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N B a F. o r g Photos [left to right]: Evern Cooper Epps, Millie Smith, Jack Sawyer and Vicki Palmer; Louise Sams, Honorary Co-Chair, Stephen and Arnika Dawkins, Event Chairs, Rebecca Jones, Honorary Co-Chair, Mark Fillion, Title Sponsor-Neiman Marcus, Lolita B. Jackson, NBAF Board Chair, and Grace C. Stanislaus, NBAF Executive Director; Louise Sams, Honorary Co-Chair, Mark Fillion, Title Sponsor-Neiman Marcus, and Rebecca Jones, Honorary Co-Chair.
Features 25 44 50 52 68
The Women of Coca-Cola
The view from the very top of the global corporate juggernaut.
Heart of the Matter
Life-saving and quality of lifepreserving tips for heart health.
Midwest Swing
Getaway to the Palmer House Hilton, Chicago.
Executive Decisions
2016 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide
New Year, New Resolutions Make them. Keep them.
Frank Geary sculpture, Chicago WWW.ATLANTATRIBUNE.COM
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POWER
current
13
9 What You’re Saying
13 What You Should Know Now
Rodney Sampson has joined Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine’s Board of Advisors
14 People 17 Higher Learning
Charter Schools to the Rescue?
affairs 19 Attorney’s Corner
Attorney Gilles Walters — A “New Breed” Lawyer, Indeed
By Brian D. Poe, Esq.
22 Legal Smarts
“Ban The Box” — Coming Soon To An Employment Application Near You
By Thomas A. Cox, Jr.
23 Tax Smarts
25
myRA Now Available for Eligible Workers
By Steve Julal
tech suite 46 Technology for Business
Marketing Automation Reaches Its Tipping Point for Small Business
By Brent Leary
commentary 11
A View from the Top
By Katrice L. Mines
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Visit us online at www.atlantatribune.com for a preview of our new online edition of the magazine!
Also don’t forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @AtlantaTribune. 6
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LEISURE 50 Getaway To
63 To Do February Happenings
52 Gift Guide
64 TechByte
Palmer House Hilton, Chicago It’s Valentine’s Day
54 Weekender
Wheels Up
55 The LookOut
Spring ... On My Radar
57 FastLane
Blissbehavin’ in Rome, Italy
Tellspec: The Food Science Advisor
65 Tip Sheet
7 Small Hacks to Flex Your Compensation
67 For the Love of Food
2015 MINI John Cooper Works Hardtop: Maximum Fun
60 Travel
On a Sweet Note: Citrus Pound Cake
68 One More Thing
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How to Keep Your New Year’s Resolution in 5 Steps
Contributors
Dawn M. Richards is the founder of the food and lifestyle brand, D.M.R. Fine Foods. With her food passion leading the way, Dawn shares recipes, travel stories, fashion, entertainment and lifestyle features on dmrfinefoods.blogspot.com and other media outlets, while maintaining a career as a FORTUNE 500 legal executive.
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Veteran automotive journalist Brian Armstead writes FastLane for Atlanta Tribune, bringing readers the best of what's new from the auto industry. Got a car question? Email him at
[email protected].
50 Alex Jones is a corporate/editorial photographer and has photographed some of Atlanta’s business elite for Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine, BLACK ENTERPRISE, and many corporate publications and websites. His work can be seen around town in publications, as well on the walls of the newly renovated SCLC Women’s Headquarters on Auburn Avenue. See his work online at www.businessphotographyatlanta.com.
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Contact Us! WWW.ATLANTATRIBUNE.COM
February 2016 Vol. 29, No. 10
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Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine PUBLISHER
Pat Lottier –
[email protected]
EDITOR
Katrice L. Mines –
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Associate Editor
Kamille D. Whittaker –
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ART DESIGN
875 Old Roswell Road, Suite C-100 Roswell, GA 30076 (O) 770.587.0501 • (F) 770.642.6501
E-Magazine - Atlanta Tribune is now available in full online! Get all of what you love in print at your fingertips on your computer, tablet and mobile device at www.atlantatribune.com. Feedback - We welcome your comments on our publication and on the events that affect Black Atlanta. E-mail your letters to
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[email protected]. Visit us on the Web - Sign on to the Atlanta Tribune Internet edition at www.atlantatribune.com. You’ll also find information online that you won’t find in Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine.
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Christopher A. Jarrett, OrthoAtlanta physician, and LeVon E. Wilson, J.D., Ed.D, Clark Atlanta University were incorrectly identified in the Dec. 2015/Jan. 2016 issue, page 14.
Good Afternoon Atlanta Tribune: It was such an honor to be recognized. Thank you so much for a sensational Hall of Fame event. I too look forward to our continued partnership. May you enjoy the best of the holiday season. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Wendy Williams General Manager WCLK
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DOING BUSINESS WITH ATLANTA SPORTS TEAMS & FACILITIES The Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine will co-host:
Supplier Diversity Forum, Expo & Reception February 17, 2016 • 755 Club at Turner Field • 3 pm - 7 pm How To Do Business With Atlanta Sports Teams & Facilities Come hear a great panel discussion on new construction projects and vendor opportunities from diversity professionals at a few of Atlanta’s major sports organizations.
Minority business owners will also have the opportunity to not only meet with decision makers within the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Hawks organizations, but with the firms that have secured contracts for the new construction of SunTrust Park as well. Please check www.AtlantaTribune.com for a complete listing of which industries are in immediate demand for contracts. Pre-register to Attend at http://16-htdbwtb.eventbrite.com. PLEASE, NO PHONE CALLS.
THE EDITOR’S VIEW
A VIEW FROM THE TOP
I
t’s not every day that you walk into an issue photo shoot and it is filled with black senior executive women who all work within the same corporation. Well, to be frank, it’s never happened in the nearly 10 years that I’ve been a member of the editorial staff of Atlanta Tribune. My associate editor overheard a passerby ask what was going on in the area of The Coca-Cola Company headquarters where our team was assembling the group for this historic feature package. Someone replied: it must be a sorority gathering. Almost, but not quite; though they are a group of women associated for a common purpose. That part was accurate. The women of Coca-Cola – 17 game changers – came to their paths of success from varied directions. They have wide-ranging philosophies about their impacts on the world around them, and getting the most out of their lives and careers. But, they all have two things in common: an understanding that they didn’t get to where they are alone and that reaching back is key.
Katrice L. Mines EDITOR
[email protected]
So, this opportunity to get behind the desk with each of them to hear about where they started and how they stay inspired, and what it took for them to be in the position they’re in today was golden for us. Hint: You’ll want to take notes. Not only did it give us an occasion to make this auspicious introduction, but it is an opportunity for us to say: we see you, you inspire us … and well done. AT
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Shemekia Copeland Sing the Chicago Blues Electric!
Spanish Harlem Orchestra Feel-Good Salsa
Sacred Sounds featuring The Jones Family Singers Soul-Stirring Gospel
Sat, Feb 6
Spanish Harlem Orchestra
Johnny Mercer Celebration 2016 with Joe Gransden & Special Guest Kathleen Bertrand Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ating a Legend
Sat, Feb 27
Shemekia Copeland
Feel-Good Salsa
Sing the Chicago Blues Electric!
Sat, Feb 20
Fri, Mar 4 & Sat, Mar 5
Soul-Stirring Gospel
Biennial Contemporary Dance Festival showcasing Kyle Abraham & La Otra Orilla
Fri, Feb 26
Sat, Apr 23
Sacred Sounds featuring the Jones Family Singers Johnny Mercer Celebration 2016 Joe Gransden & Kathleen Bertrand
Off The EDGE
Cécile McLorin Salvant Jazz Songstress
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INTRO
Our News This Month current 14 business affairs 19 tech suite 46
What You Should Know Now
Rodney Sampson
has joined Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine’s Board of Advisors
A
long-time partner on Atlanta Tribune’s diversity, inclusion, technology and entrepreneur platforms, Rodney Sampson is a veteran technology entrepreneur, angel investor and author of four books, including “Kingonomics: Twelve Innovative Currencies For Transforming Your Business and Life, Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” He is an advisor to high growth startups such as Digit, Sandbox, Ourotech and Southern Culture Foods; growth stage companies such as Mark Burnett Productions (“Shark Tank,” “The Voice,” “The Bible Series,” “Son of God,” and “A.D.: The Bible Continues”); venture funds such as Kay Koplovitz’s Springboard Fund; and Heads of State in Namibia, Gabon and Uganda. Currently, Sampson is head of diversity and inclusion initiatives at TechSquare Labs, a 25,000 square-foot incubator, co-working and corporate innovation space near Georgia Tech anchored by a $25 million venture fund founded by Dr. Paul Judge and Allen Nance. Sampson is passionate about reducing our nation’s poverty and wealth gap by advancing the cause of innovation, coding, entrepreneurship and investment as a way of life for all, with an emphasis on under-represented communities. To advance this definitive cause, he launched the Opportunity Ecosystem. Opportunity Ecosystem includes Opportunity Hub, the nation’s largest minority owned multi-campus coworking space, entrepreneurship school, pre-accelerator and incubator headquartered in downtown Atlanta. OHUB companies have raised more than $5 million in seed capital, and have created more than 50 high growth jobs and 125 indirect jobs in two years. OHUB is home to Opportunity Code and Cofounders College, an IT consulting and training curriculum designed to increase innovator in supplier diversity while simultaneously developing more minority coders, software engineers and technical cofounders. Opportunity Hub merged with TechSquare Labs in October 2015 to build out the incubator space and collectively create and even more robust diverse and inclusive innovation ecosystem. OE also includes Opportunity Ventures, a new seed fund focused on making investments in startups and early stage companies with minority cofounders that are focused on disrupting industries and building scalable companies. Sampson also created Kingonomics, the nation’s leading advocacy and learning platform for minorities and under-served communities to learn, navigate and master the capital markets and investment ecosystem. Kingonomics is based on his perception of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s economic ideals. Each year, Kingonomics’ conferences and events attract more than 2,000 aspiring and existing entrepreneurs, 500 teenagers and 100 accredited investors, experts and mentors. Sampson also serves on the non-profit boards of Neyo’s Compound Foundation, the Crowdfunding Professional Association and the International Bishop’s Conference of The Old Holy Catholic Church of America. Sampson, his wife and children are native Atlantans. AT
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People FEBRUARY
2016
Christopher A. Jarrett
OrthoAtlanta physician Christopher A. Jarrett, M.D. received the 2015 Hugh C. McLeod Award of Excellence by the Arthritis Foundation. This award is presented annually by the Arthritis Foundation Southeast Region to a physician practicing in the state of Georgia who best exemplifies the life and legacy of Dr. Hugh C. McLeod III, a champion for arthritis awareness and treatment and an arthritis sufferer himself. Jarrett practices at the OrthoAtlanta Piedmont office and is affiliated with Piedmont Atlanta Hospital. His area of expertise includes adult reconstruction and complex joint replacement of the hip, knee and shoulder. Jarrett is fellowship trained and board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. Born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Western Africa and raised in Mississippi, he obtained an undergraduate degree from Georgia Institute of Technology, and a Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Mississippi.
