Jamaican transplant Ingrid Smith runs financial reports, track

Mississippi Power’s Ingrid Smith experienced a big year in 2009.

That was the year she left her home in Kingston, Jamaica, and moved to the United States.

“I originally came to the U.S. for a job opportunity,” said Smith. “However, that fell through and I went to work for Mitchell Marine in D’Iberville. I worked there for four years as the office manager, and then I spent a year working for a CPA firm before joining Mississippi Power in November of 2015.”

Smith received her bachelor and master’s degrees in accounting from the University of the West Indies. In 2014, she earned her MBA from the University of Southern Mississippi.

As an accountant, Smith’s main duties involve completing financial reports for the SEC and FERC, as well as for Southern Company.

For a while she was busy off the job, studying to become a naturalized citizen.

“That was a long and expensive process,” said Smith. “It took three years, but my 17-year old son and I are now both naturalized citizens. My sister went through the process as well and my mother is working on becoming naturalized now. My one-year old son is a natural born citizen.”

Smith was part of the virtual choir that sang the national anthem before the start of this year’s annual stockholder’s meeting.

“That was an interesting experience,” said Smith. “Although I did not know all the words of the national anthem, I did my best to sing using the printout given by the choir director, hoping that my constant peeking at the paper wouldn’t ruin my chances for participation.”

Growing up in Jamaica, where track and field is extremely popular, it was only natural that she would take part in the sport. Smith ran the 200 meters while in school and even for an employer.

‘In Jamaica, track and field is very big and I am an ardent fan,” she said. “Many of the businesses have teams that compete and I was on the team for my employer before I came here. I even won some races.

“I’m looking forward to the Olympic Games in Rio this year. There has always been heavy competition between the Jamaican and the U.S. track and field teams, and I’ll be pulling for the Jamaican teams,” Smith said.

“I love being in the United States and working for Mississippi Power, but there are many things I miss about Jamaica – such as the lovely white sand beaches and its mouthwatering cuisine,” Smith said. “But most of all, I miss the sound of the reggae beat pulsating in every nook and cranny of the island.”