On Leadership

Jean Douglas is Executive Director of the Women's Resource Center to End Domestic Violence, a nonprofit organization at which she's spent 30 years, first as a volunteer and then as an employee. It aims to create a world where domestic violence does not exist, through intervention, prevention, education and advocacy. Demand for the center's services is up. Calls to its hotline increased 35% from last year. It handles about 4,700 calls to the crisis line a year. Last year, it provided 2,200 people with legal advocacy services. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sarah Morrison had a 40-year-career working at the Shepherd Center before retiring as its president and CEO in September 2024. A catastrophic diving accident in college and the arduous path to recovery led her to the field of physical therapy and the Shepherd Center. She has seen the Atlanta-based rehabilitation hospital grow from 40 beds to 152. Last year, it launched its “Pursuing Possible” campaign which aims to raise $350 million for new buildings and upgrades to existing space to help patients recover from spinal cord injuries, brain injuries and other neurological illnesses.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grace C. Fricks founded Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs in her laundry room 24 years ago. What started off as a $50,000 loan fund to help small business owners in North Georgia, has become a force to help underserved entrepreneurs across the state of Georgia start and scale their businesses. Since 2000, ACE has loaned $200 million. It's served 2,600 businesses and created or retained 21,000 jobs.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Milton Jones has amassed a wealth of knowledge from his decades-long career in the banking sector. The Atlanta-native is considered a pioneer, having been the first African-American to hold the title of Georgia market president for Bank of America. He also forged a path in his civic involvement. He was elected chairman of the UNCF board, becoming the first African-American to hold that position. He co-founded the consulting firm Peachtree Providence Partners in 2014. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kirk Halpern launched Farmers & Fishermen Purveyors with his son Ben in 2019. While the business is only four years old, it seems the duo has hospitality in their DNA. Halpern's maternal grandfather and father were food purveyors. Now he's charting a path forward with the next generation of family and customers in mind. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Erica Qualls-Battey applied for a position at Marriott in 1993, she was just looking for a part-time job. More than 30 years later, she is Area General Manager for Marriott International's Atlanta market, overseeing the company's properties in the metro area. She is also GM at Atlanta's largest hotel—the Atlanta Marriott Marquis which has 1,663 rooms and more than 125,000 square feet of meeting space. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For Alex Urban, working as the Executive Director of the PGA TOUR Championship is nothing short of his dream job. The annual tournament takes place at the historic East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta where 30 of the PGA Tour's top golfers compete for the FedEx Cup. The Atlanta community also scores big from the event. Since 1998, the tournament has raised more than $54 million for nonprofits. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For the past four decades, Atlanta Habitat for Humanity has been building and improving single family homes in 100 neighborhoods across the metro area. Now, it's renovating its mission. Rosalyn Merrick, president and CEO of Atlanta Habitat for Humanity says her objective is to also build master planned communities with more than 100 homes. Its first development, Browns Mill Village, is set to be completed in 2025.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Patrick O'Carroll decided early in his career that public health, and its long-term, collaborative approach to problem solving, suited him. An epidemiologist by trade, he is president and CEO of the Task Force for Global Health, a $100 million nonprofit whose mission is to advance health equity by working with partners across the world to eliminate diseases, ensure access to medicines and strengthen health systems “so that people can achieve their full potential.”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As President and CEO of the YWCA of Greater Atlanta, Danita Knight is dedicated to the organization's mission: “Eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.” She's leading the nonprofit in a $19.5 million fundraising campaign to renovate the historic Phillis Wheatley YWCA to uplift women on Atlanta's westside. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As president and CEO of CHRIS 180, Kathy Colbenson has been on a mission, “to try to make the world a better place and help people to be their best selves.” That's been her North Star since she took the helm of the non-profit in 1987. Since then, CHRIS 180 has had many accomplishments including creating the first program in the state for youth aging out of foster care, and launching the first school-based mental health program. It provides trauma-informed counseling in more than 82 schools in metro Atlanta.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From policing to politics to protests, Jill Savitt has a unique ability to put current events in historical context. She is president and CEO of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, an organization that aims to inspire and empower people to change the world. This year marks its 10th anniversary, and the launch of a $56 million expansion project. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Adam Noyes leads Atlanta's largest catering company. He's CEO of Proof of the Pudding. It provides food services for a variety of venues from the Atlanta Botanical Garden to the University of Georgia's athletics stadiums, overseeing more than 20,000 events a year. And after 45 years in business, it is not slowing down. With Bruin Capital signing on last year as a majority investor, Noyes and his team are cooking up fresh ideas to help the business grow.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As Christine Whitaker sees it, she's at the center of “technology and innovation powering the global economy.” She is the president of Comcast's Central Division based in Atlanta. That division spans 12 states, has 21 million customers and about 17,000 employees. While it is massive, Whitaker says she aims to connect with the community through efforts to bridge the digital divide and support small businesses. