The energy won’t be measured in kilowatts, but enthusiasm when Kelley Balkcom, the metro north region executive at Georgia Power Company, delivers the keynote address during Georgia Gwinnett College’s (GGC) Spring 2026 commencement ceremony.
GGC’s commencement ceremony is Friday, May 15 with ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the Convocation Center on campus.
“I’m honored to be part of this milestone celebration and look forward to recognizing the perseverance and promise of this exceptional group of graduates,” she said.
Balkcom manages external affairs for the Gwinnett, DeKalb, North Fulton and Forsyth areas. Prior to her current role, Balkcom led the company’s Regulatory Affairs team, where she developed and implemented regulatory strategies and built relationships with key external stakeholders influencing Georgia’s energy policy decisions.
Her career began at Georgia Power Company in 2003 in Sales. In addition to her various marketing and sales, Balkcom worked in Customer Service Operations Financial Support as a financial comptroller supporting statewide operations.
Over the years, she has led teams delivering technical analyses, customer service, sales and energy efficiency support to residential and business customers statewide. Prior to joining Regulatory Affairs, Balkcom supported the executive vice president of External Affairs and Nuclear Development, driving cross-functional alignment to achieve organizational goals.
Born and raised in Gwinnett, Balkcom graduated from Parkview High School in 1999 and earned a B.B.A. in finance from the University of Georgia in 2003. She received her M.B.A. from Mercer University in 2009. She participated in the inaugural Georgia Chamber High Potentials program in 2018 and was a member of Leadership Georgia’s Class of 2020-2021.
Balkcom currently serves on several community leadership boards including Georgia Gwinnett College Foundation’s Board of Trustees, the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Public Policy Advisory Committee, Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Gwinnett Technical College Foundation’s Board of Trustees and the Gwinnett County Public School Foundation Board. She is also a member of the Atlanta Women’s Foundation’s 2025 Inspire Class.