AEP-Southwestern Electric Power Co. President and Chief Operating Officer Venita McCellon-Allen has retired, the company announced recently.
"We are extremely appreciative of Venita's hard work, dedicated service and significant accomplishments on behalf of SWEPCO, AEP and Central and Southwest over the last three decades. We wish her the very best in retirement," said Nicholas K. Akins, American Electric Power chairman, president and chief executive officer.
Under McCellon-Allen's leadership, SWEPCO more than doubled its invested capital on successful generation projects, including the J. Lamar Stall Unit at Arsenal Hill and the John W. Turk Jr. Plant near Fulton, Ark. She also was instrumental in gaining regulatory approvals for advanced environmental equipment installations to reduce emissions at the Flint Creek and Welsh power plants.
With McCellon-Allen at the helm, SWEPCO employees worked to enhance customer satisfaction and improve the company's score on the J.D. Power customer satisfaction survey. She also focused on enhancing the company culture. As an early representative of women on utility executive teams, McCellon-Allen served as a formal and informal mentor for women. On AEP's Talent Board, she mentored men and women wishing to expand their contributions to to the company.