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Milton Little Jr.'s mother told him as a child to “make sure you help people,” he had no idea how much those words would prove to illuminate his career path. As president and CEO of United Way of Greater Atlanta, Little leads one of the largest United Way chapters in the world. Its focus is helping residents reach their highest potential including the nearly 500,000 youth in metro Atlanta who have been found to have low or declining measures of well-being. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Jeff Call joined Bennett Thrasher in 2002, the company had about 50 employees. Today, that number has increased to 500 nationwide. Call is Managing Partner at the financial services firm. Bennett Thrasher reached a milestone in 2023 of $100 million in revenue. Call credits the company's taking a “people first” approach to its employees and clients as one reason for the growth. Another factor is the expansion of practice areas to stay ahead in the competitive market.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mentoring helped Helene Lollis move from developing plastics to people. For more than two decades, the former BP engineer has been president and CEO of Pathbuilders, a firm that uses mentorship to transform top female talent “to change people and companies everyday.” Since its founding in 1995, the company has helped to develop 6,000 women from hundreds of organizations including Fortune 500 firms.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From age 11, Jay Bailey knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur. Now as CEO of the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE), he leads the nation's largest hub for developing and scaling Black-owned businesses. Since launching in 2019, RICE has served more than 350 small business owners, which have driven $450 million in economic activity.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's not lost on Morgan Shaw Parker that Atlanta's WNBA franchise is named after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous “I Have a Dream" speech. When she joined the Atlanta Dream as its president and COO in 2021, she sought to incorporate Dr. King's values of respect, integrity, and diversity into the franchise. The Atlanta Dream's staff is the most diverse of all WNBA's teams. In 2023, the Atlanta Dream led the league with 12 sold-out games.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As president of Atlanta Technical College, Victoria Seals is on a mission—to connect students with industry in a way that leads to greater economic mobility. Now entering her eighth year as president, Seals is well on her way to achieving that goal. Its 2023 annual report shows ATC students have a 99% job placement rate, 79% find jobs in their field of study. The institution's economic impact on the region, $202 million. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jesslyn Rollins has a deep connection to the company she leads. Not only is she Biolye's CEO, Rollins' family started the business as a solution for her mother, who in 2016, was battling breast cancer, and needed medical-grade hydration to endure treatment and overcome the disease. Rollins began selling Biolyte beverages from the back of her car in 2017—generating six-figure revenue. At the time of this taping, Biolyte was on track for 2023 revenue to top $25 million.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Pam Shipley has spent more than 30 years in healthcare, and one thing she says she's learned, “It's all about the people.” As Georgia Regional President of Kaiser Permanente, Shipley oversees 700 physicians and more than 315,000 members across the 32-county metropolitan Atlanta area.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fay Twersky never sought a career in philanthropy. “I just wanted to do the work,” she said, and that she has, at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and in 2021 she became president and director of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. Since 1995 it has committed more than $1 billion to support positive change in mental health, democracy, environment, youth development and life on Atlanta's westside.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Former college football quarterback and NFL player Nate Hybl is using lessons learned on the gridiron to now grow his restaurant brand. Hybl is founder and CEO of Gusto, a healthy, fast-casual restaurant chain based in Atlanta. “Competition is fierce,” Hybl says, with competitors that include Sweetgreen and Cava. But the former pro athlete is proving a formidable opponent. Founded in 2014, Gusto has a dozen locations, and has seen 2020-2022 revenue increase by about 82%.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There are as many as 200 businesses in the metro Atlanta area that consider themselves advertising agencies. That's stiff competition for Bill Coontz, CEO of Dalton, a 34-year-old firm with three offices in Atlanta, Nashville, and Jacksonville, FL. Coontz says what sets Dalton apart is its focus on people—its clients and its 100 employees. This year, Dalton has increased its international business, and secured more Fortune 500 companies as clients.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alana Shepherd never planned to co-found one of the nation's top rehabilitation hospitals. But when her son sustained a spinal cord injury in 1973, Shepherd, her husband, son and an orthopedic surgery specialist, sprang into action. In 1975, Shepherd Center opened with six leased beds. Today, it has treated more than 35,000 patients who survived injuries to the brain or spinal cord, and other neurological disorders. It launched a $350 million campaign to fund new facilities and programs set to be completed by 2025.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jared Belsky is “living his dream job.” He is CEO and Co-founder of Acadia, an Atlanta-based digital marketing agency. He launched the company in 2021 with co-founder Sean Belnick, and hasn't looked back. Acadia serves mid-market companies including brands such as Red Roof Inn, Message Envy and Atlanta Mission. In the past two years, the company has seen its employee count grow from zero to more than 200.