LeVon Wilson
Clark Atlanta University has appointed LeVon E. Wilson, J.D., Ed.D, as the university’s new associate provost. In this role, he will oversee CAU’s enrollment management and operations, and work closely with university leadership on matters of academic policy, strategic direction and resource planning. Wilson’s position reports to the university’s provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. He most recently served as professor of legal studies at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Ga. A lawyer and member of the Georgia and North Carolina Bars, in addition to the bars of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, the U.S. Tax Court, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court, his expertise encompasses the fields of constitutional, education and employment law. Wilson’s faculty experience is also extensive. He served on the faculty of North Carolina A&T University (1979-1991). He then served in positions of increasing responsibility, including assistant and associate professor and ultimately department head and professor at Western Carolina University (1991-2005). Wilson earned the Ed.D. degree in adult and community college education from North Carolina State University, the J.D. degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law, and the B.S. degree in business administration from Western Carolina University.
Joe Handy
Joe Handy is the Georgia Aquarium’s new chief operating officer and executive vice president. In his new position, he will lead operations for one of the city’s most visited attractions as it celebrates its 10th anniversary. Handy began his aquarium career in 2005, as director of visitor services. In 2014, he was promoted to senior vice president of guest experience and education, responsible for developing educational programs for guests and staff, and for guest services and programs including ticketing, the AT&T Dolphin Tales show and behind-the-scenes tours. Prior to Georgia Aquarium, Handy worked at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City for nine years and helped open the Rose Center for Earth and Space. He received a liberal arts degree concentrated in political science from The College of New Rochelle with a Liberal Arts degree and is currently enrolled in the executive MBA program at Kennesaw State. AT
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Send your board appointments, promotions and exemplary achievements for inclusion on our “People” page. Email the information along with a color photograph to:
[email protected].
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February 2016 Join us this February as we salute a rising icon of African American culture at
MACY’S LENOX SQUARE 2ND FLOOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12 AT 7PM Join us “In Conversation” with actress JURNEE SMOLLETT-BELL for an entertaining look at the next wave of African American cultural luminaries and taste makers! Following the discussion, enjoy a special reception and meet Jurnee herself! Check out our exclusive interview and content, and find an event near you at
macys.com/celebrate
WWW.ATLANTATRIBUNE.COM
Event subject to change or cancellation.
Jurnee Smollett-Bell Best known for her award-winning performance in The Great Debaters, and for her role on the critically acclaimed series, Friday Night Lights. Jurnee has appeared in numerous films and television shows, and her newest project, Underground, debuts on WGN this spring!
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Where Business Meetings and Fun Go Hand in Hand!
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755 Club • Braves Museum & Hall of Fame / Tours • SunTrust Club
FOR MORE INFO: Turner Field - 404.614.2363 755 Club - 404.614.2177 turnerfieldspecialevents.com
On-Field Events / Concerts • Braves Vision LED Boards Superior Plumbing Club • Georgia’s Own Credit Union Club
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HigherLearning
Sponsored By
An Education Series
Supporting students with more than $15.7 billion to the state of Georgia for educational programs since June of 1993.
Charter Schools to the Rescue?
J
ust before school let out in December 2015, Atlanta Public Schools officially announced it was seeking organizations like charter school operators, local nonprofits and companies that run charter schools to improve the performance of the schools that are in danger of falling under state control under Governor Nathan Deal’s proposed Opportunity School District plan. The logic: Outside groups may benefit from the ability to be nimble and flexible — hiring different educators, moving more quickly and providing ways of teaching that the district can’t presently, and the state might not be able to later.
The request for proposals grew out of the school improvement plan international consulting firm Boston Consulting Group developed earlier this school year for APS at the cost of $500,000, which was privately funded by half a dozen local and national foundations.
If Deal’s plan is approved, however, the state would be able take over a limited number of Georgia’s lowest performing schools and close them, run them or convert them to charter schools. The new state-run school district would be under an appointed superintendent so decisions about how students are taught and how local tax dollars are spent would no longer be solely up to locally elected officials.
Whether or not APS brings in charter operators or others to work in local low-performing schools, students and staff can expect major changes in the district’s efforts to improve. The district has already begun the process of hiring and matching principals with qualifying skillsets who could replace the leaders of some potentially Opportunity School District-eligible schools. AT
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Although Superintendent Meria Carstarphen has said previously that the district would only consider working with non-profit groups, the formal request for proposals has no such limitation. However, nonprofits will get preference during the selection process.
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Wo
musical miere r ld Pr e
The heart-warming true story of BeBe Winans’s journey to success and fame, with new original music by BeBe Winans.
By Charles Randolph-Wright and BeBe Winans // Music and lyrics by BeBe Winans // Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright
April 13–May 15
Tickets as low as $20 @ 404.733.5000 alliancetheatre.org/bornforthis
IT DOESN’T TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO HELP KIDS WITH THEIR EDUCATION.
Nope. All it takes is a scratch or two. Because every time you play the Lottery, Georgia kids are the real winners. That’s because for over 20 years the Georgia Lottery has contributed over $17 billion to education. On top of that, more than 1.7 million HOPE scholars have gone to college and more than 1.4 million four-year-olds have attended a Lottery-funded Pre-K Program. That qualifies as a rocket booster in our book.
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ATTORNEYS' CORNER
ATTORNEY GILLES WALTERS
T
A “NEW BREED” LAWYER, INDEED
here is social media excitement about a new reality show in production called “Atlanta Law — New Breed” and one of its featured attorneys certainly personifies an image of a new breed lawyer. A graduate of Emory University and Howard University School of Law, and member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity Inc. Gilles Walters, at first glance, has all the right schools and contacts of many successful attorneys in Atlanta and other major cities. What separates him is that, while moving forward on a successful attorney’s track as a litigation, real estate, and contracts attorney, he has made bold moves in the world of entertainment. Walters has had a passion for rap music since he was 4 years old. Once his full education was under his belt, he decided to pursue a career as a rap artist and has released two rap albums “Successfully Lost” and “Super.” Gilles is in the studio presently recording his third, yet-to-be-named album and most recently played at the No Stress Fest in North Carolina, where he opened for rapper 2 Chainz. Tell us about your current legal career? I have an independent law practice that includes an association with the Reynolds Law Group, where I practice litigation and entertainment law. I also have developed relationships with real estate attorneys who send me attorney closing work; primarily residential but sometimes commercial. Music distribution and compensation of artists is more complicated than ever before. Do you, as an artist, lean heavily on your legal training as you consider music deals, or are you relying on another attorney? Both. We have an attorney on my management team, but I certainly weigh in. I've seen so many deals in my time practicing. My legal training has dramatically influenced how I look at where we can take the music. Understanding the ins and outs of the big business has been incredibly useful. Not just the day-to-day aspects, but the paperwork that governs all of those things as well. As an attorney involved in some of those deals, I’m able to see who is really doing what and how they are able to do it. It's fascinating. I know what's reasonable, what's negotiable, and of course, the things I need to stay away from. Is it possible to grow as an attorney while simultaneously growing as an artist, or do you find one career creating roadblocks for the other’s growth? For me, I find both to be necessary. The legal stuff finances the artistry and allows me to do what I want to do. I don't have to settle as much because I don't have to rely on other people’s money and resources to create my music. The thing you learn on day one in the entertainment business is that whoever is doing the funding is the one who gets to make the decisions. Being an attorney allows me to take some of that power back. My team and I are able to keep creative control because we're building from the ground up. Give us a glimpse of the career of Gilles Walters — 10 years from now. Hopefully we'll have a full-fledged and functional record label, with an in-house creative direction department, marketing department [and] legal department. They don't really make those anymore. That's the big dream: To do exactly what we want and be able to employ people who will love what they do, too. I'm not knocking anyone, but to quote Lionel Richie, "I may be just a foolish dreamer, but I don't care." My goal ... my task ... my responsibility is to myself and my team is to devote that energy to making our dreams a reality. AT WWW.ATLANTATRIBUNE.COM
Brian D. Poe, Esq. is managing partner of Brian Poe & Associates, Attorneys, PC and director of a national legal search firm. He can be reached at 404.880.3318 or via e-mail at brian@ thesigningattorney.net or brian@ esquire-connect.com.
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The AIB Network is a trusted source for programming that stimulates the mind, strengthens the body, and inspires the spirit – programming for life. With a growing audience of 2 million households in the Atlanta metro area and an expanding global online audience, the AIB Network offers a fresh voice for your organization that will be heard. Contact us to today to reach our audience with your message.
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BUSINESSAFFAIRS
LegalSMARTS
“Ban The Box” – Coming Soon To An Employment Application Near You For many job applicants, especially those with a criminal background, it is one of the most dreaded questions on a job application: “Have you been convicted of a criminal offense?” Check “the box” yes or no. Recently, there has been a movement to “ban the box” on employment applications and to delay any consideration of criminal history until a later stage in the hiring process. The “ban the box” movement has now gained national momentum. President Obama recently directed federal agencies to "ban the box" in their hiring decisions, prohibiting them from asking prospective federal government employee applicants about their criminal histories on job applications. He noted that some 70 million Americans have some form of criminal record and also commented that the existence of a criminal background in many instances prevents many Americans from “getting their foot in the door” to get a job, even after having paid their debt to society. But what about the other side of the pendulum — don’t potential employers have a responsibility to ensure that their employees are trustworthy and that its customers and employees are shielded from possible criminal activity by persons being considered for employment? How can human resources professionals and managers balance safety and business necessity in the wake of this movement? On the other hand, does “the box” have a disproportionate impact on certain protected categories of applicants, making it less likely for them to be hired?
growing. Finally, the EEOC has also offered guidance on the subject. In order to comply with “ban the box” laws, a company should engage competent employment counsel to identify all applicable laws. Company policy should also be reviewed to ensure compliance with safe workplace laws and to avoid tort claims related to negligent hiring and retention. Employers might also want to consider waiting until a conditional offer is made before obtaining criminal background information. Likewise, companies may limit the use of criminal background information for certain job categories. In summary, gone are the days when checking the box “yes” means the end of the road for an applicant with a criminal background. It looks like the “ban the box” movement is likely here to stay. AT
The primary purpose of “ban the box” legislation is not to prevent employers from considering criminal background during the application process, but rather to delay when employers can ask candidates about their criminal history. This often involves waiting until after the initial application process has been completed and in many instances requires that the applicant be provided with an opportunity to provide other useful facts to consider within the context of information related to criminal background. In some states, although “the box” is legal, these states limit the types of inquiries employers may make into the criminal history of applicants. For instance, in California, employers are prohibited from asking about expunged and other types of records. In New York, employers may not inquire about arrests or criminal accusations that are not currently pending, in addition to other limitations.
Thomas A Cox Jr. is an attorney in the Atlanta office of Fisher & Phillips LLP, a national labor and employment law firm representing management in labor and employment matters across the country. Thomas represents corporate employers in all facets of labor and employment litigation
Currently, at least 19 states and more than 100 cities have “ban the box” laws preventing public employers from using “the box.” In addition, seven states, the District of Columbia and 12 cities and counties have passed “ban the box” legislation that applies to private employers. This list is
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defense, counseling on Affirmative Action and EEO Compliance and corporate training. He can be reached at (404) 231-1400, or via email at
[email protected]. Please follow Thomas on Twitter @employeradvisor.
