Bentina Terry

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Bentina Chisolm Terry
Born April 1, 1970
Fayetteville, NC
Occupation Gulf Power executive
Religion Christian
Spouse Antonio Terry

Bentina Chisolm Terry is the vice president of external affairs and corporate services for the Gulf Power Company, a subsidiary of the Southern Company.

In this role, Terry is responsible for the company’s external efforts including regulatory affairs, governmental relations, environmental affairs, economic development and corporate communications. She is also responsible for the company’s ethics and compliance efforts as well as the security, safety and health, labor relations, facilities and real estate organizations. Most recently she also assumed responsibility for Gulf Power’s nuclear development efforts.

Terry is very active outside of Gulf Power and serves on Board of Directors or Trustees for the following: the American Association of Blacks in Energy, the Florida Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Leadership Florida, Enterprise Florida Legislative Committee, SunTrust Bank (NW Florida Board), University of West Florida, the Florida Energy Systems Consortium, the Florida Electric Power Coordinating Group (Executive Committee), the Community Maritime Park Association for the City of Pensacola, the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra and the Autism Society of the Pensacola.

Terry began her career with Southern Company in 2001 at Georgia Power Company and progressed through leadership roles in compliance, ethics and power delivery including customer service, external affairs and customer operations. In her most recent position prior to her current one she served as Vice President – External Affairs and General Counsel, Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary for Southern Nuclear Operating Company, the Southern Company subsidiary that operates Southern Company’s nuclear fleet.

Prior to joining Southern Company, Terry served as Associate General Counsel for Progress Energy in Raleigh, NC where she practiced labor and employment and natural gas regulatory and contract law. She began her career practicing law as an labor and employment associate with Troutman Sanders law firm in Atlanta, Georgia.

A native of Fayetteville, N.C., Terry holds a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Michigan Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in English (cum laude) from North Carolina State University. She is a member of the North Carolina State Bar and the Georgia State Bar, Leadership Atlanta, Leadership North Carolina and Leadership Florida, the American Association of Blacks in Energy and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. In 2008, she was selected as one of Pensacola Business Journal's “Twelve Young Professionals Under 40.” In 2009 and 2010, she was selected as a member of the “IN Power List” which recognizes the top 50 most powerful and influential people in greater Pensacola.

She is married to Antonio Terry.