Full Name
Tequila Smith
Job Title
Vice President, Corporate Sustainability
Company or Organization
Georgia Power
Speaker Bio
Tequila Smith is vice president of Charitable Giving, where she leads the company’s philanthropic, volunteerism and community support initiatives. She is also president of the Alabama Power Foundation and executive director of the Alabama Business Charitable Trust Fund.

With more than 20 years of experience in the utility industry, Smith has held positions of increasing responsibility within the Southern Company system, including roles in Fuel Services, Operations Services, Resource Planning and Transmission. She was assistant to the vice president of Regional External Affairs at Georgia Power and general manager of Renewable Energy Operations at Southern Power.

Most recently she was Energy Services director, leading a team of energy conservation experts in managing development and implementation of energy efficiency for commercial and industrial businesses, as well as federal customers throughout the state. Smith also oversaw the growth of non-kilowatt-hour sales through customer partnerships in LED lighting, smart heating, ventilating and air conditioning, and energy automation.

Smith was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in 1999 and a Master of Business Administration from UAB in 2003. She earned a Master of Arts in Communication Studies: Organizational Leadership from the University of Alabama in 2019.

Smith has been active in the civic, philanthropic and leadership development arenas, applying her knowledge, experience and expertise toward improving the community. In 2018, she completed the Southern Power Leading Leaders program. She is a member of the UAB School of Engineering Advisory Board and a 2020 alum of the Momentum Executive Women Leadership Program – Alabama’s premier female leadership organization.

In January 2021, Smith was named one of the “Women Who Shape the State” by Alabama Media Group and its affiliate, This is Alabama. The annual award spotlights women who are making a difference in the state across a broad spectrum of fields and missions.

Smith was named to the Birmingham Business Journal’s 2020 list of “Women to Watch” – a select roster of women who are making an impact in the Birmingham business world. Honorees were selected based on career accomplishments and contributions to their organizations, as well as future leadership potential.

She is a Torchbearer for the Junior League of Birmingham’s Community of Lights Campaign, promoting awareness of the league’s five-year fundraising initiative supporting One Place Metro Alabama Justice Center. One Place provides legal assistance, counseling and housing services to community members affected by domestic violence and sexual abuse.
Tequila Smith