News Release
Contact: Barry Dillon
Phone: 770-270-7835
Email: barry.dillon@gatrans.com
Georgia Transmission Selects Mike Smith as CEO
Georgia Transmission Corporation's board of directors has named Michael L. Smith president and chief executive officer. Smith has served as chief financial officer since 2003, and as acting president and chief executive officer since November 2004.
Mr. Smith has more than 20 years of experience in finance, strategic planning, risk control and management with Mirant, Southern Company Energy Marketing, ARCO and the Committee of Chief Risk Officers, a non-profit energy risk management association he co-founded. He moved to Atlanta in 1996 after serving in various ARCO management positions throughout the United States.
At GTC, he will lead a not-for-profit electric cooperative that is owned by, and delivers high-capacity power to, 39 of the Georgia's electric membership cooperatives (EMCs). The state's 42 customer-owned electric cooperatives provide electric service to nearly half the state's population, across more than 70 percent of the state. GTC has 225 employees.
"In addition to impressive management credentials in the energy business, Mike is a natural leader," said GTC Board Chairman Charles R. Fendley. "His vision, sincerity and strategic thinking help him connect with and inspire the EMCs' managers and employees."
Smith will oversee one of the nation's few electric transmission-only businesses. As a member-owned cooperative, GTC plans, builds and maintains more than 2,600 miles of electric power lines and more than 570 substations. As chief financial officer, Smith managed a $100-million annual construction budget for new facilities to meet Georgia's rapidly growing energy demand.
Mr. Smith holds a bachelor's degree in business law and a master's of business administration from Louisiana State University. He and his wife, Jane, have three sons.
GTC is a not-for-profit cooperative owned by 39 of Georgia's 42 electric membership cooperatives. Georgia Transmission delivers high-capacity, long-haul power to the EMCs, which in turn provide electrical service to more than 3.8 million customers. The corporation plans, builds and maintains a transmission system of more than $1 billion in assets, including more than 2,600 miles of power lines and 570 substations.