management, and marketing.
Current Role
Princess serves as leadership solutions partner for the design and delivery of custom leadership development solutions. Her focus is designing and delivering leadership programs for managers and executives in a variety of corporate and government fields. Building on years of leadership practical application, she connects the leadership competencies desired by client organizations and their leaders with the world-class portfolio of CCL® solutions. She is certified on Targeted Selection and Leadership Facilitator Development Dimensions International®, Situational Leadership II®, Achieve Global®, and MindGym®.
Educational Background
Princess holds a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of North Texas at Denton, a Master of Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis, and a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. She is certified to deliver feedback in all CCL 360-degree assessments, Zenger Folkman® assessments, DiSC ® assessments, Insights Discovery®, and Hogan® assessments.
Professional Affiliations
Princess has presented at the Academy of Human Resource Development International Research Conference, iConference, AECT International Convention, International Graduate Student Seminar on Design Based Research, and other conferences. She is a published author in the International Journal of Business and Management, iConference, Online Journal for Workforce Education and Development and the Association for Educational Communications & Technology TechTrends.
Calvin Ellington
Georgia Power
Budget Manager
Calvin Ellington currently serves as Budget Manager for Georgia Power Company leading a team that supports the Corporate Business units, Compliance, and Data Analytics.
Calvin has worked in various positions in the Financial Accounting and Reporting and Budgeting and Reporting departments. He served as Financial Supervisor supporting Generation and then Power Delivery, and prior to that was a Corporate Budget Analyst and a Financial Specialist at Plant Yates.
Calvin joined Georgia Power in 2007 as part of the Professional Development Program. He earned a BBA in Accounting from Georgia College & State University.
Georgia Power
Budget Manager
Calvin Ellington currently serves as Budget Manager for Georgia Power Company leading a team that supports the Corporate Business units, Compliance, and Data Analytics.
Calvin has worked in various positions in the Financial Accounting and Reporting and Budgeting and Reporting departments. He served as Financial Supervisor supporting Generation and then Power Delivery, and prior to that was a Corporate Budget Analyst and a Financial Specialist at Plant Yates.
Calvin joined Georgia Power in 2007 as part of the Professional Development Program. He earned a BBA in Accounting from Georgia College & State University.
Lisa Foose
DDI
Adjunct Leadership Consultant
Lisa Foose engages a wide range of corporate and non-profit clients in tasks intimately connected to the challenges facing organizations as they navigate ongoing changes affecting their internal and external stakeholders. She has over 20 years’ experience managing teams in the coordination of adventure, environmental, and educational programs, where she has directed the design, implementation, marketing, and delivery of a variety of products and services, doubling clientele and leading innovation efforts that have brought attention to new markets.
Lisa’s DDI experience ranges from manufacturing to cybersecurity, from the unionized dynamics of the steel industry to the leadership journeys occurring within larger financial and service organizations. Lisa’s humor, frankness, and transparency contribute to her success in gaining engagement, whether in non-profit or corporate settings. She continues to consult with and serve on the boards of organizations serving students and their families, and enjoys coaching young people as they enter the workforce.
Education and Credentials: M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Regent University; B.S. in Sociology from Wheaton College; ESL certification from A-B Tech, Asheville; DDI-certified trainer; Workshop leader at La Red conference, Cochabamba, Bolivia; Workshop leader for CCI Latin America Camping Leaders; Certification in Experiential Learning, CCI and CCO; GROW certification.
Lisa has extensive experience managing large and multilayered staffs and projects. From recruitment and hiring to supervision and assessment, she has developed a wide repertoire of training and motivational programs to meet the needs of various teams, leading to the successful resurrection of two flailing environmental learning organizations and doubling the constituency of another. She applies imagination and energy to improving the communication and talent of the people and organizations she comes alongside; these qualities have been key in bringing together unlikely partners, contributing to sustainability planning, and uncovering potential.
DDI
Adjunct Leadership Consultant
Lisa Foose engages a wide range of corporate and non-profit clients in tasks intimately connected to the challenges facing organizations as they navigate ongoing changes affecting their internal and external stakeholders. She has over 20 years’ experience managing teams in the coordination of adventure, environmental, and educational programs, where she has directed the design, implementation, marketing, and delivery of a variety of products and services, doubling clientele and leading innovation efforts that have brought attention to new markets.
Lisa’s DDI experience ranges from manufacturing to cybersecurity, from the unionized dynamics of the steel industry to the leadership journeys occurring within larger financial and service organizations. Lisa’s humor, frankness, and transparency contribute to her success in gaining engagement, whether in non-profit or corporate settings. She continues to consult with and serve on the boards of organizations serving students and their families, and enjoys coaching young people as they enter the workforce.
Education and Credentials: M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Regent University; B.S. in Sociology from Wheaton College; ESL certification from A-B Tech, Asheville; DDI-certified trainer; Workshop leader at La Red conference, Cochabamba, Bolivia; Workshop leader for CCI Latin America Camping Leaders; Certification in Experiential Learning, CCI and CCO; GROW certification.
