Entergy Corporation : Stedman Named Winner of 2011 Entergy Mississippi Leadership Award

Honor recognizes multiple achievements in Adams County's development

NATCHEZ, Miss. - Sue Stedman, chairman of Natchez Inc. and vice president and sales manager for Crye-Leike Stedman Realtors, is a 2011 recipient of Entergy Mississippi Inc.'s Teamwork Mississippi Community Leadership Award.

A major driving force in Natchez and Adams County for many years, Stedman has supported economic development as a city alderman and business owner. In addition, she gives generously of her time as a community advocate, having served on committees and boards for numerous organizations.

"Sue exemplifies what Teamwork Mississippi is about -shaping our communities into desirable places to live, work, visit and raise our children," said Haley Fisackerly, Entergy Mississippi, Inc. president and CEO. "Her willingness to give of herself professionally and personally over many years benefits Adams County in many ways."

Stedman served as vice-chairman of Natchez/Adams County Economic Development Authority in 1993. She also served as Ward 3 alderman from 1996 through 2004.

Stedman provided instrumental leadership in bringing key stakeholders together and developing structure in the public/private partnership between Natchez Now and Natchez Inc. She provided the leadership needed to get local acceptance of a new, more aggressive approach to economic development. Stedman worked together with others in the community to hire a full-time economic development professional. Since that person, Chandler Russ, came on board, the area has attracted jobs and growth with the locations of Elevance, Enersteel and HCL CleanTech.

"Sue has improved the quality of life for everyone in the community through her efforts and successes," said John Turner, economic development director for Entergy Mississippi, Inc. "Her dedication to the community is an invaluable resource for Natchez and Adams County."

Chandler Russ, executive director of Natchez, Inc. called Stedman's leadership, time, effort and knowledge "remarkable."

"I'm honored to have a chairman and friend with such dedication to the community," Russ said. "Her leadership makes both our organization and the community better, as she leads from a business perspective and from the heart to move our area forward."

Teamwork Mississippi Community leadership awards are presented to outstanding volunteers or retired professionals in economic development, downtown revitalization, leadership programs, business development, education or other areas of community development within the Entergy Mississippi service area.

The award was established in 1992. Past recipients include former Governor William Winter, Sister M. Dorothea Sondgeroth of Jackson, Norman Gillis of McComb and many other deserving Mississippians.

Entergy Mississippi, Inc. provides electricity to more than 435,000 customers in 45 counties. It is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation. Entergy is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.