Team Member Highlight: Laura Berry

Laura Berry is a native of Dothan, AL, and a graduate of Auburn University, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering.  While at Auburn, Laura met her husband, Morgan (also a Chemical Engineer); they married shortly after graduation and began their happily ever after with early career experiences in New Orleans, LA, Houston, TX, and eventually back to Sweet Home Alabama.  Laura began her career as an Environmental Consultant to the chemical, petrochemical and shipbuilding industries from Alabama to Texas, supporting environmental permitting and litigation support in EPA enforcement cases. In 2005, Laura took a role with Alabama Power Environmental Affairs, with a hope to ensure clean, affordable and reliable energy to the citizens of the super Southeast.  Laura eventually moved into Southern Company Generation, where she worked in Environmental Compliance, Operations, and Maintenance.  While in Southern Generation, Laura also served as the Outage Manager and managed several large construction projects including a 900MW Generator Stator re-wind. 

In 2015, Laura went to Southern Research’s Energy and Environment Research Group as the Business Development and Operations Manager for their Combustion Research Facility.  This facility specialized in evaluating and providing customized test programs for “Clean Coal” technologies.  During her time at Southern Research, she had the opportunity to also work with colleagues on  Solar Panel Research projects and Carbon Capture Programs, which allowed her to explore and better understand the future of Clean Energy.  As a coal combustion expert at a time when efforts to clean coal-fired flue gas emissions were showing little gains compared to the promise of renewable energy technologies, Laura realized that she needed to pivot and evolve with technology.  She joined a Solar Company start-up and took the opportunity to learn as much as possible about developing solar projects.  Renewable Energy Development has provided an Encore (we had to say it) for Laura to leverage the skills and experiences from her work in Energy to earn the opportunity to be part of a truly exceptional team at Encore.  

Laura and Morgan have two teenage daughters, Ava (17) and Scarlett (15); 3 pets, Dahlia (4) a very spoiled pitbull mix rescue, Franklin (3) a very social Leopard Gecko, and a new Kitten (6 mo.), whose name is continually evolving. 

3 Questions to get to know Laura

What does a sustainable future mean to you?

For me, a sustainable future is a continual improvement in quality of life that fosters prosperity in our environment. The proliferation of electric energy is probably the most profound contributor to civilization – it is right up there with fire and the wheel.  Without energy, life is hard and short; it has contributed greatly to the sustainability of all life on earth.  Without clean and sustainable sources of energy, there is no sustainable future for anything (including humans).

What’s your favorite way to spend time outside?

I love to divide my time in the spring and summer on the water between Lake Eufaula, along the Chattahootchee River, the beautiful beaches of the Florida and Alabama gulf coasts and my backyard pool, where I am the lifeguard. I also enjoy snow-skiing on the cheap with Ava & Scarlett (Morgan claims he is too tall to ski).  When at home, we like to walk our neighborhood and occasionally hike the many scenic trails here in Birmingham.

What’s a great book or podcast you’ve engaged with recently?

I recently finished Extreme Ownership: How US Navy Seals Lead and Win, by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin.  I don’t read a lot of self-help books, but when I do it’s because they were recommended.  This book was recommended by Cameron (Encore’s Business Development Associate), and I thought it was great.  It speaks to fostering trust, achieving well-defined objectives, and empowering everyone in a team to be a leader.