By By MICHELE GERLACH
Publisher
Just weeks after he led the effort to put Brewton's electrical system back together, local Alabama Power Company business office manager Danny D'Andrea is leaving the brand-spanking-new system to the care of others.
D'Andrea has been named business office manager for Thomasville and Butler. In his 28 years with Alabama Power, he's worked in both places before. He's managed the Brewton office since Nov. 1, 1995.
D'Andrea's family moved to Brewton in 1957 when Container opened. He was 3 at the time.
He left in 1972 and worked for Alabama Power 17 and a half years in Thomasville and three and a half in Butler.
He began his career as an engineer's aide.
He said he classified himself as a "storm chaser" until lightening got his attention.
A long history of working trouble prepared him well for the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan.
While he doesn't have all of the totals for the repairs yet, just the part of the system located from Underwood west required 108 new poles, 334 spans of wire and 31 transformers. But that part was in relatively good shape.
In the past nine years, he has been very involved in the community.
He has been active in the Greater Brewton Area Chamber of Commerce and is a former president of the organization. He's served on the Brewton Industrial Development Authority; chaired the Brewton United Way drive in 2000; is a former board member and president of the Greater Brewton Habitat for Humanity; and is a graduate of Leadership Brewton. He has been active in the T.R. Miller Band Boosters, and is a fixture in the group's concession stand during football season. He said he's enjoyed it all.
He started the festival's kids' area and has enjoyed watching it grow.
He's also optimistic about the community's future.
While Friday was his last official day as manager of the Brewton office, D'Andrea will be in and out of Brewton at least through next May.
His wife, Jan, will remain in Brewton with the couple's son, Derrick, who is a senior at T.R. Miller High School, until graduation. Their daughter, Nichole, is a Troy University student.