adreene allen- she runs the show

General Manager, Holiday Inn Select Atlanta Airport 

Adreene Allen is the general manager of the Holiday Inn Select Atlanta Airport. For four and a half years, she has been the driving force behind one of the city’s busiest hotels.

“As I was coming up in my professional life, I didn’t have role models that really looked like me,” she says. “I had a lot of people who discouraged me and said that I couldn’t be a general manager.”

Allen continued to believe in herself largely with the support of her grandmother. She encourages women to take responsibility for themselves and their community. “Sisterhood to me means a bonding together, celebrating the successes and helping each other climb and achieve whatever the goal is,” she says. –gavin p. godfrey

Justine boyd- from sister to sister

CEO, YWCA  

With community service already deeply rooted from her upbringing in the small town of Lincolnton, Ga., Justine Boyd’s responsibilities as CEO of the YWCA are akin to many of the values that her mother and father vigorously promoted in her childhood.

In charge of guiding 60 employees with the programming and strategic direction of the organization, Boyd has been the mastermind behind many of the programs tailored to empower both women and young girls.

“I think ‘sisterhood’ is an action word. It really means to connect to your sisters, all women, and all girls no matter how diverse you might be … to understand their plight, and their trials and tribulations, and to help them overcome those in any ways that you possibly can,” explains Boyd. –jason thompson

sheila bronner- balancing the scale

Editor in Chief, Upscale Magazine 

For 19 years, Upscale magazine has been the voice of African American culture. As the editor in chief, Sheila Bronner has toiled to ensure that voice is heard. She provides Upscale’s reading audience with what they want: the hottest celebrity interviews and up-to-date information on issues affecting the community. Bronner credits her energy and commitment to Upscale, to the people who influence her life.

“I have many role models. It’s all about pulling the best from everyone around me, my family, spiritual leaders, successful businessmen and women,” says Bronner. “Whether it’s learning how to raise my kids, be a good wife, strengthening my morals and values or running a successful business, I seek to draw from people that have traveled the road that I am on.” –adrienne gadling

monica coleman- stepping out on faith

Experiential Marketing Specialist, General Motors  

To the casual observer, Monica Coleman had a great life. She received her political science degree from Hampton University and started her career at the legendary Apollo Theater. But Coleman decided one day that she would move to Atlanta, uncertain of how she would support herself financially. Today, Coleman is the experiential marketing specialist and publicist for General Motors. Her company, General Motors R Works, promotes events exclusively for General Motors.

“It’s my greatest accomplishment, just because there were so many people asking me how I was going to make it,” says Coleman. “Being able to relocate to Atlanta from New York with no job and nowhere to live, and then finding a job and [excelling] here, is a blessing. –adrienne gadling

eunice elliott- persistent girls finish first

Co-Owner, Tradewinds 

Eunice Elliott does not accept no for an answer. She views obstacles as merely temporary bumps on her journey to success. So, when Elliott noticed an underserved market in the world of sports, she created a winning game plan and put her athlete relocation company, Tradewinds in motion.

“We work with professional athletes in all sports,” explains Elliott. “When they get traded, become free agents, or are just on off-season moves, we do everything from household moves to enclosed car shipping … we cater to the unique lives of athletes and coaches.”

Elliott emphasizes maintaining a pristine reputation and doing things right the first time. “My goal is to be able to cover all bases in my niche and build a firm that’s a one-stop-shop,” declares Elliott. –adam jones

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