Atlanta's Top 25 Power Women To Watch

Atlanta Woman presents our inaugural list of the women most likely to make an important mark on the cultural, economic and social face of our city in the coming years.

by Echo Montgomery Garrett

November 6, 2008

Atlanta Woman presents our inaugural list of the next wave of power women. Watch them in the years to come as they make their mark on our city's cultural, economic and social fronts.

Listen closely to the speakers at any women's event, and the word is bound to come up: power. Indeed, encouraging women to rise up and find the power of their voices is a popular speech theme with Georgia's most powerful woman: Secretary of State Cathy Cox.

Although some women are uncomfortable with the word "power" - especially when it's used in the same sentence with their name - the women on our list readily embrace the idea of being influencers and agents for affecting positive change. Rosalind G. Brewer (#5) says: "Power isn't teachable. Leadership skills are." These 25 exceptional women have both.

We contacted our distinguished advisory board, women's groups and the city's most influential women for nominations of the new faces of power. We did not put an age limit on nominees, because we support the fact that women sometimes make breakthroughs later in life. Our editorial board made the final selections from hundreds of nominations received.

By virtue of a new position, new responsibilities or new opportunities, the women who made our 2005 list (in alphabetical order) of up-and-coming power women are improving the communities that comprise Metro Atlanta in important ways.

Says newcomer to Atlanta Penny McPhee (#20): "I have really been struck by the sheer number of interesting, influential, and powerful women in Atlanta. More than any other city I've been in, Atlanta's female leadership is notable. "

Lisa Cremin
Director, Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund
Age 47; married, 2 children

For 12 years Cremin has built an outstanding support system for the arts - an endowed fund that is a partnership between The Community Foundation and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce - which stabilizes small and mid- sized arts organizations across the 23-county metro area. Recently appointed by Mayor Shirley Franklin to the City of Atlanta Public Art Advisory Committee, shaping urban landscape by developing plans and implementing public art policies. Also a board member of Grantmakers in the Arts, the leading national organization of foundations supporting the arts.

Kim Scheibe Greene
Senior VP of Finance and Treasurer, Southern Company
Age 38; married, 2 children

On the fast track, Greene assumed her current roles in July 2003 and oversees a 100-person staff at the $10 billion-in-revenues company. She has taken four divisions that "traditionally operated independently - although they are related - and brought them together as one team to improve our final product." Holding a Master's degree in biomedical engineering,

Greene joined Southern Company in 1991, designing equipment for power plants and quickly ascended. A temporary assignment in Atlanta assisting the CFO of a subsidiary led to her career shift.

Helen Hatch
Architect/Principal/VP Client Relations, Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback and Associates
Age 61; married, 1 adult child

Hatch was just elected to a three-year term on the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Board of Trustees. ULI, a non-profit research and education organization, is dedicated to improving urban growth patterns through efficient land use. Hatch is one of 23 land use professionals appointed from throughout the United States and Europe. Recognized worldwide as an expert on livable communities, in January 2004, Hatch was chosen by Mayor Shirley Franklin as Chair of The Mayor's Walkable Atlanta Task Force. Among Hatch's many projects is the Georgia World Congress Center.

Kathy P. Henson
Chief Executive Officer, Avail Workforce Management Solutions
Age 48; single

Dekalb County entrepreneur Henson, who has 27 full-time employees, just landed a $70 million contract from BellSouth and received the Georgia Women's Business Council's Trailblazer Award and the Chairperson's Award. This Native American powerhouse, tapped by BellSouth as a participant in its vendor-mentoring program, has three more contracts pending with major public companies at presstime. The only daughter of a single mom, Henson lived in a housing authority until age 4 and now works with the Atlanta Housing Authority to assist residents in obtaining employment.

