Susan N. Story’s career is one defined by visionary leadership, civic responsibility, and a commitment to the state of Alabama. From her beginnings as a nuclear power plant engineer in Dothan to becoming one of only 23 women to lead an S&P 500 company, Story has consistently built connections between business and community and Alabama and the world.
As President and CEO of American Water Works, Inc. from 2014 to 2020, Story led the largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility in the United States through a period of growth. Under her leadership, the company more than tripled its stock price and market capitalization, served over 14 million people across 40 states, and became the only U.S. water utility listed on the S&P 500, Dow Jones Utility Average, Philadelphia Utilities Index, and Dow Jones Sustainability Index. “Her forward-thinking approach and leadership positioned American Water as an industry leader,” wrote Dr. Mario Richard Eden, Dean of Engineering at Auburn University.
Story’s tenure at American Water was marked not only by the company’s overall success but also by a profound commitment to employee safety, reducing serious injuries by 83%. American Water earned accolades for its corporate governance. She was awarded the Muriel F. Siebert Award by the New York International Women’s Forum for advancing equal opportunity in corporate leadership.
Before joining American Water, Story spent 31 years at Southern Company, serving as President and CEO of Southern Company Services in both Birmingham and Atlanta, and President and CEO of Gulf Power Company. Her leadership in Alabama’s energy sector helped shape the state’s infrastructure and economic development.
A first-generation college graduate, Story earned her industrial engineering degree from Auburn University and an MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She also completed executive education programs at Oxford, Cambridge, Duke, and Harvard. Her academic achievements laid the foundation for a career that would bring national recognition to Alabama. “Her life and career have been marked by exceptional leadership, bold innovation, and ongoing contributions to the state of Alabama,” Dean Eden noted.
Story’s civic and philanthropic impact is equally remarkable. She and her husband, Joe, established the Story Family Charitable Fund, which endows scholarships at Snead State Community College and Auburn University for economically disadvantaged and first-generation students. They also provided a foundational gift to grow the Auburn University Veteran’s Resources Center. They co-founded the “Winning for Life” program with Olympic gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee to support children in underserved urban communities across the U.S. Locally, they created the Gulf Breeze First Responders Emergency Assistance Fund and contributed to the Transforming Baptist campaign for a new hospital.
Her board service spans major corporations and nonprofit organizations, including Dominion Energy, Newmont Corporation, Carrier Global, Raymond James Financial, and American Water. She has also served on the national Bipartisan Policy Center, co-chairing a national infrastructure modernization report, and is a founding member of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) Board Advisory Council, connecting candidates to corporate boards.
Story’s community involvement includes leadership roles with the United Way, Girl Scouts of America, YWCA, American Heart Association, Moffitt Cancer Research Center, Brookwood Medical Center, Auburn 100+ Women Strong, and various university advisory councils. Her dedication to education and has earned her numerous honors, including induction into the Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame, Auburn University’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and recognition as UAB’s Alumna of the Year.
“Susan Story has invested in the state of Alabama through her career achievements and philanthropy for more than 40 years,” Eden wrote. “Her outstanding accomplishments and exemplary character make her an ideal candidate for the Alabama Business Hall of Fame.”
Susan and Joe Story reside in Gulf Breeze, Florida.
