Joe Brownlee, currently based in Valdosta as Georgia Power’s region executive for the South Region, has been named the company's new vice president of Region External Affairs, with the appointment effective immediately, Georgia Power announced. This promotion places a local leader with extensive community ties into a significant statewide leadership position within the utility.
In his new role, Georgia Power stated that Brownlee will be responsible for the company's external engagement statewide, specifically outside the Metro Atlanta area. He will collaborate with other senior leaders to lead these statewide external engagement efforts for Georgia Power. Brownlee will report to Trey Kilpatrick, the senior vice president of External Affairs for Georgia Power.
Brownlee brings more than 40 years of experience and deep connections across the state to his elevated position, according to Georgia Power. He first joined Georgia Power in 1982. His career began in Operations, where he served as a lineman in Atlanta throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Beyond his work as a lineman, his early career included additional roles in training and leadership within the company.
His transition into External Affairs occurred in 2004, when he began as a local manager serving Paulding and Douglas counties. Since that time, Brownlee has worked in various communities across the state, including time spent in middle and northwest Georgia, developing a broad understanding of the diverse needs and dynamics of the region. His current base in Valdosta as the region executive for the South Region highlights his direct experience with the local community that this publication serves.
Beyond his professional commitments, Brownlee is deeply involved and respected within the community, as noted by Georgia Power. In Valdosta, he currently serves on the Valdosta State University Foundation Board of Trustees. He is also a member of the SGMC Health Foundation. His past leadership roles include serving as chair of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to local economic and community development. His community engagement extends beyond Valdosta, with past service as chair of the Paulding County Chamber of Commerce and the Perry Chamber of Commerce. Furthermore, Brownlee was the founding chair of the Paulding Schools Foundation and served as vice chair of the Houston County Development Authority. He is also a 2008 graduate of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Regional Leadership Institute. Brownlee holds a bachelor’s degree in management from the University of Phoenix.