Mara Holley
Sr. VP/Reg. Dir. of the Gov't. and Institutional Banking Division, Wachovia Bank
Age 43; married

Holley leads a team of experienced bankers in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi who provide customized financial solutions for state and local governments, educational and non-profit organizations. She is on the Facilities Advisory Committee of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, as well as the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, Georgia Municipal Association and Georgia Government Finance Officers Association. She is past president of the League of Women Voters of Atlanta-Fulton County; currently on the boards and executive committees of HEAT Inc., and YWCA of Greater Atlanta.

Patricia Janiot
Senior Anchor, CNN en Español
Age 41; married, 2 children

In the wake of 9/11, Janiot founded Colombianitos, a non-profit organization with four ongoing programs dedicated to children affected by war in Colombia. Besides anchoring CNN en Español, Janiot, a native of Colombia, appears on three other Spanish language programs for CNN and serves as an advisor to the network's senior vice president. She has won numerous awards for her reporting including Emmys, was named one of the top 100 most influential Spanish language journalists/ executives in the United States, and won a 2003 Spanish-language Television Industry Award for "Best Female News Personality."

Julia Hunter Jones
VP and Administrator, DeKalb Medical Ctr. at Hillandale
Age 42; married, 2 children

As DeKalb Medical Center Vice President and only the second African-American woman to serve in that role in the state, Jones directed strategic planning for the new $65 million Hillandale hospital, slated to open this summer as the first full-service hospital in fast-growing south DeKalb County and the first new hospital in 10 years to be approved by the state. Jones also oversees DeKalb Medical Center's 525-bed central hospital and the 102-bed DeKalb Medical Center at Decatur.

Pamela A. Joseph
Chairman, President and CEO, NOVA Information Systems Inc.
Age 45; married, 3 children

Joseph just added "chairman and CEO" to her title as president of this wholly-owned subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp and the nation's third largest payment processor. She now reports directly to the president of the bank holding company with $193 billion in assets and is a member of U.S. Bancorp's 10-member managing committee. Now she's responsible for managing consumer and commercial banking, corporate banking, private client, trust and asset management. Joseph raises funds for Families First, an organization that provides shelter and food for abandoned teens.

Kristin R. Kirkconnell
Chief Information Officer, AGL Resources
Age 43; single, 1 child

Kirkconnell, who oversees more than 200 employees, plays a key role in leading AGL Resources' (AGLR) ever-growing technology needs. Kirkconnell, who assumed her current position in July 2001, manages all infrastructure, including voice and data networks, systems administration, hardware, applications and the implementation of new technology for the publicly-held company, which just completed a $700 million acquisition. She serves as vice-chair of the Georgia CIO Leadership Council and she spearheaded United Way's technology initiative.

Ella Koscik
Chief Executive Officer/Owner, Management Decisions Inc.
Age 40; married, 3 children

In just 10 years, this charismatic entrepreneur has built her IT services and medical staffing firm to $50 million and expects sales in 2005 to exceed $68 million. Koscik, who works with her husband Joe, expanded into IT services from IT staffing - a move that resulted in a contribution of 25% of 2004 revenues. She's currently adding financial services placement. Koscik, who has three young children and works a condensed workweek, emphasizes work/life balance with her 75 staffers and 450 consultants. The company has offices in the Carolinas, Alabama and Phoenix.

Allegra J. Lawrence
Partner, Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP
Age 33; single

An exceptional track record as a leader in law practice, political involvement and community service, Lawrence is an Immediate Past President of the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys (GABWA). During her term, she chose the theme, "leading by example in public service." Board of Governors for the State Bar of Georgia, Board of Directors for the Justice Center for Atlanta, Chair on Sutherland's Diversity Committee and pro bono counsel for the Atlanta Women's Foundation. She was recently appointed a member of the Mayor's Commission on the Living Wage and a board member of The Atlanta Legal Diversity Consortium.