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BUSINESSAFFAIRS
TaxSMARTS
myRA Now Available for Eligible Workers The myRA program, which launched nationwide in November of 2015, is intended for taxpayers with taxable income who lack access to retirement savings plan at work. The program was developed in response to the finding that millions of Americans lack adequate retirement savings — many because their employers do not offer a retirement savings plan at work. According to a 2015 Federal Reserve Report, 31 percent of non-retired people said they have no retirement savings or pension whatsoever. Additionally, a 2013 report by the National Institute on Retirement Savings found that the average near-retirement household had only $12,000 in retirement savings. Among workers who do not participate in a 401(k) or other defined contribution plan, 42 percent said it’s because their employer does not offer one. Furthermore, among parttime workers, a BLS Economic Release (2015) found that 62 percent of workers do not have access to a retirement plan at work. In 2014, the U.S. Department of the Treasury developed the framework for the program, which included creating a new Treasury savings bond to serve as the underlying investment for these accounts, as well as designating a financial agent to help the Treasury administer the accounts and set up a simple way for savers to fund their accounts through their employers.
myRA is designed as a starter retirement account to help bridge the savings gap for workers whose employers do not offer a retirement savings plan. It is optimized to appeal to first-time savers, for whom a no-risk, principal-protected investment is more appealing than a higher-risk investment option. As myRA account holders grow their savings, they have the option to transfer to a private-sector Roth IRA with diverse investment options at any time, or transfer to a privatesector Roth IRA once they reach the maximum myRA balance of $15,000. myRA is a Roth IRA and follows the same eligibility requirements. To participate in the myRA, savers (or their spouses, if married filing jointly) must have taxable compensation to be eligible to contribute to a myRA account and be within the Roth IRA income guidelines. The savings bond interest is not taxed while in the account and won’t be taxed at all if you leave it in the account until after age 59 1/2. Savers who earn less than $131,000 for individuals and $193,000 for couples are eligible to contribute. Savers can contribute to their myRA accounts as little as a few dollars up to $5,500 per year (or $6,500 per year for individuals who will be 50 years of age or older at the end of the year). Savers can also withdraw money they put into their myRA accounts tax-free and without penalty at any time. Roth IRA requirements apply to the taxfree withdrawal of any earnings. AT
In 2015, the department worked with a small, diverse group of employers as part of the initial pilot phase of myRA to get feedback and ensure that the user experience is as simple and straightforward as possible. HOW IT WORKS myRA is a government sponsored Roth IRA with no fees and is guaranteed by the government to never lose value. Contributions may be made in one of three ways: Paycheck. Set up automatic direct deposit contributions to myRA through an employer. Checking or savings account. Savers can fund a myRA account directly by setting up recurring or one-time contributions from a checking or savings account. Federal tax refund. At tax time, direct all or a portion of a federal tax refund to myRA.
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Steve Julal is a principal with VAAS Professionals. He is a certified public accountant and a member of the Georgia Society of CPAs as well as the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Julal can be reached at 404.223.1058, or via e-mail at steve.julal@ vaasprofessionals.com.
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AdverToriAl
The
larger-than-life wit of Ethel Waters
Ethel is a glimpse into the magnificent and very complicated life of legendary stage and film star ethel Waters. A versatile actress who epitomized the glamour of Black vaudeville while successfully and lucratively crossing over into traditionally white performance venues, Waters inspired directors and singers and songwriters with her talent and versatility. Waters was the first to record “Stormy Weather” later starring in the remarkable Cabin in the Sky. Atlanta’s own Terry Burrell brings this amazing performer to life in a one-woman play with music, band, and the larger than life wit of ethel Waters.
For more information and tickets, visit alliancetheatre.org/ethel or call 404.733.5000.
By and starring Terry Burrell Directed by Ken Roberson
ic from With mus opular can p the Ameri including on, song can lin and r Irving Be rlen. Harold A
March 25–April 17 Tickets @ 404.733.5000 alliancetheatre.org/ethel // Groups 404.733.4690 // Season Tickets 404.733.5000
Series on the Hertz Stage Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs
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WOMEN OF COCA-COLA
INTRODUCING
COCA-COLA It’s not often that you find a collective of richly tenured African-American women executives holding senior posts in chorus — all under the banner of one corporation. It is, in a word, inspiring. But, what’s more stirring are the stories they share … lessons, triumphs and the intrinsic inclination to reach back. We sat down with each of them, for a snapshot of their day-to-day roles, and the hows and whys of their individual successes. You’ll want to take notes. You’re welcome.
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WOMEN OF COCA-COLA
KATHY N. WALLER
K
athy N. Waller is the executive vice president and chief financial officer of The Coca-Cola Company, where she is responsible for leading the Company’s global finance organization and representing the Company to investors, lenders and rating agencies. She oversees mergers and acquisitions, investor relations, tax, treasury, audit, accounting and controls, reporting and analysis, real estate and risk management. Waller joined The Coca-Cola Company in 1987 as a senior accountant in the Accounting Research department and assumed roles of increasing responsibility, including principal accountant for the Northeast Europe/ Africa Group; marketing controller for the McDonald’s Group; vice president, chief of Internal Audit and controller. In addition to her responsibilities at The Coca-Cola Company, Waller serves on the Board of Trustees of the University of Rochester, her Alma mater, Monster Energy Company, Delta Air Lines Inc., Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B de C.V., and the Board of Trustees of Spelman College. She also serves on the advisory board of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Catalyst, the leading non-profit organization with a mission to expand opportunities for women and business. Within the Company, Waller is actively involved with several women’s initiatives including formerly serving as the founding Chair of The CocaCola Company’s Women’s Leadership Council and helping develop the company’s highly successful Women in Leadership Global Program. Prior to joining The Coca-Cola Company, Waller worked for Deloitte. She earned a bachelor’s degree and MBA degrees from the University of Rochester and is a CPA. If you had to start over from scratch, knowing what you know now, what would you do differently? I have traveled a lot over the years, working for The Coca-Cola Company. Most of the time when I traveled, I was rushing back to the office for a meeting, event or some other reason at the end of each business trip. On occasion I took an extra day or I took a long weekend as a personal expense to learn more about the place I was traveling to or to visit with friends. Knowing what I know now, I would have extended more of my trips and taken more personal side trips at my own expense to learn more about the countries where we operate and connect more with the people of our system. Our business and our system are really about people. We have great brands that are sold by great people in over 200 countries. I am fortunate to have friends all over the world. Spending more time in the field, experiencing our system does enhance my job performance, but, more importantly, spending the time in the field with the people of our system enriches my life. What’s the most important business or other discovery you’ve made in the past year? Regardless of how busy it gets it is important to spend quality time with my team, the finance organization. I believe my team knows how much I appreciate them and how much I care about them. Just ‘knowing‘ that
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isn’t good enough. I have been in my current role for approximately 20 months and it has been extremely busy. Over the last year, whenever I met with someone they thanked me for the time because they knew I was busy. I don’t want to be perceived as being too busy to spend time with my team. I have a great team and I am proud of the work they do. I believed that the best way to honor them was to work hard and do a good job representing them. I discovered it is just as important to spend time connecting with them. As an invisible mentor, what is one piece of advice that you would give a young female executive reading this? There is one piece of advice that I give to everybody that asks and that is to not be afraid to ask for help. We have all received help. I can’t begin to thank all the people that have helped me over the years. Sometimes people think asking for help is a sign of weakness. I believe it is a sign of confidence and strength. Before asking for help you need to do your homework and to make sure you are approaching the right person for help and that you are clear about what you need from that person. Sometimes what you need is an introduction to the person that can best help you. The other advice I give to people is to not be afraid of change. People think of change as a four letter word. Change can be difficult but change also brings opportunity. If change is causing a door to close, you have to believe and stay focused on the fact that another door will open. The challenge is to be ready and see the door when it opens. And the third thing I tell people is to learn as much as you can from each assignment. Jobs and people change, but no one can ever take what you’ve learned away from you. What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning? The excitement of the unknown gets me out of bed every morning. When I am in the office my days are totally unpredictable and they seldom go as I plan. Between planned meetings and the unplanned events in any given day, my day flies by and it is never dull. AT WWW.ATLANTATRIBUNE.COM
WOMEN OF COCA-COLA
CAROLYN JACKSON
C
arolyn Jackson is senior vice president of human resources for the Coca-Cola North America Group, where she leads the development and implementation of the people plan and strategy to drive organizational and individual performance to meet business needs and requirements.
