Dr. Angela Verdell: Valley Innovation Ambassador
February 27, 2023

One of the first actions Dr. Angela Verdell took when she became the general manager of Columbus Light & Water in 2021 was to improve internal technology to better serve her customers.

“It was a big deal for us to transition from several manual and paper formats to digital, but it has made our overall facilitation so much easier. And now that we’ve started upgrading the fiber ring for operations, that’s going to give us better system reliability, redundancy, and customer responsiveness.”

Soon, the technological improvements at Columbus Light & Water could be seen outside of the organization as well.

“Implementing an outage management system was also a huge step forward. We now have the opportunity to send text messages and alerts to our customers, which has helped our communications efforts tremendously.”

Angela noted that Seven States has been a valuable resource for her LPC during these technology transitions.

“Seven States was instrumental in making our EV charging stations a reality, and they also continue to provide insight into different projects that we are considering for our system. It has been so reassuring to have a team that knows what’s happening in the industry and what kinds of solutions we should consider in the future.”

Like any good leader, Angela is always planning ahead. She envisions big changes for her LPC footprint in the years to come.

“I would love to see us partner with the City of Columbus to add some solar generation. I would also like to help our school district acquire electric school buses. We are also helping our community become more future-focused as well by offering classes to teach our customers how to become more technologically savvy. It’s important to stay as informed as you can on what’s happening across the industry and do what makes sense for your current and future customers.”

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Here We Grow Again! Seven States Welcomes Kim Shumpert as VP of Public Relations

By Jessica Bradshaw • June 9, 2025
Seven States Power Corporation is pleased to announce the appointment of Kim Shumpert as Vice President of Public Relations. Shumpert brings over two decades of experience in growing the capacity and impact of multiple organizations within both the public and private sectors. With both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Public Administration, Shumpert brings a distinguished background in executive leadership, having guided regional economic development initiatives and directed comprehensive communication strategies across diverse platforms. Her experience includes successfully managing media relations and fostering strong partnerships. In her new role as Vice President of Public Relations, Shumpert will spearhead efforts to increase the organization’s impact, deepen stakeholder engagement, and advance the mission of empowering LPCs to meet growing consumer demand for technology and innovation in an evolving utility landscape. “We are thrilled to welcome Kim to our team,” said Betsey Kirk McCall, Seven States President & CEO. “Her proven ability to build meaningful relationships and communicate with purpose aligns perfectly with our vision for growth and engagement.” Shumpert joins Seven States at a pivotal time in the energy industry. Her leadership will play a crucial role in supporting Seven States Power Corporation’s ongoing commitment to leveraging technology to design, develop, and deploy forward-thinking energy solutions in partnership with LPCs and the communities they serve.  Seven States Power Corporation is a trusted partner to 153 local power companies across the Tennessee Valley, delivering customized energy and generation solutions and supporting community success through technology and innovation. To stay up to date on Seven States projects, announcements, and news, subscribe to our newsletter .
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