Lisa has extensive experience managing large and multilayered staffs and projects. From recruitment and hiring to supervision and assessment, she has developed a wide repertoire of training and motivational programs to meet the needs of various teams, leading to the successful resurrection of two flailing environmental learning organizations and doubling the constituency of another. She applies imagination and energy to improving the communication and talent of the people and organizations she comes alongside; these qualities have been key in bringing together unlikely partners, contributing to sustainability planning, and uncovering potential.
Josh Mason
Georgia Power
Finance Director
Josh Mason is Financial Planning Manager for Georgia Power. He is responsible for leading a team to coordinate, develop, and execute Georgia Power’s Financial Plan.
Since joining the Southern Company in 2007 at Gulf Power Josh worked his way up through the financial planning organization becoming Assistant Treasurer and Financial Planning & Budget Manager before transferring to Georgia Power in 2018.
Josh received a BS in Accounting and a Master of Accountancy from University of West Florida. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of Florida and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Georgia Power
Finance Director
Josh Mason is Financial Planning Manager for Georgia Power. He is responsible for leading a team to coordinate, develop, and execute Georgia Power’s Financial Plan.
Since joining the Southern Company in 2007 at Gulf Power Josh worked his way up through the financial planning organization becoming Assistant Treasurer and Financial Planning & Budget Manager before transferring to Georgia Power in 2018.
Josh received a BS in Accounting and a Master of Accountancy from University of West Florida. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of Florida and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Stuart Pierce
Southern Company
Finance Director - Budget & Reporting
Stuart Pierce has served as Budgeting & Reporting Director for Southern Company Services (SCS) since 2019. In this role, he is responsible for Budgeting and Reporting for SCS, which includes Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) Rates & Transmission.
Prior to assuming this role, Stuart served as the Manager of Strategic Initiatives for the Southern Company Services Budget Modernization Office. He was involved with various modernization efforts while also coordinating communication between Southern Company Services Budgeting and the individual subsidiaries.
Stuart began working with Southern Company in 1992 as a student intern at Plant Victor Daniel – Mississippi Power. Over the course of his tenure, Stuart has worked at six Southern Company subsidiaries and has accumulated more than 25 years of accounting, budgeting and regulatory experience.
Stuart is a native of Harleston, MS and received his bachelor's degree in finance from University of South Alabama and his master’s degree in business administration from Spring Hill College. He currently resides in Atlanta, GA.
Southern Company
Finance Director - Budget & Reporting
Stuart Pierce has served as Budgeting & Reporting Director for Southern Company Services (SCS) since 2019. In this role, he is responsible for Budgeting and Reporting for SCS, which includes Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT) Rates & Transmission.
Prior to assuming this role, Stuart served as the Manager of Strategic Initiatives for the Southern Company Services Budget Modernization Office. He was involved with various modernization efforts while also coordinating communication between Southern Company Services Budgeting and the individual subsidiaries.
Stuart began working with Southern Company in 1992 as a student intern at Plant Victor Daniel – Mississippi Power. Over the course of his tenure, Stuart has worked at six Southern Company subsidiaries and has accumulated more than 25 years of accounting, budgeting and regulatory experience.
Stuart is a native of Harleston, MS and received his bachelor's degree in finance from University of South Alabama and his master’s degree in business administration from Spring Hill College. He currently resides in Atlanta, GA.
Nathan Porter
Southern Company
Director Financial Planning
Nathan Porter is Director of Financial Planning for Southern Company. In this role since 2018, Nathan leads a team responsible for working with management and subsidiary planning groups to develop a Financial Plan that helps drive achievement of the company’s financial objectives. This includes communicating the plan to support both internal and external stakeholders as well as measuring performance against the plan.
Prior to this he served as Financial Planning manager at Georgia Power. In this role, Nathan was responsible for the ten-year Financial Plan for Georgia Power, including preparing the Company’s annual budget, measuring financial performance versus targets and analyzing changes that may impact the Financial Plan.
Since joining Southern Company in 2001 as an intern in the Southern Company Services Finance Organization, Nathan has also held various positions in SCS Finance, SCS Financial & Contract Services, Southern Power Finance, Georgia Power Finance and Georgia Power Marketing.
Nathan earned a bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Georgia.
Southern Company
Director Financial Planning
Nathan Porter is Director of Financial Planning for Southern Company. In this role since 2018, Nathan leads a team responsible for working with management and subsidiary planning groups to develop a Financial Plan that helps drive achievement of the company’s financial objectives. This includes communicating the plan to support both internal and external stakeholders as well as measuring performance against the plan.
Prior to this he served as Financial Planning manager at Georgia Power. In this role, Nathan was responsible for the ten-year Financial Plan for Georgia Power, including preparing the Company’s annual budget, measuring financial performance versus targets and analyzing changes that may impact the Financial Plan.
Since joining Southern Company in 2001 as an intern in the Southern Company Services Finance Organization, Nathan has also held various positions in SCS Finance, SCS Financial & Contract Services, Southern Power Finance, Georgia Power Finance and Georgia Power Marketing.
Nathan earned a bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Georgia.
