Melody Birmingham-Byrd has taken the reins as Progress Energy’s vice president for the Southern Region.
Her promotion coincides with Emerson Gower’s announcement that he will retire July 1. Gower has been with Progress Energy and its predecessor, Carolina Power & Light, for 38 years.
Gower has led the Southern Region since 1993. The region includes South Carolina and the Sandhills portions of North Carolina, including some 315,000 customers.
“Melody is well prepared for her new leadership role with Progress Energy,” Gower said, “and her background and experience will help ensure that our company continues to meet the needs and expectations of our customers.
“We’re pleased to have Melody, her husband, Courtland, and their son, Major, in our community. I know they will be welcomed and they’ll make a significant contribution in the coming years.”
Birmingham-Byrd has been with Progress Energy since 2004. She most recently was general manager of operations for the region until her promotion Jan. 1.
She also was with CP&L in 1999 and 2000 as superintendent-fossil generation maintenance and as director of training. She started her career at GKN Automotive Inc. in Sanford, N.C.
“I want my time to be successful,” Birmingham-Byrd said during an interview in her office. “Safety is first and foremost followed by meeting the needs of our customers with the highest level of service. I’m a hands-on person and the bottom line, for me, is to get the job done through teamwork.”
Birmingham-Byrd has nothing but the the highest respect for Gower.
“Emerson is truly a great and genuine person,” she said. “He has great concern for his employees. He has also really helped set the standard for the Southern Region. We will have to work doubly hard to continue the tradition he set.”
Although she’s a Chicago native, Birmingham-Byrd has lived most of her adult life in North Carolina and South Carolina. She especially likes Florence.
“There’s a unique sense of community here and I feel like I’m a part of that community,” she said. “I appreciate how people rally around local needs.
“You can’t beat being this close to the beach and metropolitan areas like Columbia, Charleston and Charlotte, N.C.,” she said. “The mountains aren’t that far away, either.”
When she’s not working, Birmingham-Byrd spends quality time with Courtland, who is employed at Hub Ford, and their 4-year-old son.
“You never run out of things to do with a little boy around the house,” she said. “I’m a kid at heart, too. We all have fun.”
Birmingham-Byrd also has been known to leave her mark in the kitchen, as Courtland, Major and their friends will attest.
“I love cooking, baking and canning,” she said. “I make my own preserves.”
Birmingham-Byrd earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and management from Purdue University and a master’s in business administration from Stayer University.
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