Martha McGill
Chief Operating Officer, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Age 41; married, 2 children

Heir apparent to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's CEO, McGill oversees the 235-bed, acute care hospital's $400 million budget and its 1,800 employees. She's also the liaison with the 1,200 member medical staff and is responsible for five satellite Immediate Care Facilities. The cardiac program is ranked fourth in nation by Child magazine. She implemented an electronic documentation system for emergency services and developed/implemented a business plan for an outpatient psychiatric clinic. She is executive director on the board of directors for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) and chairperson for the Atlanta's Great Strides Walk, the CFF's largest fundraiser.

Penelope McPhee
President, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
Age 57; married, 1 child

With the Foundation less than a year, McPhee will lead the implementation of the new strategic plan for one of our city's pre-eminent philanthropic brands. She's poised to guide the Foundation and its 2004 $100 million plus pledge in the next five years toward its new stronger focus on Atlanta - in particular, issues related to green space, the arts, early childhood and education. The multi-talented McPhee formerly guided a $1.8 billion foundation in Miami and worked as a television producer, racking up five Emmys.

Rhonda Mims
President, ING Foundation, VP and Counsel,ING
Age 37; engaged

Mims wears multiple hats at ING with ease. She is currently charged with the responsibility of developing a nationwide community relations strategy focusing on financial literacy and education as well as an Atlanta presence for senior executives. Mims especially enjoys serving as Foundation President because it allows her to "help kids in urban communities learn about personal finance basics." She is on boards for Junior Achievement of Georgia, Operation Hope, and YWCA of Georgia. Prior to ING, she served as civil litigation attorney with the U.S. Dept. of Justice.

Pam Sessions
President/Co-Owner, Hedgewood Properties Inc.
Age 47; married, 2 childrren

Sessions, who co-owns Hedgewood Properties with her husband, has been drawing national attention for her devotion to building environmentally friendly houses. An early adopter of voluntary green building programs, Sessions has become a pioneer in building healthy, comfortable homes that reduce utility bills. She was the first builder to commit to building all her company's homes to the "EarthCraft" standard. Her 65-employee Hedgewood Properties was chosen 2003 Builder of the Year by Professional Builder Magazine due to its market leadership in design, energy efficiency and green building.

Joanne Smith
Acting President/VP of Marketing and Customers, Song
Age 46; married, 2 children

A key player in the vision, launch and continued success of Song, Delta's low cost airline, Smith specifically sought to win over women travelers (who make 85% of travel arrangements) to the concept. In just 18 months of operation, Song has already received prestigious brand and consumer recognitions. Smith introduced gourmet, organic and healthful food offerings and enlisted fashion maven Kate Spade to design employees' uniforms. Under Smith's guidance, Song is adding 12 planes this year, along with additional destinations and service.

Dr. Josephine K. Tan
Corporate Relations Program Manager, Georgia Power
Age NA; married, 1 child

Dr. Tan is chair of the newly established Asian- American Commission for A New Georgia, which recently conducted a town hall meeting in the Asian-Indian community and collected good data on issues, concerns and needs. The founding president of the Asian-American Chamber of Commerce of Georgia, which created the first unified effort in the Asian-American business community. Dr. Tan was also a business partner for the Census 2000 project and initiated the first Asian-American Summit in Atlanta, which served as a role model for the nation.

Sally Weaver
Chief Executive Officer, Atlanta Women's Foundation
Age 57; married, 6 children

Weaver is the newly named CEO of the Atlanta Women's Foundation, the only public foundation in Georgia that focuses on the unmet needs of women and girls. Weaver asserts that she's "spent her whole life preparing to do this work." Formerly a partner in a large firm and a law professor, Weaver has long concentrated on critical issues facing women and girls: domestic violence and sexual abuse, poverty, and lack of access to adequate healthcare. She is devoted to getting women and children to be a priority when "policies change funding and governmental priorities."

