2nd Annual 25 Most Influential Women in Atlanta

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