Accomplished leader, seasoned executive and dedicated professional, Melody Birmingham-Byrd, president of Duke Energy’s Indiana operations in Plainfield, Ind., will speak at the 179th commencement ceremony at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) on May 7, 2016, at 1:15 p.m.
Byrd has more than 20 years of leadership and managerial experience and a deep knowledge of corporate operations, strategy development and execution, resource management and regulatory compliance. Throughout her career, she has instituted policies and procedures resulting in high levels of customer satisfaction, cost per unit performance and safety.
Byrd was recently promoted to state president of Duke Energy Indiana, part of Duke Energy Corporation, a Fortune 250 company. Since moving into this role in June of 2015, she has provided critical oversight and leadership to ensure approximately 800,000 households and businesses in 69 counties receive reliable, affordable energy solutions. By cultivating relationships with elected officials, regulators, and community members, Byrd effectively champions Duke’s strategic initiatives and economic development efforts in a rapidly evolving industry.
She joined Duke Energy Corporation in 2012 as senior vice president of Midwest Delivery Operations; during this period, she provided leadership to a 2400+-member team of cross-functional employees and contractors. Her area of responsibility spanned distribution construction and maintenance, engineering and construction planning, distribution operations, power quality, reliability and integrity, resource management, project management, vegetation management, and electric and gas service delivery for over 2 million total customers in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Her diligence led to substantial improvements in safety performance.
Byrd holds a Bachelor of Science degree in organizational leadership and management from Purdue University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Strayer University. She completed Progress Energy’s Leadership Development Program at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler School of Business and the Contract Management Program at Clemson University. She is also a licensed project management professional through the Project Management Institute.
Byrd currently serves on the boards of directors of the Indiana Electric Association, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce and Special Olympics Indiana. She is also a member of the Power Delivery Committee for the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies and serves as a member of The Executive Leadership Council. She is a past board member of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce, Francis Marion University Foundation, McLeod Hospital Foundation and the South Carolina Governor’s School of Science and Mathematics Foundation. Byrd has also chaired the Excellence in Education Committee for the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and served on the Healthcare Steering Committee.