Full Name
Michael Smith
Job Title
Vice President and SPO
Company or Organization
Mississippi Power
Speaker Bio
Michael serves as the Vice President and SPO. In this role he is responsible for the safe, clean, and reliable operation of over 2,000 megawatts of coal and gas generating capacity.
In addition to those responsibilities, he helps guide company strategy as a member of various Mississippi Power Committees. He is a member of the Leadership Development Council, the Safety Leadership Council and is the Chair of the Budget Leadership Team. Smith is the Mississippi Power representative on the Plant Daniel Supervisory Committee where he manages the Co-Owner relationship with Gulf Power. He is also a member of the Southern Company Generation Advisory Committee.
Smith began his career at Gulf Power in 1991 as a Project Engineer in Power Generation. He transferred to Plant Smith in 1996, where he progressed through various leadership roles. During that time, he was a member of the startup team for the Plant Daniel combined cycle units. He also led the startup activities for the Plant Smith combined cycle from construction through commercial operation.
In 2004, he was selected as the O&M Manager at Mississippi Power’s Chevron Co-generation plant and was named the Chevron Plant Manager in 2006. In these roles, he was responsible for the steam and power needs for Mississippi Power’s largest customer, the Chevron Pascagoula Refinery.
He transferred to Georgia Power in 2008 as the Planning and Engineering Manager at Plant Branch. In 2011, he was selected as the Maintenance Manager for Georgia Power’s Plant Scherer.
In 2014, he moved to Gulf Power as the Plant Manager of Plant Smith and Plant Scholz. In that role, he oversaw the retirement of the coal fired units at both locations. He was also responsible for the ash pond closures at both facilities. In 2018, he served in an interim role as the Senior Production Officer for Gulf Power. He was also the Power Generation lead on the Gulf Power transition Team ensuring a seamless integration of Gulf Power to NextEra. In 2019, he served as the General Manager of Power Generation for NextEra. Later in 2019, he moved back to Mississippi Power as the Plant Manager of Plant Victor Daniel.
Mike earned a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University.
A native of Gadsden, Alabama, Michael and his wife, Tracy, have two children – Tyler and Dorothy.
In addition to those responsibilities, he helps guide company strategy as a member of various Mississippi Power Committees. He is a member of the Leadership Development Council, the Safety Leadership Council and is the Chair of the Budget Leadership Team. Smith is the Mississippi Power representative on the Plant Daniel Supervisory Committee where he manages the Co-Owner relationship with Gulf Power. He is also a member of the Southern Company Generation Advisory Committee.
Smith began his career at Gulf Power in 1991 as a Project Engineer in Power Generation. He transferred to Plant Smith in 1996, where he progressed through various leadership roles. During that time, he was a member of the startup team for the Plant Daniel combined cycle units. He also led the startup activities for the Plant Smith combined cycle from construction through commercial operation.
In 2004, he was selected as the O&M Manager at Mississippi Power’s Chevron Co-generation plant and was named the Chevron Plant Manager in 2006. In these roles, he was responsible for the steam and power needs for Mississippi Power’s largest customer, the Chevron Pascagoula Refinery.
He transferred to Georgia Power in 2008 as the Planning and Engineering Manager at Plant Branch. In 2011, he was selected as the Maintenance Manager for Georgia Power’s Plant Scherer.
In 2014, he moved to Gulf Power as the Plant Manager of Plant Smith and Plant Scholz. In that role, he oversaw the retirement of the coal fired units at both locations. He was also responsible for the ash pond closures at both facilities. In 2018, he served in an interim role as the Senior Production Officer for Gulf Power. He was also the Power Generation lead on the Gulf Power transition Team ensuring a seamless integration of Gulf Power to NextEra. In 2019, he served as the General Manager of Power Generation for NextEra. Later in 2019, he moved back to Mississippi Power as the Plant Manager of Plant Victor Daniel.
Mike earned a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University.
A native of Gadsden, Alabama, Michael and his wife, Tracy, have two children – Tyler and Dorothy.
Speaking At
