Dr. Mark S. Berry, P.E.
Board Candidate for Region 4 Director (AL, FL, GA, MS, PR, VI)
Dr. Mark S. Berry, P.E., is currently vice president of research and development for Southern Company Services. Named to the position in August 2019, Berry is responsible for developing low- and no-carbon generation technologies, advancing distributed energy solutions, modernizing the grid, promoting a culture of sustainability and developing new business models.
Berry also serves as vice president of environmental and natural resources for Georgia Power. Returning to Southern Company in August 2015, Berry is responsible for maximizing the value from Georgia Power-owned natural resources, acquiring real estate to support company operations and managing the company’s environmental compliance and stewardship programs to meet or surpass all environmental laws and regulations.
Berry returned to Southern Company after serving as director in the generation sector at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), where he managed research and development efforts in renewables, water management, carbon capture and storage, and advanced fossil generation. Prior to EPRI, he served as director of energy and environment at Southern Research.
Before departing, Berry worked 17 years in various capacities of increasing responsibility at Southern Company. He served as manager of environmental assessment for Southern Company’s research and environmental affairs organization, where he managed the company’s regulatory response to federal rule-making activity and the environmental science research program. He also served as director of research and technology management, managing a portfolio of research related to emission controls, energy efficiency, renewables, power delivery, central station generation and carbon capture, utilization and storage.
Prior to joining Southern Company, Berry attained the commissioned rank of lieutenant commander in the United States Navy as a surface warfare officer. While on active duty, he served upon the USS Gunston Hall (LSD-44) in the capacities of deck officer and combat information center officer. After joining the reserves, he served as an engineering officer supporting the USS Sentry (MCM-3) and as an intelligence officer supporting the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA HQ).
Berry holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Alabama A&M University, and a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering and Ph.D. in interdisciplinary engineering from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He also earned a master’s degree in public and private management from Birmingham-Southern College and is a registered professional engineer. He is a graduate of Leadership Atlanta.
Berry is vice chair of the Research Advisory Council at EPRI. He is an advisory board member of the Strategic Energy Institute at the Georgia Institute of Technology and the School of Engineering at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Berry is a governing board member of the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District and serves on the boards of the Georgia Conservancy, Georgia Wildlife Federation, Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership, WellStar Health Systems, and Fernbank Museum of Natural History. He serves on the advisory boards of the Georgia Chapter of Trust for Public Land, Georgia Audubon Society and is a former board member of the Youth Motivation Task Force at Alabama A&M University. Berry is a member of 100 Black Men of Atlanta where he serves on the program committee. Additionally, he serves as executive champion of the Georgia Power AMIGOS employee resource group, which assists in the recruiting, retention and development of Hispanic/Latino employees. In 2022, Berry was inducted into the State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame.
Berry is an active, lifetime member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. He has established two scholarships for minority students pursuing a degree in engineering in the name of his grandfathers – an endowed scholarship in the name of Marion Luscious Nell at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the Simpson Berry Sr. Endowed Scholarship at Alabama A&M University.
Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Berry and his wife, Crystal, have four children.