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gary Stokan is as competitive as they come, especially when trying to score sporting events for metro Atlanta. He is president and CEO of Peach Bowl, Inc., the nonprofit organization that owns and operates, among other things, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and Aflac Kickoff Game. He helped lure the College Football Hall of Fame to Atlanta in 2014. And is a champion for philanthropic causes. Since 2002, Peach Bowl, Inc. has committed $60.9 million to charity.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As CEO of The Carter Center, Paige Alexander is focused on “doing hard things in hard places.” With the backing of the organization's founders, President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter, Alexander leads a team of 3,300 who are working on the center's efforts of “waging peace, fighting disease and building hope,” in nearly 90 countries around the globe.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As president and CEO of the Atlanta Humane Society, Cal Morgan is focused on the organization's middle name, ensuring that the 150-year-old nonprofit is humane to employees, animals and members of the community. While it continues the work it's known for, such as pet adoptions, it's also increasingly collaborating with human services groups to ensure people have the food and resources they need to create a safe home for their furry family members.#See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Garrett Langley is out to change the world, one neighborhood at a time. He is the founder and CEO of Flock Safety, a fast-growing company that makes surveillance products to help law enforcement solve crimes. Its cameras and license plate readers are in 3,000 cities. Nationwide, about 7% of crimes that happen, will be solved because of Flock Safety, Langley said, at that pace the company will reach 10% by the end of 2023.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Paul Donahue is only the fifth CEO Genuine Parts Company has had in its 95-year history. The company owns NAPA Auto Parts and also distributes industrial parts to manufacturers. While he admits, it's not especially sexy, Genuine Parts Company also isn't stodgy. Donahue says its goal is to be the disruptor in the industry. It's one of the dominate players with 10,000 locations spanning 17 countries worldwide.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kevin Gillespie has come up with his own recipe for successful leadership. The award-winning chef and founder of Red Beard Restaurants aims for what he calls “honest leadership” where people follow him because they trust him and believe in the mission of the organization. Part of that mission is serving up a top-notch experience for diners. In 2023, his flagship restaurant Gunshow marked 10 years. He's working on a new restaurant set to open in 2024. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As president and CEO of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Kyle Waide's figurative plate is full. He oversees the distribution of nearly 100 million pounds of food each year across 29 counties in Georgia. While the organization is taking on food insecurity, Waide sees the food bank's role more broadly, as an organization that creates greater access to people in need so that food is one less barrier they must face. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Even prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Stephanie Nadi Olson saw a need in the marketplace for more flexibility for workers whose lifestyles required time to care for children or an aging family member. She said she felt compelled to act. And in 2018, she founded We Are Rosie which connects more than 25,000 freelancers, mostly in the marketing sector, with project-based work at more than 25 Fortune 500 brands. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As president and CEO of Graphic Packaging, Mike Doss believes in the circular economy. The company makes paperboard from trees for everything from fast food cups to cereal boxes. The goal is to recycle them many times over, then compost and restart the process. It's investing in innovation to support the mission, Doss says. By 2030, Graphic Packaging could be a $20 billion company. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lauren Koontz leads one of the oldest nonprofits in Atlanta. She is president and CEO of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta. The organization was founded in 1858, but Koontz calls it “a 165-year-old start up” because it has had to be resilient and able to adapt to the changing needs and demographics of the Atlanta communities it serves. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Armed with its inaugural, “State of Black Georgia” report, the Urban League of Greater Atlanta, under the leadership of its president and CEO Nancy Flake Johnson, aims to make the Peach State more equitable for people of color. It has identified the historical factors fueling modern day disparities, and ways to collaborate with community groups, lawmakers, and philanthropists to level the playing field for future generations.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For 30 years, Mit Shah has been buying and developing hotels across the country through his company, Noble Investment Group. While the COVID-19 pandemic created some unique challenges for the industry, it also produced opportunities. During the past two years, Noble has acquired $2 billion of assets—namely struggling hotels. Shah is optimistic about the future, as trends favor increasing consumer demand for leisure and business travel.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Egbert Perry has found a way to balance the profitability of commercial real estate with projects that have positive community impact. Since he founded The Integral Group in 1993, the Atlanta-based development firm has produced 10,000 units of multifamily housing with retail and office space. One of its most notable projects was the transformation of the Techwood Homes public housing project in Midtown Atlanta into the mixed-income Centennial Place community, which became a model for hundreds of public housing renovations nationwide. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As managing partner of Deloitte for Atlanta and Birmingham, Ed Heys leads one of the largest professional services firms in the region. When he joined the Atlanta office nearly 40 years ago, there were about 110 employees. Now he oversees more than 4,000, providing each with opportunities for career advancement and ways to give back to the community.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.