ALM : March of Dimes names Alabama Power Vice President Jonathan Porter 2015 Citizen of the Year

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

JESSICA HOLDEN

(205) 588-0510

jholden@marchof dimes.org

BIRMINGHAM - Alabama Power Vice President of Human Resources and Ethics Jonathan Porter has been named the March of Dimes 2015 Alabama Citizen of the Year. Porter will be honored at the 21st Annual March of Dimes Alabama Citizen of the Year Reception Monday, Nov. 2, at Regions Field (Banquet Hall). The reception is from 6-8 p.m.

The March of Dimes Alabama Citizen of the Year honors an outstanding community partner whose distinguished leadership and devoted service to the community have contributed greatly to the quality of life for Alabama and its people. The recipient is a person who, through the victory of achieving success and acclaim, has given back generously to others.

"We truly feel that Jonathan Porter and the relationship the March of Dimes shares with Alabama Power is something to be honored," said Alabama Sen. Jabo Waggoner, March of Dimes board member. "We can think of no one more deserving to receive this distinguished award this year than our chosen recipient."

Alabama Power has consistently partnered with the March of Dimes, raising more than $800,000 for the March of Dimes Alabama Chapter since 2002. In addition, Porter has been involved in the community through his work as a member of the board of directors for the Jefferson County Education Foundation, Jefferson County Economic and Industrial Authority, and INROADS Inc. Porter also serves as a board trustee of Tuskegee University, president of the A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club Southside Homes Advisory Council, and member of the Newcomen Society of Alabama. Porter is a graduate of Leadership Birmingham, has been featured in Who's Who in Black Alabama, and was recognized as a "Top 40 under 40" by the Birmingham Business Journal.

Porter joined Alabama Power in 1991 as a Customer Accounting intern through the INROADS program where he interned four summers with Alabama Power until graduation. He rejoined Alabama Power in 2000 and has held various positions of increasing responsibility, including senior corporate recruiter, senior HR business representative, Customer Service supervisor, assistant Business Office manager, lead HR business consultant, assistant to the executive vice president of External Affairs, Birmingham Division area manager, and his most recent role of director, Customer Services.

Prior to joining Alabama Power, Porter worked as an underwriting analyst at Protective Life Corp. and as a manager at INROADS Inc.

Porter graduated cum laude from Tuskegee University with a B.S. degree in business administration. While at Tuskegee, Porter was a four-year letterman in football and was an All-Conference scholar-athlete. Porter received his MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

A native of Bessemer, Ala., Porter is married to his high school classmate Kima and is the proud father of daughters Laila and Kailyn.

About Alabama Citizen of the Year

Since its inception, Alabama Citizen of the Year has raised more than $2.5 million for the March of Dimes Alabama Chapter. A large majority of the proceeds raised over the 21-year history of this event have gone to support families, mothers and children in the Birmingham area and across Alabama. Corporate sponsorships for 2015 Citizen of the Year will highlight critically important mission-specific initiatives that March of Dimes Alabama supports across our region and state. Corporate sponsorships begin at $2,500 and go up to $25,000.

At this year's reception at Regions Field, guests will enjoy specially prepared heavy hors d'oeuvres and first-class networking with Birmingham's best throughout the evening. All proceeds benefit the March of Dimes Alabama Chapter. For tickets, sponsorship information or further details about the event, please contact Jessica Holden, March of Dimes senior community director, at (205) 588-0510 or jholden@marchofdimes.org.

About the March of Dimes and past Citizens of the Year

The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing premature birth, birth defects and infant mortality. Founded in 1938 by Franklin D. Roosevelt, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education and advocacy to save babies, and in 2003 launched a campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. Currently, the March of Dimes has more than $1 million invested in Alabama community programs and research projects. For more information, visit the March of Dimes website at marchofdimes.org/Alabama or its Spanish website at nacersano.org.

Past Citizen of the Year honorees are:

• 2014, Rob Burton, president, Hoar Construction LLC
• 2013, Dr. Andrew Westmoreland, president, Samford University
• 2012, James ("Jimmy") C. Lee III, chairman & CEO, Buffalo Rock
• 2011, Manolo Sanchez, country president, BBVA
• 2010, Terry Kellogg, president & CEO, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama
• 2009, Garry L. Gause, president & CEO, Brookwood Medical Center
• 2008, Dr. Carol Z. Garrison, president, UAB
• 2007, Bettye Fine Collins, president, Jefferson County Commission
• 2006, Mayor Tony Petelos, City of Hoover
• 2005, Sen. Jabo Waggoner, Alabama State Senate
• 2004, Bill Taylor, president & CEO of Mercedes-Benz International
• 2003, Gene Hallman, president & CEO, Alabama Sports Foundation