nicole garner- a movement by herself

President and CEO, The Garner Circle

From star-studded boutique openings to glitzy black tie galas, Nicole Garner has been the force behind some of Atlanta’s most exclusive events. Although she’s mostly known for her ability to fill a room with the city’s trendiest sets, Garner initially got her Jimmy Choos wet when she took on one of her most ambitious projects - the Congressional Black Caucus.

“I was still fairly new,” explains the publicist and CEO of The Garner Circle. “There were a lot of officials and high dignitaries there. Once I knew I could handle something of that magnitude. I thought, ‘OK, I’m going after every contract now!’ ”

Garner is currently working with Grady Memorial Hospital on its ‘I Am Atlanta’ campaign to bring attention to the hospital’s financial crisis. –adam jones

gail hudson- brand innovator

CEO, My Favorite Inc. & Sweeteen Inc.

Brunswick-born Gail Hudson, can see trends. While the cosmetic world worried about a maturing target market, Hudson filled the void by introducing My Favorite and Sweeteen beauty products in March 2008.

“With males and females there is a gap in that market as far as the teens,” she says. “That market is completely open … I’m tapping into.”

Hudson’s client roster includes names like Mary J. Blige, Beyoncé and Monica. Although she’s a MIZANI Icon Award recipient for humanitarianism in the beauty industry, she says she is proudest of the fact that her children have grown into proud adults. “One of the greatest accomplishments I’ve made is being a single parent, just focusing, trying to lead and guide [my children] in the right direction and I’m happy,” she says. –gavin p. godfrey

kim harris johnson- piloting success

General Manager of In-flight Field Support, Delta Air Lines

The daughter of educators, Kim Harris Johnson grew up believing education is power. Johnson’s parents asked without hesitation at her graduation ceremony from Georgia Tech, “So, when are you getting your master’s?” Not long after, she enrolled at Emory University.

“Getting my MBA a few years ago was a positive experience that gave me increased knowledge as well as increased confidence to compete in the corporate arena,” explains Johnson.

Johnson is general manager of in-flight field support for Delta and is responsible for programs and policies for a flight attendant force of over 12,000 employees.

This organized mother of four says, “My husband is a really great supporter of me and my career goals and objectives … for women, it’s so important to have a strong support system.” –adam jones

marla jones- in charge

Senior VP & GM, Matlock Advertising and Public Relations

Fifteen years of working in multicultural marketing prompted Marla Jones to transition from the client-side of the business to the agency-side when she joined Matlock Advertising & Public Relations, as senior vice president and general manager.

The Memphis-born executive is responsible for the overall profitability of the company and maintaining relationships with corporate giants like Chase, BMW and Dell. “I’ve been able to manage the agency from a holistic business standpoint by understanding both the agency and the client perspective,” she says proudly.

Jones enjoys working in a role traditionally held by men, but says there’s no progress to be made by competition between the sexes. “I think it’s more important to have communication,” says the Kentucky State University graduate.
–gavin p. godfrey

rosemary jones- supply and demand

Director of Supplier Diversity, Turner Broadcasting System

Turner Broadcasting System, which revolutionized the way the world viewed the news when it launched CNN, has been at the forefront of the global news community for close to 30 years. As the director of Turner’s supplier diversity program, Rosemary Jones has helped bring in more minority vendors and diverse suppliers, and in turn, has bolstered the company’s standing in the marketplace by building long-term relationships.

“I think building the brand is all about knowing your customer and listening to what your customer is saying they want. We’re constantly interacting through surveys or multicultural markets, and we’re really reciprocating to the point that if you have anything to say, we [are going to] make sure that we abide by your wishes,” explains Jones. –jason thompson

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