When Staci Brown Brooks reflects on her career, the word that rises most often is service. Service to her community, her state, and the organizations she has been entrusted to lead.

Her path, spanning journalism and corporate leadership, reflects a career grounded in purpose, collaboration, and a deep commitment to giving back.

Today, as vice president of Charitable Giving at Alabama Power Company and president of the Alabama Power Foundation, she is helping to shape Alabama’s future by stewarding philanthropic investments, supporting nonprofits, and inspiring volunteerism across the state.

“It is one of the great honors of my life to lead this work in the state that I love,” Brooks said.

“The Alabama Power Foundation takes our responsibility as a corporate citizen in our state very seriously. During its nearly 36 years, we have contributed nearly $300 million to nonprofits serving veterans, to teachers and students, to medical clinics and so much more.”

From journalism to corporate leadership

Brooks’ professional journey began far from the corporate suite.

After graduating from the University of Alabama with a degree in communication with a concentration in journalism, she began her career as a copy editor at the Detroit Free Press.

From there, she returned to her home state, joining The Tuscaloosa News and later The Birmingham News, where she rose through the ranks as a staff writer, editor, and eventually director of interactive content.

“I’ve had the opportunity to do a lot of different things and at each step I see how all those things work together,” Brooks reflected.

“I started my career as a journalist in Detroit, then came back home to work for The Tuscaloosa News, then The Birmingham News/AL.com. After earning my MBA, I began to wonder if my skillsets and knowledge could be a fit for corporate life.”

That question ultimately led her to Alabama Power, where she has spent nearly a decade in roles spanning public relations, marketing communication, digital strategy, and business development.

Each position, she said, prepared her for the opportunity to lead the company’s charitable giving and its foundation.

Impact through philanthropy and volunteerism

As president of the Alabama Power Foundation and executive director of the Alabama Business Charitable (ABC) Trust Fund, Brooks oversees programs that touch lives in every corner of Alabama.

The foundation has provided nearly $300 million in grants over its history, while the ABC Trust has invested $40 million to help low-income households meet essential energy and living needs.

Her work is not confined to financial contributions. She champions the culture of service within Alabama Power itself, noting the countless hours employees and retirees dedicate to local nonprofits.

“Alabama Power employees and retirees contribute thousands upon thousands of hours of service across the state each year painting, planting gardens, stocking and organizing food banks and so much more,” Brooks said.

Inspired by strong women – and one fearless daughter

Brooks credits her own impact to the inspiration she has drawn from women in her family and community.

“My mother died three years ago, but I still call her my North Star,” she shared.

“She exemplified a life of service and was a nurse or nurse educator for more than 40 years in Dallas County. In her final years, her service included ministry through her church as well as helping other women be aware of their breast cancer risk and the value of early detection. I miss her every day.”

Her daughter, just seven years old, provides daily lessons in courage and authenticity.

“My 7-year-old daughter is bold and fearless and hilarious in a way that I have never been, and she is teaching me,” Brooks said. “The future is in great hands, because there are no wallflowers among her and her friends.”

She also honors the influence of her grandmothers, sister, aunts, friends, teachers, professors, and professional colleagues, saying: “Alabama is great at growing strong, inspiring women.”

And while she treasures the wisdom and strength of these women, she is quick to add that her husband has been her greatest supporter.

“I know this event is about women, but I also have to acknowledge all the men who have supported my growth and ambition and cheered me along on my journey. First on that list is my beloved, Gerald Brooks Jr.”

Leadership with character

Brooks’ definition of leadership does not hinge on titles or corner offices but on integrity and compassion.

“Caring for others more than yourself. Being trustworthy—always keep your word. Be smart enough to know what you know and what you don’t,” she explained. “To be clear, none of those attributes rely on a job title. They illustrate one’s character.”

That philosophy has made her a respected leader not just at Alabama Power, but in civic and nonprofit circles as well. Brooks serves on the boards of Vulcan Park and Museum, Lawson State Community College Foundation, the Four Little Girls Memorial Fund, the YWCA Central Alabama, and is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

She has also supported initiatives like Bronze Valley, which helps grow tech startups led by diverse founders, and she was a Junior League of Birmingham Community of Lights Torchbearer.

Honoring Alabama roots

A proud Selma native, Brooks has remained deeply connected to her roots. She is a member of Sixth Avenue Baptist Church and lives in the Birmingham area with her husband and daughter.

Her alma mater, the University of Alabama, honored her as a “60 for 60” esteemed alumna during a 2023 commemoration of the 60th anniversary of desegregation at the university. She has also completed leadership programs at Columbia Business School and Harvard University, in addition to being selected for Leadership Birmingham, the Alabama Leadership Initiative, and Who’s Who in Nonprofits.

A life of service and impact

Looking back, Brooks says one of her proudest accomplishments is simply the opportunity to serve her state.

“I’m really proud I get to serve my home state through nonprofit partnerships and volunteer service,” she said.

That pride is evident in every role she has taken on, whether mentoring young professionals, building capacity for Alabama’s nonprofits, or leading a corporate foundation that has become one of the state’s most impactful philanthropic engines.

A Woman of Impact

Staci Brown Brooks embodies what it means to be a Yellowhammer News Woman of Impact.

Her leadership has opened doors for communities and organizations across Alabama, her personal story reflects resilience and service, and her vision is shaping a better future for the state she calls home.

Her journey from journalism to corporate leadership illustrates not only professional versatility but a deep sense of responsibility to uplift others.

As she continues to guide Alabama Power’s philanthropic arm and inspire service across the state, Brooks stands as a model of integrity, collaboration, and impact.