ATLANTA, Jan. 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company has been named one of the 40 Best Companies for Diversity by Black Enterprise magazine. One of only three Georgia-based companies named, Southern Company was recognized for its leadership in and commitment to diversity and inclusion in employment and business practices.

"Southern Company understands the value of a workplace where every employee feels valued and respected," said Southern Company Vice President of Human Resources Stacy Kilcoyne. "It's not just a corporate performance goal – sustaining a culture of excellence through inclusion is imperative to serving customers." 

As part of a long-standing commitment, Southern Company focuses on ensuring diversity is reflected in leadership, workforce and suppliers, including its award-winning efforts in recruiting military veterans and people with disabilities. The company and its subsidiaries strive to be an employer of choice by offering a stable work environment, dynamic culture and competitive pay and benefits package.

In selecting the 40 Best Companies for Diversity, Black Enterprise conducted a comprehensive survey of the top 1,000 publicly traded companies and 100 leading global companies with significant operations in the United States – focusing on activities related to the participation of African Americans and other ethnic minority groups as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Key areas of consideration included employee base, senior management, board of directors and supplier diversity.  

With more than 4.4 million customers and nearly 46,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier energy company serving the Southeast through its subsidiaries. A leading U.S. producer of clean, safe, reliable and affordable electricity, Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states and a growing competitive generation company, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for energy innovation, excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are below the national average. Southern Company and its subsidiaries are leading the nation's nuclear renaissance through the construction of the first new nuclear units to be built in a generation of Americans and are demonstrating their commitment to energy innovation through the development of a state-of-the-art coal gasification plant. Southern Company has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer, listed by DiversityInc as a top company for Blacks and designated a 2013 Top Employer for Hispanics by Hispanic Network. The company received the Edison Award from the Edison Electric Institute for its leadership in new nuclear development, was named Electric Light & Power magazine's Utility of the Year for 2012 and is continually ranked among the top utilities in Fortune's annual World's Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility rankings. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.

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SOURCE Southern Company

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