Jackson has been responsible for 60,000-plus employees in CocaCola North America and Coca-Cola Refreshments in this capacity since she was appointed to the role in 2012. Her previous roles at Coca-Cola included: chief human resources officer, Coca-Cola North America; vice president and director, organization planning and people development for The McDonald's Group; vice president of human resources for Schweppes Beverages in London, England; director of human resources, Corporate Functions; director of human resources for the Global Marketing Division; director of human resources for finance, IT, human resources, technical and manufacturing, and assistant manager of industrial relations for The Company-owned bottling operations. Before joining TCCC in 1985, Jackson was employed by Armco Inc. and the National Supply Company in Cincinnati, Ohio and Houston, Texas, respectively. She received a bachelor’s degree in social sciences and master’s degree in labor and industrial relations — both from Michigan State University. What will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you? Having the ability to compete and be unique in a global economy, global workforce and a virtual society. What’s one core message you received from your mentor or an influential individual in your life? The message I received from my mentor, who was my first boss, was to compare and compete with myself versus others. To always look at where I’ve started and how far I have come versus others. What is an event that helped to shape your life? Unfortunately in the early ‘90s, I had a massive Bell’s Palsy on the right side of my face. It is similar to having a stroke. The muscles in my face were paralyzed. I couldn’t talk, I would slur my words, my eye wouldn’t close and I looked similar to the Hunchback of Notre Dame. That event taught me how mean and cruel people can be to those of us who may be disabled or sick. And that event taught me how to be kinder and more generous to people who are less fortunate than I. If we were to say to a group of people who know you, ‘give us adjectives that best describe you,’ what would we hear? Supportive, amazing, passionate and caring. AT
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WOMEN OF COCA-COLA
CHARLITA STEPHENS-WALKER
C
harlita Stephens-Walker has spent 22-plus years in the beverage and hospitality industry building powerful relationships that build value for The Coca-Cola Company and the customers she represents. As vice president of National Field Business Development in the National Foodservice and On-Premise division for Coca-Cola, Stephens-Walker leads and develops a team of senior national sales professionals and also serves as strategic relationship partner to senior customer leaders within the Burger King account. Previous roles include time spent in multiple sales roles of increasing strategic responsibility at Coca-Cola and, prior to that, at IBM where she successfully managed and led profitable relationships with several large utilities accounts in Georgia. Stephens-Walker earned a degree in journalism (Public Relations) from The University of Georgia where she was a leader of multiple student organizations and served as Miss UGA Homecoming. She is committed to leadership and giving back — serving as past chair of WAVE (Women Adding Value and Excellence), an organization of women leaders across multiple corporations in Atlanta that connects these women to network and share best practices, and as an inaugural member of Coca-Cola’s Diversity 50 Council. She has participated in CocaCola’s Women In Leadership program and is an active member of the Women’s Foodservice Forum. Additionally, she serves on the Corporate Leadership Council of the Fernbank Museum and on the advisory board of the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated and the Links, Incorporated. The Atlanta native rates travel with her family — husband Steven and children Cole and Kennedy — as her passion, alongside reading suspense novels and enjoying great theater. If you had to start over from scratch, knowing what you know now, what would you do differently? I would have had more self-confidence earlier on and would not have allowed anyone or anything define nor limit my vision. Time and experience has taught me to fully appreciate my worth and talent but I wish I had understood this wisdom earlier. What’s the most important business or other discovery you’ve made in the past year? Choose to be happy. Your attitude determines your altitude. As an Invisible Mentor, what is one piece of advice that you would give a young female executive reading this? Talking the talk might get you in the door but walking the talk will keep you there. Be smart, be prepared and deliver. What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning? My children are my light! I also have a passion for living and feel that we are all uniquely blessed so that we can be a blessing for others. AT
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WOMEN OF COCA-COLA
KIMBERLY EVANS PAIGE
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n accomplished brand marketer and general manager with more than 20 years of experience, Kimberly Evans Paige has worked at The Coca-Cola Company for 15 years in various roles within North America and Global after beginning her career in brand management with Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati. She presently serves as vice president, Sprite and Flavors Brands, where she is responsible for the profit and loss management, strategic vision and marketing for TCCC’s second and third largest global brands, Sprite and Fanta. In addition to these multi-billion dollar brands, Evans Paige stewards other TCCC Flavor sparkling soft drinks including Seagram’s, Mello Yello and Barq’s Root Beer. Evans Paige has delivered consistent business-building results for Sprite over the last three years. She has been recognized as one of the Top Marketing Executives to Watch, interviewed by leading industry publications on multicultural marketing and has spoken on a number of panels on how to expand brands globally and effectively market to youth. Her ability to manage multiple strategic partnerships (NBA, LeBron James, Grammy Award-winning artist Drake) coupled with her innovative thinking has not only delivered significant profit, but has successfully engaged the brand's next generation of consumers. Evans Paige has a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and business from Howard University and an MBA from Clark Atlanta University. She is actively involved in many professional and social organizations and has been nationally recognized for her efforts to address childhood literacy. What will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you? In 2011, women surpassed men in gaining advanced college and bachelor’s degrees, for the first time in [North] American history. And yet, while women have entered the workforce in record numbers over the last half-century, gaps remain in certain industries, and women are still not visible in top leadership and board positions and are not consistently compensated equally. What’s one core message you received from your mentor or an influential individual in your life? Be value-based. The most successful professionals and individuals know what their values are, and in everything they do, their behavior is consistent with these values. What is an event that helped to shape your life? Becoming a mother significantly shaped my life. I immediately became stronger, more loving and more responsible. As a protector and enabler, I no longer only considered myself. The challenge of every-day life made me better organized and a problem solver. If we were to say to a group of people who know you, ‘give us three adjectives that best describe you,’ what would we hear? Curious, fearless and loyal. AT WWW.ATLANTATRIBUNE.COM
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WOMEN OF COCA-COLA
DAWN S. KIRK
D
awn S. Kirk, vice president, Sales and Operations — Southeast Region for Coca-Cola Refreshments leads an organization of more than 5,000 associates across Sales, Merchandising and Distribution — generating over $2 billion in revenue. A 24-year veteran of the consumer packaged goods industry, she joined Coca-Cola Refreshments in 2010 — having served in several leadership roles at FritoLay Inc. for 18 years. Also leading the East Region Diversity and Inclusion Council at Coca-Cola Refreshments, Kirk serves on The Coca-Cola Company’s Multicultural Leadership Council and on the National Board of Network for Executive Women. She is also a member of the National Association of Professional Women, National Sales Network, Jack and Jill of America Inc., Odyssey Media and Eagles Nest Church in Roswell. The wife and mother of two is passionate about playing an active role in the community and supporting many philanthropic endeavors. In April 2013, she was awarded the Corporate Phenomenal Woman Award by The Black Women’s Expo. In February 2014, she was listed in the 100’s List of Georgia’s Most Powerful and Influential Women by Women Works Media Group. She earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Iowa. What will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you? The ability to navigate a traditional corporate culture while being a change agent to build a diverse and inclusive culture/workforce to continue to win in the marketplace. What’s one core message you received from your mentor or an influential individual in your life? Make career decisions based on your core values and family needs vs. sacrificing core values and family needs for a career. Applying this core message has enabled me to live and lead authentically. What is an event that helped to shape your life? I was chasing titles and compensation early in my career at a previous company. The situation was I was appointed to a newly formed director role which required my first relocation. In my heart, I knew I shouldn’t have taken the role. The timing wasn’t right, the culture and leadership of the new team I was joining was not a fit, I was a brand new mom with a husband who traveled, and I had no personal support system or professional advocates/sponsors in the new location. I took the role anyway and it was very challenging on several fronts for two and a half years. As a result, I learned the importance of timing, and putting my family needs and my core values ahead of my career decisions. It also shaped my leadership philosophy as a servant leader, fueled my passion for developing leaders, and drove my advocacy for building diverse and inclusive culture and teams. If we were to say to a group of people who know you, ‘give us three adjectives that best describe you,’ what would we hear? Authentic, passionate, servant-leader. AT
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WOMEN OF COCA-COLA
DEBRA SHANKLE
D
ebra Shankle is vice president, Product Supply Systems, for Coca-Cola North America with responsibilities including the management and leadership of the Coca-Cola North America Supply Chain. The Product Supply System is comprised of 3,500 associates and an annual spend of $4.2 Billion. She has held positions of increasing responsibility at Coca-Cola Refreshments — most recently as vice president, Conversion Sparkling West; vice president, Central Region Manufacturing; vice president, Southeast and East Region; vice president, Manufacturing and senior vice president, Technical Office. Prior to Coca-Cola, Shankle was employed with Sara Lee for 15 years and held a number of supply chain leadership roles, after working for Frito-Lay Inc. for 12 years. She earned a BBA in Engineering Management from the University of Texas at Austin, serves on the Board of Gulf State Canners Inc. (a Coca-Cola Bottler), and was recently recognized as one of the Top 25 Women in Dallas. She is married to Doug Shankle and they enjoy spending time with family, traveling and attending Texas Longhorns and Dallas Cowboys football games together. If you had to start over from scratch, knowing what you know now, what would you do differently? Being a team player that builds strong relationships is equally important to knowledge and performance. I have been blessed with an incredible career and there is not a lot I would do differently. However; early in my career I thought my hard work and knowledge would allow me to excel. While this was true, I quickly learned that knowledge, performance and strong relationship building and teamwork skills are extremely important to success. I quickly tweaked my focus in these three areas. As an invisible mentor, what is one piece of advice that you would give a young female executive reading this? Learn from the best without being a burden. Early on in my career, there were numerous times when I faced opportunities or issues when I, quite frankly, felt like I did not have anyone to talk with. I quickly learned two things: That I must develop strong relations with individuals that were in positions that I would like to attain. Therefore, I sought out leaders that I felt had a vested interest in my development and success, and created learning moments that did not require too much of their time. I also developed my own form of mentoring where I actually watch various leaders that I think are great and for whatever reason were out of reach for me to connect with. I also look for leaders that I feel are not so great. I watch these leaders intensely in meetings, monitor how they interact with and lead their people, evaluate their thought process when decisions are required, review their communication/presentation skills, and how they carry themselves in terms of their overall appearance and management style. I would then apply what I call ‘the catch and release method’ to this learning. My husband enjoys fishing in his past time. There are some fish that he catches and keeps, and others that he discards. Applying this same practice to the learning I glean from the leaders that I watch, the things that I see these leaders do that are great,
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I ‘catch and keep’ and emulate the learning if they are a natural for me (I must be true to myself and be able to look in the mirror). The things that I see that are not so great, I ‘catch and release’ as these things are important for me know, but that I do not want to exhibit. These leaders are my mentors whether they know it or not. There are some that do not know to this day that they helped me and then there were others that I was eventually able to connect with and advise of my practice. I still use this approach today as I believe I can still learn, grow and achieve. What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning? The opportunity to make a positive difference. My parents, who are both deceased, were excellent role models for me and my four siblings. They worked extremely hard to support and expose us to some really great life experiences. They instilled within each of us strong values and work ethics. They required us to be our very best at everything. Status quo was not acceptable. We were each individually challenged and supported to excel and achieve. My parents’ hard work coupled with the values and morals they instilled in me continues to motivate me today to excel. I often tell myself that my generation is blessed with far more support and amenities (across many facets) than my parents had available to them, and if they could maintain their motivation, then I certainly can. More is required of me. Each day that I spring out of bed I am excited to create value and make a positive difference for myself and those around me. AT
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WOMEN OF COCA-COLA
LAUVENTRIA ROBINSON
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auventria Robinson is vice president, Multicultural Marketing for Coca-Cola North America Group.
She is the executive leader of CCNAG’s Multicultural Marketing function and architect for development of Multicultural Consumer and Shopper Capability development — responsible for setting the direction and development of an integrated go-to-market multicultural strategy to create value for stakeholders and accelerate profit growth at CCNAG. Robinson started with the company as a customer marketing manager in foodservice in 1991, and moved into the retail side of the business in 2000. She continued to climb the ranks with progressive responsibilities as director, casual dining channel; managing director, centers of excellence; vice president, channel marketing; and vice president, strategy and planning where she was responsible for multiple projects to drive long-term strategic growth across the Coca-Cola system. Prior to her current role, she was vice president, diversity business development, where she was the lead strategist and architect for CCNAG’s integrated diversity leadership strategy. Before joining The Coca-Cola Company, Robinson held positions in brand management at American Express and Kraft Foods, USA. Robinson has an MBA in marketing and international management from the Wharton School of Business and a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University. If you had to start over from scratch, knowing what you know now, what would you do differently? Personally, I would have focused harder and more creatively on enhancing my work-life balance. Over time, you realize that what you believe to be critical may not be so critical after all. Professionally, I would have taken an international assignment. This would have allowed me to have an even greater knowledge of various cultures which would have added additional perspective to my current position and enhanced my language skills. What’s the most important business or other discovery you’ve made in the past year? The accelerated pace of the demographic changes in America. It is exciting to experience first-hand a fundamental shift in the make-up of this country as it will re-define how we as a country see ourselves and how others see us. At the same time it does not appear that everyone is prepared to embrace this “new” America. As an invisible mentor, what is one piece of advice that you would give a young female executive reading this? My advice would be to really understand the culture and unwritten rules within the organization you work for or with and take very deliberate actions to network and build value-based relationships. It's going to be important particularly for women of color to develop their own coaches and mentors. What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning? My family, including my kids and extended family. I am very hopeful of the future opportunities that they will have. AT
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WOMEN OF COCA-COLA
RACQUEL HARRIS MASON
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acquel Harris Mason is vice president of the Coca-Cola and Coke Zero brands for Coca-Cola North America. In this position, she is responsible for leading all aspects of these businesses including developing robust brand visions and strategies, compelling consumer communications, and ensuring flawless commercial execution across the retail and food service marketplace. Harris Mason joined The Coca-Cola Company in 2006, and has since held several key general management and marketing leadership roles across multiple beverage categories including leading brands such as Fanta, Seagram’s, Mello Yello, Barq’s, Fresca, Surge, Dasani, Powerade, and Full Throttle. During this time, she has served in various nontraditional roles including creating and leading the first-ever Marketing Communications Innovation team. In addition, she was selected to be one of the leaders of the North American Business Integration Team, which orchestrated the merger of Coca-Cola North America with its largest U.S. bottler, Coca-Cola Enterprises. Prior to joining Coca-Cola, Harris Mason was the division vice president of Marketing for the Pediatric Business Unit of Abbott Laboratories Nutritionals Group where she managed a portfolio of brands including Similac, Pedialyte, and PediaSure. She developed strong retail experience while serving as the vice president of Marketing and vice president of Strategy for the Bi-Lo/Bruno’s Division of Ahold USA. Earlier in her career, she held positions of increasing responsibility in brand management at Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble. The wife and mother of three earned a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in business administration from The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
If you had to start over from scratch, knowing what you know now, what would you do differently? The one thing that I’d do differently, especially earlier on in my career, would be to have taken advantage of more opportunities to work internationally. As I have developed my family, my career decisions have been significantly influenced by considerations about how moves may affect my husband and children. What’s the most important business or other discovery you’ve made in the past year? The most important discovery I’ve made is to trust my instincts. After 25 years of working, my instincts are not just an emotional reaction, they have been honed by deep experience and business understanding and can quickly direct my actions to dig deeper and ask the question – ‘why does this feel right, [or] not right?’
