Michael D. Garrett

Michael D. Garrett is president and CEO of Georgia Power, the largest subsidiary of Southern Company, one of the nation's leading generators of electricity. Garrett, a Georgia native, began his Southern Company career in 1968 at Georgia Power. He has been president and CEO of Georgia Power since 2004.

Prior to being named to lead Georgia Power, Garrett was president and CEO of Mississippi Power. Before heading Mississippi Power, he was an executive vice president at Alabama Power with responsibility for Customer Operations and Regulatory Affairs. Garrett also held Alabama Power positions as vice president of Finance; Birmingham division vice president; senior vice president of External Affairs and later, executive vice president of External Affairs.

Garrett's Georgia Power career included district superintendent roles in Bainbridge, Valdosta and Macon. Before leaving Atlanta in 1990, he served as manager of Network Underground, South Fulton district manager, and Airport district manager.

The Georgia Power president and CEO is chairing the 2008 Georgia Chamber campaign and is chair-elect of the Georgia Chamber. Garrett is also the 2008-2009 Woodruff Arts Center campaign chair. In addition, he chaired the 2007-2008 campaign for United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta. Previously, Garrett was the 2006 chairman of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce (MACOC) and chaired the 2005 MACOC campaign.

Garrett was named chairman of the Georgia Department of Economic Development Board in 2007 after Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue appointed him to a five-year term on the Board in 2005. He also serves on the boards of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, MACOC, Central Atlanta Progress (CAP), Piedmont Healthcare, the Georgia Cancer Coalition, the Buckhead Coalition and the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta. Garrett is a Morehouse College board trustee and is on the executive committee and board of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education. The Georgia Power president and CEO is a director on the board of the Southeastern Electric Exchange, and he serves on the advisory boards of The Georgia Conservancy and The Salvation Army. He is also a member of the Edison Electric Institute.

A native of McRae, Georgia, Garrett earned a bachelor of business degree with a concentration in management from Georgia College. He also holds an associate degree in mechanical engineering technology from Southern Polytechnic State University and attended the Oxford University Advanced Management Program.