Georgia Power announced the election of two directors to its board of directors -- Shan Cooper, chief transformation officer for WestRock Company, and Larry Gellerstedt III, president and CEO of Cousins Properties.

"From building military aircraft at Lockheed to successfully helping WestRock navigate and evolve in a changing industry, Shan's leadership experience is diverse and results-oriented," said Paul Bowers, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power. "Her proven ability to drive transformational initiatives, system improvements and growth strategies will be a tremendous asset to our board."

"Larry is a renowned Atlanta business leader and entrepreneur with unparalleled expertise in construction, development and project management," added Bowers. "As we continue to build the largest and most complex construction project in the state at Plant Vogtle, Larry will bring fresh insight and a unique perspective to our board."

Shan Cooper
A renowned business leader, Cooper has served as chief transformation officer for WestRock Company since 2016. In this position, she is responsible for developing infrastructure capabilities and system processes needed for business growth. She also leads the company's procurement, logistics, information technology and recycling operations. Prior to assuming this role, she served as vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company. 

Cooper holds a bachelor's degree in biology and religion from Emory University and a master's of business administration from Emory University's Goizueta Business School. She is also a graduate of the Rutgers Global Executive Master's in Human Resource Leadership Program.

She was named Georgia Trend Magazine's 2015 Most Respected Business Leader; one of the 2015 Women of the Year by American Association of University Women; and one of Georgia Trend Magazine's Most Influential Georgians in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. She also received the 2013 Pioneer Award from U.S. Black Engineer & Information Technology Magazine.

Cooper is a member of the Atlanta Rotary Club and serves on numerous boards including the executive board of the Metro Atlanta Chamber, the board of councilors for the Carter Center, the board of trustees of both Emory University and the Woodruff Arts Center, the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia and the board of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education.

Larry Gellerstedt III
A prominent entrepreneur and successful businessman, Larry Gellerstedt leads Cousins Properties as president and CEO. He previously served as the company's president and chief operating officer, overseeing Cousins' leasing and asset management efforts as well as its development initiatives. Gellerstedt joined Cousins in 2005 following the acquisition of his firm, The Gellerstedt Group.

Gellerstedt began his career at Beers Construction Company in 1978 as an estimator and project manager. At age 26, he founded and became president of BCB Company, a Beers subsidiary focused on the healthcare industry. 

He has held positions as president and chief operating officer of the Integral Group, recognized nationally for its visionary urban mixed-use development, and as chairman and CEO of American Business Products, a NYSE-listed manufacturer of packaging and printed office products.

He has received numerous accolades including Ernst and Young's Entrepreneur of the Year, Atlanta Business League's CEO of the Year, Georgia Trend Magazine's Georgia's 100 Most Influential People and Georgia's Most Respected Business Leader.

Gellerstedt holds a bachelor's degree in history and psychology from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. He serves on the advisory council of SunTrust Bank's Atlanta division; is chairman of the Georgia Research Alliance and Jesse Parker Williams Foundation and serves as director of the Atlanta Committee for Progress and the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation. He has also served as chair of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, The Commerce Club, Fernbank Museum of Natural History, the Metro Atlanta Chamber, Metro Atlanta YMCA, Midtown Alliance and the Woodruff Arts Center.