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As an invisible mentor, what is one piece of advice that you would give a young female executive reading this? Focus first on delivering your work consistently with excellence; proactively lead and make a positive impact on the business (don’t just do your job); handle yourself appropriately within the cultural context of the environment in which you work; and actively network and get sponsors since sometimes who you know can be as important as what you know. What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning? I’m motivated to get out of bed every day because life is my mission field. Every day I try to make a positive impact not only on the business I manage but also on the lives of the people that I come in contact with. AT
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WOMEN OF COCA-COLA
SHIRLEY M. BOONE
S
hirley M. Boone earned an MBA from Harvard Business School; a Bachelor’s of Industrial Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology; and a Bachelor’s of Arts in mathematics from Albany State University. She began her career at The Procter and Gamble Company where she spent 20 years of her career in roles of increased responsibility for the overall business success. One of the roles that was most impactful in her career at Procter and Gamble was plant manager. As plant manager in Oxnard, Calif., Boone was responsible for leading and developing an organization that was responsible for supplying Bounty and Charmin paper products to the West Coast and to the North America business. As well, she lead efforts to deliver the lowest possible cost while maintaining the highest level of Safety, Quality and Customer Service results as compared to the competition. In October 2007, Boone joined Coca-Cola North America as the national director of Contract Manufacturing. In 2010, she was promoted to vice president of Northwest Region Manufacturing for Coca-Cola Refreshments. In this role, she was responsible for the Northwest manufacturing facilities that produced Juice, Carbonated and NonCarbonated beverages as well as all aspects of the manufacturing operations. Boone has continued to build her career in Supply Chain, currently serving as vice president of Foodservice Manufacturing for Coca-Cola North America. A native of Albany, Ga., where she has a very large extended family, Boone enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing the Alto saxophone, and coaching/mentoring young adults as they make career/ life decisions. If you had to start over from scratch, knowing what you know now, what would you do differently? I would learn to get still (through meditation or self-reflection) and allow myself to get in touch with my inner voice earlier in life. I would begin to follow my intuition/instinct much sooner and much more often before seeking external advice. I have found that in the quiet morning hours, I am able to tap into what is best for me versus solely depending on the advice of others. I believe that we already have the answers within us on many things that we question. What’s the most important business or other discovery you’ve made in the past year? What I continue to have re-enforced to me is that patience is truly a virtue. Patience also builds character. After we have planted seeds of greatness, we must wait. While waiting we must continue to nurture what has been planted. It can sometimes take more time than what we would like for great things to occur. But, if what we are waiting for is truly great, then it’s worth the wait.
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As an invisible mentor, what is one piece of advice that you would give a young female executive reading this? My advice would be that life is a journey. And, that you should enjoy the journey. Often, we are so focused on what we want to achieve and its end result that we don’t stop to enjoy the steps along the way. Take time to enjoy and celebrate. Then, recharge and start again. · What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning? The fact that each day is a new opportunity for me to make a difference is exciting. My favorite biblical verse is ‘To whom much is given, much is required.’ Luke 12:48. I have been very blessed in my life. Therefore, it is important for me to give back and to make a difference in the lives of others. Each day allows me a chance to do just that. Also, each day presents an opportunity for me to focus on being my best. By being my best, I can better serve others. AT
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WOMEN OF COCA-COLA
TERREZ MARRIOTT THOMPSON
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errez Marriott Thompson is vice president of Global Supplier Diversity for The Coca-Cola Company, leading the organization’s efforts to maximize procurement opportunities with diverse businesses as suppliers, contractors, and subcontractors of competitivelypriced goods and services. As an associate of The Coca-Cola Company for more than 30 years, Thompson has held several roles of increasing responsibility ranging from Operations to Finance — assuming her current leadership position in 2012. Just prior, Thompson was responsible for Employee Engagement and was a part of the Company’s Global Community Connection team. Her responsibilities included volunteerism, matching gifts and the Company’s non-profit board participation strategy. She also served as AVP, executive assistant and program manager of Coca-Cola North America Innovation — steering a major project to design and implement a new product innovation process for the Company’s largest business unit, in addition to leading strategic initiatives such as Innovation Capability Development, Retail Transition Lead and Learning Lab. Thompson also had a senior role at Coca-Cola in Global Public Affairs where she led the company’s $1 billion Empowerment and Entrepreneurial Program for minority and women-owned business. Prior to that appointment, Thompson served as executive assistant to the President of the Africa Group for The Coca-Cola Company. Thompson also held progressively responsible finance roles at the Company; she was controller for The Coca-Cola Trading Company, and the financial services manager of the Africa Group. Before The Coca-Cola Company, Thompson was employed by Price Waterhouse as a senior auditor. A Certified Public Accountant, Thompson earned a bachelor’s degree from Morgan State University.
What will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you? Although this digital age and revolution has opened opportunities for this generation in so many ways — especially in terms of having access to all things global — the pace of change is so rapid it is difficult to stay relevant and competitive. It also makes creating deep, long lasting relationships and bonds a bit more difficult which can make traditional mentor/role model relationships more challenging in terms of intimacy and longevity. Having said that it does allow for access to more relationships, information, data and knowledge. The key is to stay focused and leverage information and relationships to your advantage and truly understanding what is important and what is not.
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What’s one core message you received from your mentor or an influential individual in your life? To thine own self be true. What is an event that helped to shape your life? My childhood was the pivotal moment shaping my life. Being raised by a single mom really taught me an independence and strength which drives my actions and decisions today. If we were to say to a group of people who know you, ‘give us three adjectives that best describe you,’ what would we hear? Direct, funny and real. AT
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WOMEN OF COCA-COLA
THALYA J. GULLEY
T
halya J. Gulley has 25-plus years in the food industry, and has been fortunate to spend the last 16 years in various leadership roles within the Coca-Cola system from bottling to Global/Corporate Quality. The vice president of Quality for Coca-Cola Refreshments spent the start of her food industry career at Heinz-Weight Watcher Frozen Foods, Alamance Foods/Triton Water Company and Quaker Oats in the Isotonic Beverage end of the business. Gulley graduated from Virginia State University, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology Pre-Med. VSU is where she met her husband of 28 years, Marc. They have one daughter, Kea’nia Gulley. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., and is passionate about giving back and acts of service. A recent graduate of the United Way VIP program, Gulley is currently pursuing board membership. She spends her downtime reading, scrapbooking and traveling — having been to five out of the seven continents. But, most of all, Gulley enjoys spending time with family and friends. What will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you? The biggest challenge for the generation of women behind me remains the same as what we are challenged with today, and that is being able to find the right balance of work/career and everything else in life, to ensure fulfillment and success. What’s one core message you received from your mentor or an influential individual in your life? Understand how you want to be remembered and build that legacy. What is an event that helped to shape your life? Approximately 10 years ago, I had just left a business meeting when I received a phone call that my best friend for over 20 years had been murdered. This traumatic event strengthened me, and taught me how critical it is to make the most of each moment. If we were to say to a group of people who know you, ‘give us three adjectives that best describe you,’ what would we hear? I live by my core values, so [I] believe that people who know me will describe me as an optimist (believe all things are possible), kind (treat all people with care and respect), and honest (foundational). AT
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WOMEN OF COCA-COLA
WAMWARI WAICHUNGO, Ph.D.
K
enya native, Dr. Wamwari Waichungo leads The Coca-Cola Company’s efforts to evaluate and substantiate the safety and efficacy of ingredients, products and packaging through scientific evidence as vice president, Global Scientific and Regulatory Affairs. Helming a team responsible for ensuring the regulatory compliance of all ingredients, products and packaging, she was elected by the Board of Directors as an officer of The Coca-Cola Company in 2014. With an extensive experience working across the African continent, Waichungo joined Coca-Cola in 2000 as strategic marketing manager in the Northern African Division based in Nairobi, Kenya. She subsequently held positions of increasing responsibility including innovation manager, East Africa and Islands Region; strategy and planning director, Nigeria and Equatorial Africa Business Unit based in Lagos, Nigeria; executive assistant to Africa Group president, based in Windsor, United Kingdom; strategy and business planning director for the North & West Africa Business Unit based in Cairo, Egypt; and Strategy, Planning & Insights Director in the South Africa Business unit based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Prior to joining Coca-Cola, Wamwari served in product and consumer research roles at ConAgra Foods and the Campbell Soup Company headquarters in the United States. The alumna of the University of Missouri-Columbia as well as Montclair State University is a member of the Montclair State University President’s Club, was the 48th Robert O. Reich Executivein-Residence at the University of Missouri, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and a member of the International Jury of the 2015 Tällberg Foundation Global Leadership Prize. As well, she attended the Program for Leadership Development at Harvard Business School. What will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you? Our generation has worked very hard to crack the glass ceiling, albeit a small crack. The next generation has the task of shattering the glass ceiling to get us to gender equality, 50/50 representation. What’s one core message you received from your mentor or an influential individual in your life? Ask for what you want and believe that you deserve it! What is an event that helped to shape your life? As a young, green 16 year old, I was sent to university in America, leaving behind my parents and all the comfort, security and familiarity in Kenya. I had to grow up really fast and learn to fend for myself; a difficult but very valuable lesson that has significantly influenced who I am today. If we were to say to a group of people who know you, ‘give us four adjectives that best describe you,’ what would we hear? Disciplined, intuitive, empathic and most importantly focused. AT
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WOMEN OF COCA-COLA
LORI GEORGE BILLINGSLEY
L
ori George Billingsley has 30 years of public relations experience in developing and implementing breakthrough programs that meet organizational goals, target audience needs and produce results. She currently serves as the vice president of community relations for Coca-Cola North America (CCNA) where she oversees community giving, engagement and volunteerism. She has been in the Public Affairs and Communications (PAC) function of The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC) for the last 14 years in a variety of positions including director of Community and Multicultural Communications and executive assistant to the senior vice president of CCNA PAC, director of Shareowner Affairs, director of Issues Communications and director of Regional Communications. Prior to joining TCCC, Billingsley ran her own public relations consultancy, LG Communications, which provided communications solutions for corporations, non-profit organizations, associations, foundations and public relations firms. She was a vice president at Porter Novelli where she managed a number of nationally-acclaimed public education campaigns for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and National Cancer Institute. She co-founded the firm’s alliance building and multicultural communications practices and serviced clients, including federal agencies, FORTUNE 500 corporations, associations and non-profit organizations The former associate professor of public relations counts Leadership Atlanta’s Class of 2008 and of the Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) Georgia Chapter among her numerous affiliations and board memberships. She has served on the executive committee for PRSA’s multicultural communications section and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Atlanta Mission, Arete-Executive Women of Influence and on the Advisory Boards of Hosea Feed The Hungry and Homeless, and Living Water for Girls. She also serves on the boards of the PRSA Foundation, the LAGRANT Foundation, and the Board of Visitors for Howard University's School of Communications, all while serving as an ordained minister. Billingsley received a Bachelor of Arts degree in public relations from Howard University and a Master of Arts degree in public communications from American University, both in Washington, D.C.