Stacey Y. Abrams
Deputy City Attorney for Government Counsel, Development and Infrastructure,City of Atlanta
Age 31; single

Tapped by Mayor Franklin as part of the quintet of powerful women at City Hall - Metro Atlanta is the only major city in the U.S. being led by a group of women - Abrams ably navigates legal issues for the city, the Mayor and the City Council. On Board of Directors for Hands on Atlanta Inc.; Vice President; the Board of Trustees for the Atlanta Girls School; co-chair of Women's Initiative Next Generation, a United Way program to develop young women as philanthropists.

Cheryl M. Barre
President of Women's and Outdoors Div., Russell Corporation
Age 47; married, 3 children

Master multi-tasker in charge of a division created in 2003 to focus on growth opportunities with female athletes and fitness enthusiasts, Barre manages three different brands and works closely with a female design team. Barre, who has an M.B.A., is devoted to promoting health and fitness for girls and women via the Girls Summit, GoGirlGo!, and as a major sponsor of the Women's Sports Foundation. A board member of PE4life, The Walker School, Pinnacle Orthopaedics Research Institute and immediate past chair of Girls Inc. of Atlanta.

Denise L. Billups
Director of Worldwide Teleweb Sales, IBM Software Group
Age 51; married, 2 children

Leading the worldwide software sales team -more than 1,200 salespeople with $2 billion as their collective sales goal - since July 2004. Made unconventional career choices and lateral moves to achieve her goal of being an IBM sales exec. Recently resigned from some boards due to a breast cancer battle, but remains strong leader in IBM's Black Diversity Network Group; Possible Woman Foundation International; and president-elect of Cool Girls Inc., dedicated to the development of girls from 3rd to 8th grade. Just chaired IBM's Atlanta charitable contribution campaign for a second time.

Lisa M. Borders
Atlanta City Council President/Sr. VP Cousins Properties Inc.
Age 47; son, age 22

Elected on Aug. 10, 2004, as Atlanta City Council President, Borders lives by the mantra: clean water, clean neighborhoods and clean government. Eloquent and a clear thinker, she is already becoming known for consensus building in her new role. Worked closely with the Mayor to roll back the water rates. She is focused on improved housing, healthcare and education. Trustee at the Westminster Schools, a board member at Clark Atlanta University, and a director of Saint Joseph's Healthcare System. And she's still handling business development, marketing, communications and
community reinvestment for Cousins Properties.

Rosalind G. Brewer
President, Global Nonwovens, Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Age 42; married, 2 children

Leads 2,000 employees - mostly chemical engineers - in a $1 billion technology, manufacturing and supply chain division of Kimberly- Clark. Current president of the influential Board of Directors Network (BDN), which works to get more women on corporate boards and senior positions within corporations. Known for her mentoring skills, Brewer, who started her career as a chemist, always has four women she's developing: two internal from the Women's Interactive Network and from the African-American Employees Network; the other two chosen from contacts in BDN and the Georgia 100.

Lisa A. Compton
VP Operations/Southeast Region, Starbucks Coffee Company
Age 44; married, 3 children

One of only two women who hold the VP Operations title, Compton oversees operations for 350 plus stores, adding five to 12 stores a month. Consistently surpassing expected sales budgets, she also achieved the company's highest snapshot and legendary scores, a measurement of service and customer interaction. In 2004 Compton boosted internal promotions by 40% and her fast-growing region's employee retention rate. As a board member of Imagine It Children's Museum, Compton assists in its marketing efforts and growth.

Carol A. Couch, Ph.D.
Environmental Protection Div. Director, GA Dept. of Natural Rresources
Age 47; single

Appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue, Couch is the first woman to lead Georgia's Environmental Protection Division's (EPD) in its 32-year history. She oversees an 800-person agency that implements and enforces 26 state and four federal laws to protect and conserve Georgia's natural resources. Prior to joining the EPD, Couch, who has her Ph.D. in ecology from the University of Georgia and a Master's degree from the University of South Carolina, led teams of engineers, hydrologists, chemists and biologists in the design, conduct and reporting of ecological
components of water resource investigations .