Dr. Merle Strangway
The Learning Edge, Inc
President and Founder
Dr. Merle Strangway has been enthusiastically received as a speaker and trainer by audiences across the United States and around the world. He is the founder and president of The Learning Edge, Inc., a training and consulting company that focuses on helping managers develop critical leadership skills.
Merle has partnered with organizations such as The Home Depot, Cisco, The CDC, The Carter Center and Southern Company to create award winning programs that develop the skills of managers in the areas of leadership, team building, negotiation and emotional intelligence. Kennesaw State University awarded him the Instructor of the Year award for his work in management development programs. He has also taught for Emory University’s Continuing Education Division for 10 years.
Merle began his business career with the Royal Bank of Canada, moving to Athens, GA in 1991 to pursue his doctorate at the University of Georgia. He has been partnering with organizations to develop their managers, executives and teams since 1995.
The Learning Edge, Inc
President and Founder
Dr. Merle Strangway has been enthusiastically received as a speaker and trainer by audiences across the United States and around the world. He is the founder and president of The Learning Edge, Inc., a training and consulting company that focuses on helping managers develop critical leadership skills.
Merle has partnered with organizations such as The Home Depot, Cisco, The CDC, The Carter Center and Southern Company to create award winning programs that develop the skills of managers in the areas of leadership, team building, negotiation and emotional intelligence. Kennesaw State University awarded him the Instructor of the Year award for his work in management development programs. He has also taught for Emory University’s Continuing Education Division for 10 years.
Merle began his business career with the Royal Bank of Canada, moving to Athens, GA in 1991 to pursue his doctorate at the University of Georgia. He has been partnering with organizations to develop their managers, executives and teams since 1995.
Bill Treasurer
Giant Leap Consulting
Founder
Bill is the founder and chief encouragement officer of Giant Leap Consulting, a courage-building consulting firm. In the course of three decades, Bill has trained and coached thousands of leaders across the globe. He is the author of six published leadership-related books and considered a pioneer in the areas of workplace courage. Clients include NASA, eBay, Spanx, Lenovo, Saks Fifth Avenue, Archer Western Construction, Southern Company, the CDC, the National Security Agency, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Prior to founding Giant Leap, Bill served as Accenture’s first full-time internal executive coach, coaching partners, and associate partners in the $50-billion-dollar management consulting firm. Bill serves on the board of ISA, an association of learning professionals. Bill attended West Virginia University on a full athletic scholarship and earned a master’s degree in Administrative Science from the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay.
Learn more here: www.CourageBuilding.com [couragebuilding.com].
Giant Leap Consulting
Founder
Bill is the founder and chief encouragement officer of Giant Leap Consulting, a courage-building consulting firm. In the course of three decades, Bill has trained and coached thousands of leaders across the globe. He is the author of six published leadership-related books and considered a pioneer in the areas of workplace courage. Clients include NASA, eBay, Spanx, Lenovo, Saks Fifth Avenue, Archer Western Construction, Southern Company, the CDC, the National Security Agency, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Prior to founding Giant Leap, Bill served as Accenture’s first full-time internal executive coach, coaching partners, and associate partners in the $50-billion-dollar management consulting firm. Bill serves on the board of ISA, an association of learning professionals. Bill attended West Virginia University on a full athletic scholarship and earned a master’s degree in Administrative Science from the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay.
Learn more here: www.CourageBuilding.com [couragebuilding.com].
Dan Tucker
Southern Company
CFO
Dan Tucker currently serves as the executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer for Georgia Power. In this role, he oversees all of the accounting and finance functions of the company including financial reporting, regulatory accounting, financial planning, analysis, and enterprise risk management, as well as shared responsibility for the company’s innovative
Results Delivery Office.
Tucker joined Southern Company in 1998. Before assuming his current role, he served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Southern Company Gas with responsibility for finance, accounting, business planning and risk management functions for all the company’s businesses.
Previously, Tucker served as senior vice president and treasurer for Southern Company with responsibility for treasury, investor relations, financial planning, enterprise risk management and insurance. In this role, Tucker worked to ensure alignment between the development of the company‘s financial plan and its communications strategy with both equity and fixed income investors. Additionally, he provided oversight to the management of one of the largest U.S. investment grade debt portfolios.
He earned a bachelor’s degree from Kennesaw State University with a double major in accounting and finance.
Southern Company
CFO
Dan Tucker currently serves as the executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer for Georgia Power. In this role, he oversees all of the accounting and finance functions of the company including financial reporting, regulatory accounting, financial planning, analysis, and enterprise risk management, as well as shared responsibility for the company’s innovative
Results Delivery Office.
Tucker joined Southern Company in 1998. Before assuming his current role, he served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Southern Company Gas with responsibility for finance, accounting, business planning and risk management functions for all the company’s businesses.
Previously, Tucker served as senior vice president and treasurer for Southern Company with responsibility for treasury, investor relations, financial planning, enterprise risk management and insurance. In this role, Tucker worked to ensure alignment between the development of the company‘s financial plan and its communications strategy with both equity and fixed income investors. Additionally, he provided oversight to the management of one of the largest U.S. investment grade debt portfolios.
He earned a bachelor’s degree from Kennesaw State University with a double major in accounting and finance.