As an invisible mentor, what is one piece of advice that you would give a young female executive reading this? Don’t waste your time, talent or treasures. You can never get time back. You should go where your talents are celebrated, not tolerated. You should save your treasures early and often.
If you had to start over from scratch, knowing what you know now, what would you do differently? I would discover and work on my purpose earlier.
What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning? Knowing that I have one more day to fulfill my purpose and help to inspire the people around me. AT
What’s the most important business or other discovery you’ve made in the past year? Promote yourself in an authentic way, but remember to always be humble.
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WOMEN OF COCA-COLA
MELANIE JONES
M
elanie Jones is The Coca-Cola Company’s newly appointed vice president of Sales for Target, making her responsible for all Coca-Cola sales activity, brand activation and execution for the 1,805 Target stores in the United States. Before starting her career at The Coca-Cola Company in 2007, Jones, spent the decade prior working for several FORTUNE 500 companies including Kroger, Target and McLane Distribution. Jones’s accomplishments include being a member of the Indiana Business Journal’s 2010 class of 40 under 40. She was also a member of the 2011 speaker’s series for the Krannert Executive Forum at Purdue University. In 2012, she was one of only 40 women selected from The Coca-Cola Company’s global organization to participate in the International Women in Leadership Conference. Recently, Jones completed Executive Leadership course work at Harvard Business School, focused on strategy creation and driving corporate performance through organizational behavior and value creation. Jones was born and raised in Indianapolis, Ind. There, she graduated from Ball State University as well as Indiana Wesleyan University, where she earned a Master of Business Administration degree. Jones has been married to Trent Jones for 15 years and they have three children Trent Joseph, Mason and Merin. If you had to start over from scratch, knowing what you know now, what would you do differently? Absolutely nothing. Even when I made mistakes or bad choices, they have shaped me into who I am today, and I love that person and leader. What’s the most important business or other discovery you’ve made in the past year? I learned how important being grounded in the foundational elements of financial accounting is for all leadership positions. Understanding how to breakdown a full financial picture of a business is foundational knowledge, so to be able to get from revenue all the way to a bottom line scenario quickly without a calculator — talk about mental gymnastics, it has been exhilarating. As an invisible mentor, what is one piece of advice that you would give a young female executive reading this? Business is not about feelings or emotions; when you see a leader make a business decision don’t assume it is personal. What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning? Knowing what my position and my journey means to all the young women leaders that are around me. AT
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WOMEN OF COCA-COLA
LISA M. BORDERS
L
isa Borders is currently chair of The Coca-Cola Foundation and vice president of Global Community Affairs at The Coca-Cola Company. Her work is focused on the integration of The CocaCola Company’s global community outreach and philanthropic efforts into their broader sustainability agenda. In early 2013, Borders successfully completed her tenure as president of the Grady Health Foundation, the fundraising arm of Grady Health System — Georgia’s largest public hospital and metro-Atlanta’s premier Level I Trauma Center. As president, she completed the Greater Grady Capital Campaign — a five-year, $325 million effort — and guided the system’s fundraising efforts during the most important period of Grady’s history. Prior to her work at the Grady Health Foundation, Borders served as president of the City Council and vice mayor of Atlanta. She was elected in August 2004, and served through January 2010. Borders was CEO of LMB LLC, a consulting company advising clients on community reinvestment, external affairs, marketing and communications; senior vice president of Marketing and External Affairs with Cousins Properties Incorporated, an Atlanta-based Real Estate Investment Trust; president of the Cousins Properties Foundation; chief administrator for Atlanta Women’s Specialists; and vice president of Operations for Healthcap Atlanta.
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Her community work focuses on family issues in the areas of education, healthcare and housing. She serves as a trustee at Duke University, The Westminster Schools, an emeritus trustee at Clark Atlanta University, a member of The Woodruff Arts Center and a founding leader of No Labels. As well, Borders is a board member of Grady Health System, The Atlanta Women’s Foundation, The Atlanta Police Foundation and Central Atlanta Progress. She is a member of Leadership Georgia and the Executive Leadership Council.
What’s the most important business or other discovery you’ve made in the past year? Results trump relationships in uncertain times.
Borders holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University and an MHA from the University of Colorado. She has one son, Garry, who is a filmmaker and photographer in California.
As an invisible mentor, what is one piece of advice that you would give a young female executive reading this? “Failure is not fatal; it’s feedback. Keep at it!”
If you had to start over from scratch, knowing what you know now, what would you do differently? Work hard, but enjoy life; it only happens once!
What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning? My son — v2.0. He is the next iteration of competence, confidence and compassion. AT
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WOMEN OF COCA-COLA
BRENDA BENJAMIN SMITH
B
renda Benjamin Smith, a 16-year veteran of Coca-Cola North America, has spent the last nine years in commercialization roles. Currently, vice president for Commercialization and Business Planning for Coca-Cola North America, she partners with the North America Category Business Units to commercialize new products and packages, and to insure that category priorities are incorporated into the short- and long-term plans for the Product Supply System. The Commercialization & Planning team includes CIF Program Management, Innovation Planning (system analysis), Package Commercialization, and Supply Chain Planning teams. Prior to joining Coca-Cola North America, she worked in Engineering and Operations at Conoco Oil and Finance at American Airlines. A Louisiana native, Benjamin Smith earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Southern University in Baton Rouge and an MBA from Tulane University in New Orleans. Away from work, she enjoys spending quality time with her husband Aldin and 11-year-old daughter Elise, as well as attending school sporting events, cooking for friends and family, and reading fiction. What will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you? The rate of change in the world today is mind-boggling. I expect that the pace of change will only accelerate over the coming years. With that high rate of change in our lives and in the business world, I believe that one of the biggest challenges that the next generation of women will face is maintaining a keen focus on prioritizing what really matters to them as individuals. As women, we have many roles in our lives — wife, business leader, mother, daughter, friend, volunteer, etc. — and it is very easy to become distracted and veer off course from self-defined priorities and measures of success. The challenge is to be relentless in our focus on what really matters amidst a constantly changing environment. What’s one core message you received from your mentor or an influential individual in your life? “With hard work and a positive attitude, I can do anything that I set my heart to do.” My parents encouraged me to put forth my best effort — even when no one notices the outcome or the effort — to not only meet expectations but to establish a work ethic that challenges me to exceed expectations. And when things don’t go as planned, remain positive and look for the silver lining — I truly believe that the challenges that I face today will prepare me to overcome future obstacles. What is an event that helped to shape your life? The birth of my daughter Elise made a dramatic impact on my approach to achieving my life objectives. In the past, when I set goals for myself, I have always had the ability to set my sights on the goal and then channel the bulk of my energies into achieving that goal or objective. That was one of my personal keys to achieving success — my relentless focus.
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However, when my daughter was born, I quickly learned that I could not channel all of my energies into any one area and be successful in the most important roles in my life — wife and mother. My husband and I had to jointly find new strategies for accomplishing career goals and being the engaged parents that we always dreamed of becoming. Finding balance is not easy and it is constantly evolving, but I’ve learned that if I can prioritize the key activities in the primary roles in my life, I can still accomplish my goals without making sacrifices that I will eventually regret. If we were to say to a group of people who know you, ‘give us three adjectives that best describe you,’ what would we hear? Optimistic — keeps a positive attitude and remains calm during challenging situations. Conscientious — works hard and is dedicated to faith, family, and work.— makes every attempt to keep commitments at home, work, and in the community. Pragmatic — level-headed, practical, and grounded in my approach and responses to life’s peaks and valleys. AT
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WOMEN OF COCA-COLA
PAMELA STEWART
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amela Stewart has spent 15 years across the Coca-Cola system appending several years she spent in finance across key industries prior to her career at Coke. She currently leads CocaCola North America’s sales organization for the Publix grocery chain — a $30 billion-plus revenue retailer. Previously, Stewart led Coca-Cola Refreshment’s Region Foodservice and On Premise organization for the U.S. East Region after serving as staff executive (EA) to the former president and CEO of CCR. Additionally, she has held several other key leadership roles across the company in the areas of national and regional sales; operations and finance; foodservice on premise; retail business segments and The Coca-Cola Company’s Multicultural Leadership Council for which she now serves as Chair. Her leadership extends into the community as Stewart holds seats on numerous boards, including GLAAD, Camp Twin Lakes, Junior Achievement of Georgia and AGLCC; and is also an alumna of Leadership Atlanta. Stewart is the recipient of the 2016 Woman of Influence in the Food Industry; 2013 AGLCC’s Business Woman of the Year Award; and the 2011 YWCA Corporate Achiever of the Year. Stewart earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree at Georgia State University and Master of Business Administration degree at Oglethorpe University. She is happily married to Loan Huynh. What will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you? To define her success without any of the barriers established by society or her family/friends ... and to allow the audio and relevance of her own voice (not others’ expectations and limitations) to define her self-worth and importance. What’s one core message you received from your mentor or an influential individual in your life? To bring my whole, authentic self to each and every moment … it is the only way to extract my best and to be completely present for others. What is an event that helped to shape your life? My own near-life death experience at age 4. Doctors determined I would never think, talk or walk for myself following a tragic event. Fate proved them wrong, and that life lesson taught me that no obstacle is insurmountable. If we were to say to a group of people who know you, ‘give us three adjectives that best describe you,’ what would we hear? Passionate, authentic and inspirational. AT
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Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates Specialists in the Detection and Treatment of Digestive Diseases, Hepatitis and Colon Cancer Providing expert diagnoses and treatment to patients with digestive and liver disorders has been the hallmark of Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates (AGA) for 40 years. Our experienced physicians and staff are committed to providing patients with care that is both comprehensive and cost-effective. For more information about our adult and pediatric services, visit www.atlantagastro.com or Facebook: www.facebook.com/atlantagastro.
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photo ©Ken Howard/Opera Theatre of St. Louis
S E T A THE PIR E C N A Z N E OF P
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HEART HEALTH
TAKE CONTROL OF
YOUR HEART:
It's All in the ABCS E
very year, Americans suffer more than 1.5 million heart attacks and strokes. Nearly 44 percent of African-American men and 48 percent of AfricanAmerican women have some form of cardiovascular disease that includes heart disease and stroke. But you can reduce your risk and improve your heart health by following the ABCS:
A: Take aspirin as directed by your health care provider. Ask your health care provider if aspirin can reduce your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Be sure to tell your health care provider if you have a family medical history of heart disease or stroke. B: Control your blood pressure.
