Meet the Speaker: Emerson Cunningham, Principal Social Media Strategist, American Electric Power

Meet Emerson Cunningham of American Electric Power. Learn why his dad is his role model, he likes to play with fast cars, and where he sees social media in the next five years.

Meet him in person May 6-7, 2019 in Fort Lauderdale at The 15th Social Media for Utilities conference, where he will present a case study on establishing AEP’s Social Media Center.

Question: Name, title, company?
Emerson Cunningham, Principal Social Media Strategist, American Electric Power

Question: Family, hometown, where you live?
Getting married on May 2nd in Kauai, hometown is Atlanta, and currently living in Columbus, OH.

Question: What is your utility experience?
31 years at Southern Company – Georgia Power, 1 year at American Electric Power, 4 years in social media at utilities.

Question: What do you like to do when you’re not working? Hobbies?
Travel, cooking, fast cars, and home remodeling.

Question: Notable achievements?

Fatherhood and opening two Social Media Centers at utility companies

Question: Where do you see Social Media in Utilities in two-to-five years?
Four specialized groups: Customer Care, Data and Analytics, Proactive Publishing to include Marketing, Listening to include Risk Management.

Question: What is your biggest challenge?
Convincing stakeholders that Social Media is relevant and here to stay!

Question: Who are a couple of your role models (and why)?
Dad – survived segregation in the South and WWII with his dignity intact. Kevin Fletcher, We Energies CEO, always put family first, even when his career was at stake.

Question: What is one of your biggest goals (in life or business)?
To become an independent consultant on Social Media Customer Care Strategy.

Question: What’s the biggest misconception you run into in your role (or what people seem to think about Social Media)?
Social Media is all fun and games, and that I look at Facebook all day!