Leadership
Carolyn Shanks, President & CEO, Entergy Mississippi
As President and CEO of Entergy Mississippi, Carolyn C. Shanks is well known
as one of the nation’s most trusted leaders in the electric utility industry.
The skills that helped her achieve that rank have also helped her company
become a national leader in customer satisfaction ratings.
From her acceptance of the position of president on July 1, 1999, to date,
Shanks has worked hard to redirect Entergy Mississippi’s emphasis toward its
core business of providing affordable, reliable electricity to customers.
By spearheading a plan to invest directly in the company’s infrastructure and
workforce, Shanks helped develop Entergy into one of Mississippi’s most
respected and forward-thinking companies. That emphasis continues as Entergy
recently announced a multi-million program designed to improve reliability
through upgrades to substations and distribution operations. A new training
facility allows employees to strengthen skills with the very latest technology
and processes.
As a partner in building a better Mississippi, Entergy leads the way in
improving the quality of life for the communities it serves. Shanks oversees
an aggressive economic development program which helps regional partners work
together to encourage business development. Entergy’s role allows Mississippi
to compete globally for new industry like Nissan.
In addition, Shanks has encouraged special programs for customers that address
basic needs like housing and education. She has helped Entergy become
recognized as a world leader in environmental programs. And she plays a
pivotal role in Entergy’s efforts to meet the demands of today’s customers as
well as prepare for the energy needs of the future.
Her experience with Entergy has given her a solid platform from which to lead
these initiatives and the 1,400 Entergy Mississippi employees who look to her
for direction.
Shanks joined Entergy in 1983 as an accountant with Mississippi Power & Light
Company after graduating in 1979 as valedictorian and Star Student of
Senatobia High School, earning an associate of science degree at Northwest
Mississippi Junior College, and receiving her bachelor of professional
accountancy degree from Mississippi State University.
She later transferred to System Energy Resources, Inc., the subsidiary
responsible for the operations of Grand Gulf Nuclear Station. At SERI, she was
promoted to manager and directed internal business and budgeting processes.
In 1994, she was named director of business services for Entergy Operations,
Inc., the subsidiary that managed Entergy’s five nuclear power plants. Shanks
became Vice President - Finance and Administration of Entergy Nuclear in
February 1997.
Shortly thereafter, she accepted her current position with the company.
Shanks supports her commitment to Mississippi through leadership roles in the
business and civic community. She has served as co-chair of Blueprint
Mississippi’s Economic Development initiative, one of the state’s most
ambitious efforts to enhance its economic future. She has co-chaired along
with former Governor Ronnie Musgrove the Governor’s Task Force for Classroom
Technology.
She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the Mississippi Women’s Forum, Executive
Women’s Golf Association, Century Clubs Charities, the University Club board
of directors and the Newcomen Society.
She serves on the board of directors of the Nature Conservancy, the
Mississippi State University Development Foundation and INROADS/Mississippi
Inc. She also serves on the board and executive committee of Governor Haley
Barbour’s Momentum Mississippi.
Her commitment to Mississippi’s economic future continues through her
acceptance of the 2007-2008 chairmanship of the Mississippi Economic Council.
Her work with that organization mirrors her leadership role at Entergy as she
works to find even more ways to make Mississippi the best it can be.
Updated 7/07
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