A - Take aspirin as directed by your health care provider. B - Control your blood pressure. C - Manage your cholesterol. S - Don't smoke.
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Blood pressure measures the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. If your blood pressure stays high, you may suffer from high blood pressure, also called hypertension. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack and stroke more than any other risk factor. African Americans are more likely than any other racial or ethnic group to have high blood pressure and to develop the condition earlier in life. To keep your blood pressure under control, find out what your blood pressure numbers are, and ask your health care provider what those numbers mean for your health. If you have high blood pressure, work with your health care provider to lower it.
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HEART HEALTH
C: Manage your cholesterol. Cholesterol is a waxy substance produced by the liver and is found in certain foods. Your body needs cholesterol, but when you have too much it can build up in your arteries and cause heart disease. There are different types of cholesterol. One type is high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or good cholesterol that can protect you from heart disease. Another type is low-density-lipoprotein (LDL), known as bad cholesterol that can increase your risk of heart disease. Talk to your health care provider about cholesterol and how to lower your bad cholesterol if it’s too high. S: Don't smoke. About one of five African-American adults smokes cigarettes. If you smoke, quit. Talk with your health care provider about ways to help you stick with your decision. It’s never too late to quit smoking. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW today or visit smokefree.gov. What do I need to know about high blood pressure? High blood pressure is the leading cause of heart attack and stroke in the United States. About two out of every five African-American adults have high blood pressure, and less than half of them have it under control. How is blood pressure measured? Two numbers (e.g., 140/90) help determine blood pressure. The first number measures systolic pressure, which is the pressure in the blood vessels when the heart beats. The second number measures diastolic pressure, which is the pressure in the blood vessels when the heart rests between beats. If the first number is 140 or higher, or the second number is 90 or higher then you have high blood pressure and should talk to your health care provider. When and how should I check my blood pressure readings? Check your blood pressure readings on a regular basis, even if you feel fine. Generally, people with high blood pressure have no symptoms. You can check your blood pressure readings at home, at a pharmacy, and at a doctor's office.
Eat a healthy diet. Eat more fruits and vegetables and choose foods low in sodium. African Americans as well as adults aged 51 years and older and people with high blood pressure, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease should consume only 1,500 mg of sodium per day. Get moving. Staying physically active will help you control your weight and strengthen your heart. Try walking for 10 minutes, three times a day, at least five days a week. This will give you a total of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity. Take your medications. If you have high blood pressure, your health care provider may give you medicine to help control it. It's important to follow your doctor's instructions when taking the medication. Tell your health care provider if the medicine makes you feel bad. Your doctor can talk with you about different ways to reduce side effects or recommend another medicine that may have fewer side effects. Your doctor is not the only health care provider that can help you follow the ABCS. Nurses, pharmacists, community health workers, health coaches, and other providers can work with you and your doctor to help you achieve your health goals. Don’t be afraid to ask questions like these: •
What is my risk for heart disease? Should I take an aspirin every day to reduce my risk?
•
What is my blood pressure? What does it mean for me, and what should I do about it?
•
What kinds of support are available to help me quit smoking? AT
How can I control my blood pressure? Make control your goal! Work with your health care provider to make a plan for controlling your blood pressure and follow their guidelines, which may include:
Information courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov.
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Marketing Automation Reaches Its Tipping Point for Small Business The unrelenting amount of content being created, coupled with shrinking attention spans, marketing automation tools are more popular than ever. But even with that being the case, it’s estimated that as few as 7 percent of United States-based companies are using marketing automation software. About the Author: Brent Leary is a partner of CRM Essentials. He is co-author of "Barack 2.0: Social Media Lessons for
I spoke with Andy MacMillan, CEO of marketing automation platform Act-On Software, about the state of marketing automation usage in small and midsize companies. Here are a few takeaways from that conversation.
Small Business." You can follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/brentleary
Are you surprised only 7 percent of U.S. companies are using marketing automation? Andy MacMillan: It’s surprising based on where we are from a technology standpoint. But at the same time, I think it’s a typical evolution of technology. It is a product that has historically had a lot of bells and whistles and a lot of power to it. But it’s been somewhat daunting for your average marketer, especially if you’re at a smaller company — to take advantage of. But what happens over time is, what was once powerful and complicated becomes powerful and simpler, and easier to use. We’re just reaching the point where organizations are no longer asking ‘what is marketing automation?’ or ‘should I be using it?’ We’re just starting to see people say they know they need it. And I believe that an average marketer can dive right in and be successful with it. Where can marketing automation have the most impact on a business today? MacMillan: Creating a very personalized experience, but in an automated way. You can use data and rule sets to make sure that every one of your customers, [and] every one of your prospects, feels that you’re dealing with them in a very individualized, one-to-one manner. You can do that in an automated fashion, and that’s where you really get that scale of interaction; where people start to feel engaged with a brand
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— when the brand is communicating with them on a personalized basis, but in a regular, consistent way. What role does marketing automation play in customer retention? MacMillan: For a long time, we viewed customers as being a completed process. I think what the subscription economy has really changed about that is we work hard to sign up customers, but the goal is to retain those customers, and retain that subscription over time. And I really think it’s going to be more about proactive interaction with those customers. The company should be reaching out to customers proactively and really [stimulate] that engagement. And what better way to do that than with a marketing automation platform that’s designed around automating those kind of interactions? Are people using more advanced marketing automation functions, beyond email marketing and landing pages? MacMillan: We see people at two ends of the spectrum and not enough in the middle. If you look at the majority of marketing automation deployments, you’re going to find a small number of people at the high end (automated lead scoring, multi-channel campaigns, and predictive analytics). There’s a small amount of people with specialized tools doing sophisticated things. And then you’re going to see a lot of people at the other end of the spectrum where they’ve bought a powerful tool, but they’re not able to really consume a lot of it. What will it take to get marketing automation adopted at higher levels? MacMillan: I’m a believer that we are going to start to see numbers move up pretty quickly because the tone of the conversation now is how do I use marketing automation? How do I deploy this kind of technology to make my team more successful? So, I think we’re going to see a massive acceleration in the adoption. AT
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Technology for Business TNT (Tips ‘N Tricks) Webinar Series Hosted by Brent Leary
Learn Business Tips You Can Implement Right Away M ONTHLY WEB IN AR
FEBRUARY 9, 2016 7 pm ET
Host & Moderator: Brent Leary AT Technology Columnist
As an entrepreneur we know you’re looking for “tips ‘n tricks” you can quickly implement in your efforts to promote your business and be more efficient in your endeavors to grow. Join us every 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7pm ET for an hour of TNT (tips ‘n tricks) you can put into action for your small business right away. You’ll learn from experts in social networking, video production, eCommerce, finance and more - all for FREE! www.AtlantaTribune.com
T:7”
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Jeff Johnson Trailblazer Marc Morial Humanitarian
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Tori Turner Community Choice Youth Award Winner
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12 Months. 365 Days. 8760 Hours. 525,600 Minutes. To those who always find time to reach out…reach back…and bring others along. McDonald’s® celebrates you, not only during Black History Month, but each and every day throughout the year. Find out more at 365Black.com.
©2016 McDonald’s
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How to Keep Your New Year's Resolutions in 5 Steps 68 // ONE MORE THING
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TRAVEL
Grand Central By Katrice L. Mines
MAGNIFICENT WHEN IT OPENED IN 1871, A WEDDING GIFT FROM CHICAGO BUSINESS MAGNATE POTTER PALMER TO BERTHA HONORE, THE PALMER HOUSE HILTON HOTEL WAS QUITE AN ADDITION TO DOWNTOWN CHICAGO … IF PRINCIPALLY FOR ITS INSPIRATION. AN ENTIRE HOTEL AS A GIFT? SPECTACULAR.
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On the Executive Level, key-only access offers guests a more private and exclusive accommodation experience. When I ducked into the refreshment area for an afternoon snack, the staff member behind the bar greeted me by name. We had never met. But, this was the kind of experience I’d grown accustomed to quickly; a passing housekeeper had wished me ‘Happy Birthday’ that morning. That, joined with each evening’s pre-dinner hors d’oeuvres and assorted libations, and dedicated concierge services committed each personal touch to my memory as a bit of that special something. FOOD + DRINK Lockwood Restaurant, located on the lobby level of the historic Palmer House Hilton, features the freshest locally grown ingredients including items from the hotel’s rooftop garden and apiary. Pasta aficionado and Chef Mathew Wiltzius helms the creation of seasonally-influenced modern American fare with dishes like 55 day dry aged beef ribeye, caramelized shallot, crispy potato “cobbler” and chickweed jus. You don’t want to leave, however, without trying Lockwood’s cumin roasted carrot soup – an amalgam of heirloom carrots, ginger foam and pumpernickel. Beyond its main dining space, Lockwood Restaurant & Bar offers a private dining room.
One hundred and forty-five years, a demolishing fire and several renovations later, it is still spectacular.
TO DO Experience the sights and sounds of Chicago through the lens of culture as the Palmer House sets you in perfect proximity to the Art Institute and its permanent collection of Impressionist and PostImpressionist art; performances like “A Tribute to Sarah Vaughan” featuring The Chicago Jazz Orchestra at Chicago Symphony Center; and the Auditorium Theatre – a 125-year-old national historic landmark where former Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William McKinley gave speeches and where, years later, iconic musicians such as Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Aretha Franklin, Elton John and Stevie Wonder performed. If you’re in the city March 8-13, 2016, you can enjoy Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater during their annual residency on its historic stage.
Situated within walking distance of the theater district, The Art Institute of Chicago, and famed Magnificent Mile, the Palmer House, on East Monroe Street, offers a singular taste of Chicago retreat. It is the longest continually operating hotel in the United States for a reason.
Back at the hotel, history lovers – take the History is Hott Tour. A signature offering, the tour acquaints guests with the Palmer House’s rich past – navigating through the hotel’s iconic spaces and priceless historical artifacts dating back through the hotel’s 140-plus year history.
Within the 25-story historic destination: 1,641 guest rooms, including 177 executive rooms and 53 suites, and a variety of facilities and services to accommodate the distinct needs of every guest. The lobby buzzes with a vibe of cool modernity – a formal staircase, marble-topped tables, velvet seating, and a ceiling mural depicting Greek mythology. For the three days, the sprawl in between Lockwood Restaurant and the main desk was the scene.
REFRESH You’ll want to bring your workout gear as the Palmer House is home to a three-level Health Club and Balance Spa. From cardio machines and yoga classes to massages and facials, the Balance Spa & Fitness provides a full menu of fitness and spa equipment and services. It’s Chicago, as a getaway, at its best. AT
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TRAVEL
Images courtesy of The Palmer House, A Hilton Hotel
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GIFT GUIDE 2 0 1 6
SIMPLE SMOKER $299 The Simple Smoker with SmartChef™ Technology is the perfect gift for your honey right before the big game. He’ll be the hero of the party or, better yet, the SmartChef™ with technology that enables you to consistently create superior tasting food and enjoy an effortless smoking routine. The Wi-Fi connected Simple Smoker gives you more convenience and freedom than ever before. With the Char-Broil SmartChef App’s smart mode, just choose your cut of meat and the app automatically sets the chamber and target meat temperature for a meal cooked to perfection. SmartChef technology utilizes the Cloud — sending info to your smoker and in return receiving info back through the Cloud to your smart device so you can see cooking status from anywhere. No need to worry about overcooking or continuously checking on food because you’ll be alerted at key cooking times like when: • Your smoker is online • Your food is almost ready • Your food is done • Your wood chips should be checked Unlike bluetooth smokers, you're no longer tethered to your cooker. And if you need recipe options, the Simple Cooker’s app has you covered with a library of recipes at your fingertips for endless inspiration. Any questions?
