Later this year, the Council for Quality Growth, an economic development industry trade association, will honor Paul Bowers, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power, with its prestigious Four Pillar Tribute award. For nearly three decades, the Council has paid tribute annually to an outstanding individual in the metro Atlanta region who best exemplifies the Council’s mission of promoting balanced and responsible growth.

“The Four Pillar Tribute is a unique honor that celebrates the recipient’s philanthropy as well as their significant contributions to economic development and Atlanta’s quality of life,” said Michael Paris, president and CEO of the Council for Quality Growth. “This award is unparalleled in the Atlanta region and has come to be known as the highest honor bestowed for the honoree’s actions across what we consider the four pillars of leadership and success: quality, responsibility, vision, and integrity.”

As the Council’s 29th honoree, Bowers has chosen “Purpose” as his theme for the Tribute, fitting to both Georgia Power’s and his own values. He said it is a deeply held tenet of his faith and a personal conviction that he believes his life’s purpose is to leave a legacy of service to his fellow citizens, coworkers, and family.

“I believe we all have a responsibility to build a better tomorrow,” said Bowers. “That’s why, at Georgia Power, we remind ourselves daily that our role encompasses more than just keeping the lights on. It’s about being intentional, putting service before self and making choices that improve the communities we live in and serve every day.”

Georgia Power’s vision to be “A Citizen Wherever We Serve” still holds true more than 90 years after it was coined by the company’s first president and is a core value shared by all 7,000 Georgia Power employees, including Bowers himself. Every year, the company, its employees and retirees renew their commitment to building a better tomorrow for the communities they serve through efforts in economic development, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, education and charitable giving, among others. Last year, employees and retirees donated more than 147,000 service hours and the company invested $21 million dollars in Georgia communities.

Whether it’s Georgia Power’s longstanding stewardship of Georgia’s environment, or Bowers’ personal passion for education and improving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and literacy skills, you don’t have to look far to see how Bowers, his company and its employees live out the four pillars of leadership and success every day