Charleston, W.Va., March 21, 2012 – Appalachian Power is reenergizing its economic development effort to create jobs and attract business. John Smolak, who previously spent 18 years working in economic development for the company, rejoined Appalachian as economic development director. Smolak is based in Roanoke, but oversees economic development efforts across company’s the three-state service territory.

“John has worked in Virginia and West Virginia and has a proven record of bringing jobs to our region,” said Mark Dempsey, Appalachian Power external affairs vice president. “As the economy begins to improve, it is more important than ever for Appalachian Power to be involved in attracting new businesses and helping existing businesses expand in our communities.”

Since 2005 Smolak has been president and CEO of Franklin Southampton Economic Development, Inc., serving Franklin and Southampton County, Va. Prior to that, he was employed by American Electric Power for 18 years, most recently as manager of economic development for AEP’s Kentucky and West Virginia service areas, and also held key economic development marketing positions at AEP’s corporate headquarters in Columbus, Ohio.

Appalachian Power has almost 1 million customers in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee (as AEP Appalachian Power). It is a unit of American Electric Power, one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, which delivers electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. AEP ranks among the nation’s largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, a nearly 39,000-mile network that includes more 765 kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. 

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