PRESS RELEASE
Gulf Coast native honored for his commitment to workforce development in the state and his
40 years of service to the industry
Gulfport, Miss. – Mississippi Power announced today that the company is dedicating its Workforce Development and Training Center in honor of D’Iberville native Anthony Wilson, who retired last summer after serving as chairman, president and CEO for a decade.
“Anthony Wilson dedicated more than 40 years of his life to our company, and his legacy includes Mississippi Power becoming a national leader in safety and reliability under his leadership,” said Chris Womack, chairman, president and CEO of Southern Company. “He was also a tireless advocate for the advancement of Mississippi’s workforce — and because Safety First is our number one value, it’s fitting that with the dedication of this facility, each lineworker, student and Mississippi Power team member who trains here will honor his commitment to safety and service.”
The state-of-the-art facility, now known as the Anthony L. Wilson Workforce Development and Training Center, was completed in early 2024 and has since become an important site for safety and technical developmental training for Mississippi Power’s power delivery and operations teams. Lineworkers and apprentices experience a hands-on learning environment for the training they need to serve customers, further strengthening the energy workforce pipeline in southeast Mississippi.
The interior of the facility includes classrooms and a high-bay training space with transformer banks, fuses and smart devices that allow trainees to work on the equipment they encounter every day in the field. The center also features a covered, outdoor training barn where line crews can safely practice climbing poles and restoration work on de-energized equipment, rain or shine.
“The Mississippi Power team could not be prouder to honor Anthony. During his tenure at the company, his leadership, forward-thinking and vision for our customers and communities had a lasting impact on the state,” said Mississippi Power Chairman, President and CEO Pedro Cherry. “As a champion for safety, he knew the importance this facility would carry for our future workforce. We take pride in knowing the lineworkers that train here will learn the safest way to do their job and serve their communities.”
During his time at Mississippi Power, Wilson was instrumental in securing partnerships between the company and several local community colleges to establish lineworker training programs across the company’s service territory. In Gulfport, students enrolled in the lineworker program at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College have utilized this facility, receiving training and coaching from the Mississippi Power team. Mississippi Power has also been the proud host of several lineworker rodeos — where students come on-site to safely showcase their new skills to their families and potential employers.
“It is particularly meaningful to me for my name to be connected with this building because of the tremendous respect I have for lineworkers and the vital, dangerous work they do every day,” said Wilson. “Developing the workforce of tomorrow is critical to the success of our region and our state, which is why what happens here is so important. I truly believe that our investment in this facility will pay dividends for decades. To have my name now associated with it is truly special and deeply humbling.”
Mississippi Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), produces safe, reliable and affordable energy for nearly 194,000 customers in 23 southeast Mississippi counties. Mississippi Power has served its communities for more than a century and is an industry leader in safety, reliability and economic development. The Southeastern Electric Exchange recognized the company for Top Safety Performance in its generation category, and Site Selection named Mississippi Power a top utility driving economic development in the United States. For reliability, The Edison Electric Institute has recognized Mississippi Power with multiple Emergency Response Awards for outstanding storm response. Visit our website at mississippipower.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube for company updates.