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GIFT GUIDE 2016
FITBIT BLAZE: LUXE COLLECTION Starting at $199.95 Move over smart watches, Fitbit has introduced a fitness watch that’s as stylish as it is smart. Elevate workouts with continuous heart rate and simplified zones — all without an uncomfortable chest strap. Connect Fitbit Blaze with the GPS on your phone to map your routes and see run stats like pace and duration on display. And begin a FitStar workout on your tracker, and receive step-by-step instructions and coaching right on your wrist. Sweat in style. Fitbit.com/lookbook/blaze#luxe
BEVEL SHAVE SYSTEM $89.85 You deserve to look good, and we all have things that are important to us and that we want to give our best impression. Whether it's an interview, a date, or a job, a clean, smooth shave is a rite of passage that we all should enjoy. Bevel’s end-to-end shaving system specifically designed for men with coarse, curly hair is the answer. Getbevel.com
DJI PHANTOM 3 SERIES Starting at $499 More intelligent, more powerful, and more accessible than ever before, the Phantom 3 … Aerial captures for the win. Dji.com
CASABLANCA BRACELET $79 This Art Deco-inspired statement bracelet is a lovely combination of crystal and pavé stones set in a vintage-inspired pattern. StellaandDot.com
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WEEKENDER
WHEELS UP While the air is crisp and visibility stellar, go [learn how to] fly the friendly skies at the city’s top flight schools.
SkyBound Aviation Flight Training at DeKalb Peachtree Airport For $179, you’ll get the “totally unsure I want to do this, but I really do want to do this” introductory flight training package. It includes approximately 10-15 minutes of preflight time with the instructor explaining the airplane operations, followed by 40 minutes of actual flight time, wrapped up by 10-15 minutes of post-flight debriefing. You then receive a First Flight Certificate to commemorate the day which, if you are so inclined, can be logged towards your pilot license training — for that weekend jaunt to New Orleans.
Skybnd.com
Aero Atlanta Flight Center aeroatlanta.com
American Air Flight Training fly-aaft.com
ATP Flight School atpflightschool.com
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Spring ... On My Radar
e.l.f. Studio Flawless Finish Foundation SPF 15 $6
Images courtesy of Kiehls, New Balance, HouseofFraser.com, Sephora, Freyrs, Elf Cosmetics, Raven + Lily, Victoria’s Secret and Daniel Wellington
Elfcosmetics.com
FORMULA X #COLORCURATORS Polish $12.50 each Sephora.com
Classic Reading Watch 40mm $229 DanielWellington.com
Turmeric & Cranberry Seed Energizing Radiance Masque $32 Nordstrom.com
Large Chunky Retro Circle Tortoise Sunglasses $11.95 Freyrs.com
Sephora Collection PRO Press Full Coverage Complexion Brush no. 66 $36 Sephora.com
Mahali Cut-Out Pendant Necklace $62 Ravenandlily.com
New Balance 811 $74.99 NewBalance.com
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“SPARKLING, FRESH AND LIVELY.” - Los Angeles Times
ON SALE NOW! MARCH 1-6 FoxTheatre.org/SoundOfMusic 855-285-8499
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FASTLANE
2015 MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS HARDTOP:
MAXIMUM FUN By Brian Armstead
I
f you’ve never driven the diminutive MINI sportsters from the United Kingdom, you need to get on down to your local dealer to experience the phenomenon the brand has created. The Mini Cooper first launched in the UK in 1961 as a performance variant of the base Mini. The car was an immediate hit, much in the same way the early VW Beetles took America by storm. Simply styled with room for four, this microcar was easily modified for more performance. John Cooper, owner of the Cooper Car Company and race car designer and builder, saw the Mini as an opportunity to build an inexpensive racer, and the Mini Cooper was born. After successful racing campaigns in the 60s, and with street versions burning up Great Britain, more than 2 million Minis of all types were sold by 1969. Beset by increasing safety requirements, the original British Motor Corporation Minis slipped into the history books in 2000, but the name continues, as the BMW Group acquired the name rights for the brand in 1994 and in 2002, the MINI was born. Much larger, safer, and faster, the MINI remains true to the original design heritage, and was an instant hit for BMW. WWW.ATLANTATRIBUNE.COM
Fast forward to 2015, and the legend of John Cooper remains in the form of the John Cooper Works Hardtop. The JCW, as it is called, features a 228 horsepower TwinPower turbocharged four cylinder, race ready brakes and plenty of swagger. If you’ve ever driven a MINI, the interior has also been redesigned. One signature feature was a large, Flavor Flav sized tachometer at the top of the center console. In today’s cars the tach is where it should be, in front of the driver in the instrument cluster. The large circle at the top of the center console is now filled with telematics and entertainment info displayed on a hi-res screen. The redesign looks great. The JCW features outstanding performance, a very comfortable ride, luxury features that raise the sales price to near scary levels, and comfortable sports seats that keep you going mile after fun mile. Priced at $30,600 base and $41,800 as tested, the MINI JCW Hardtop is not for the economic faint of heart. But given the racing lineage, the huge fun factor when you get behind the wheel, and the unique styling that turns heads no matter where you go, do your self a favor and test drive one today. AT
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Hall of Fame Roger Bobb, Bobbcat Films and Pat Lottier, Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine
John Eaves, Fulton County Commission
Scott Brown, Georgia-Pacific; Charles Canady Jr., GALGF Intern; and Chris Lottier, GALGF Advisory Board
Silas "Si-Man" Alexander, Majic 107.5; Terry Deon Johnson and Alicia Kristy Ashley, son and daughter of Rosemary Jones; Estrella Cramer, UPS; and Sabrina Jenkins, Atlanta Braves during the Rosemary Jones Tribute
Ken Compton, Georgia Power; Juanita Baranco, Mercedes Benz of Buckhead; Moanica Caston, Georgia Power; Ken Huff, Southern Company; and Katrice Mines, Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine during the Corporate Diversity Award presentation
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Kim McNair, Kim McNair Productions and Brian Poe, Poe and Associates
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Ollie Patterson, Atmosphere
Ceasar Mitchell, Atlanta City Council
Honoree Tobias Tillmon, AARP
Honoree Wendy Williams, WCLK
Honoree Talaya Parker (third from left) and ADP guests
Judge Terrinee L. Gundee, Atlanta Municipal Court
Chris Lottier, Azael Martindale, GALGF intern; and Charmaine Ward, Georgia-Pacific
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BLISSBEHAVIN’ IN ROME, ITALY By Regina Lynch-Hudson
Colosseum Rome
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e didn’t quite behave as the Romans do while in Rome even though our whirlwind one-week tour included the typical traipsing up and down the Spanish Steps, and stops at the Colosseum, Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, and Pantheon.
Beyond the oft-beaten path, who knew that laws are so steep when it pertains to placing designer sunglasses on the busts of the country's priceless relics? The eye-bobs were Italian-made, after all.
Regina Hotel Baglioni
Eyeglasses on Italian Bust
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The Pantheon Rome
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Roman Forum
ROOM TO ROAM: Those Italians sure know how to roll out the welcome mat. Upon our morning arrival into frenzied Rome, I noted that the folks at Regina Hotel Baglioni had painted my name onto the pavement. Charming touch! A member of The Leading Hotels of the World, Regina Hotel Baglioni is positioned on the renowned Via Veneto, a mere stroll from many of Rome’s intriguing points of interest and famed boutiques. The historical palace-style lodging lived up to the “Regina spirit” with decadent decor, dazzling chandeliers and indulging service provided by attendants with delightful Italian accents. (http://www.baglionihotels.com/category/regina-hotel-baglioni-rome) WHEN IN ROME: Hubby and I spent the better part of a day gallivanting around the Colosseum, the largest elliptical amphitheater ever erected, and one of the world’s greatest works of architecture and engineering. My better half, an engineer, retired colonel and history buff, got a thrill out of the experience. His captivation with battles, weaponry and gore whisked him back to an era of gladiator duels and blood-thirsty spectators. He remained transfixed-in-time at the neighboring Roman Forum, a rectangular plaza, surrounded by crumbling facades of majestic shrines, monuments, and temples — the epicenter of ancient Rome. I immersed myself in the grandeur and classical beauty of the structures. Another day’s adventure began with a fortunate detour past the mob of thousands crammed in lines leading into the mammoth Vatican Museum. (https://youtu.be/jOGqunuX6g0) Thankfully, we were able to sidestep the hordes. No, I don’t know the Pope personally. We purchased skip-the-line tickets online, weeks in advance. (mv.vatican.va)
Once inside the Vatican Museum, hubby pondered about the Vaticanowned Egyptian antiquities, suggesting that they were stolen during the British Colonial period of Egypt, or before, when Rome controlled Egypt. I stayed out of the politics of it all and merely enjoyed the alluring statuary aesthetics. Other Vatican highlights: running into House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi; and eyeing magnificent paintings and ceiling murals. As luck would have it, the Trevi Fountain, another must-see, was under renovation. Alas, I wasn’t able to toss three coins into the fountain, a custom that supposedly guarantees a return to Rome. Not one for frivolous folklore, hubby reminded me of his American Express bill, and assured me that it would take far more than ‘three coins’ to finance a repeat visit. CULINARY DELIGHTS: Imagine a non-red-meat-eating-gal-whois-allergic-to-acidic-foods, trolling the streets of Rome in search of meatless, gluten-free, tomato-less pizza. There’s a reason that Europeans dub us “ridiculous Americans.” However, I did luck up. Casina Valadier, a luxury eatery located in the heart of Villa Borghese, served the most delectable salad with Cantabrian Sea anchovies, and provided blissful views of the Eternal City on the highest point of Pincio. (www.casinavaladier.com) Just to the right of the Spanish Steps is Alla Rampa, a more than 40-year-old restaurant that hit the spot with its grilled vegetables and fish from the Mediterranean. (www.allarampa. it) A mug of Tea “for one” at Babington's Tea Room, a traditional English tea shop at the foot of the Spanish Steps, set us back 20 euro (approximately $23) — a hefty price for a thirst-quenching libation following energy-sapping stints of maneuvering Rome’s labyrinthine boulevards and alleys. (http://www.babingtons.com) AT
Blissbehavin’ InTM covers top bliss destinations where busy executives go indulge in leisure activities. Publicist/travel writer Regina Lynch-Hudson has developed articles, and destination marketing concepts for countless airlines, venues and tourism boards. www.thewritepublicist.com
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Students Without Mothers Empowering Students Through Higher Education
Students Without Mothers is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping high school students without mothers help themselves by empowering them to continue their education. The organization’s main purpose is to provide scholarships for college bound high school seniors who are without their mothers due to death or other unfortunate circumstances. Students Without Mothers provides both advocacy and support to help its students to consistently make the best choices in a constantly changing world.
How You can Help
Since its inception in 2004, Students Without Mothers has provided 57 students with four year scholarships in the amount of $4,000 each. The students receive support in annual disbursements of $1,000. There are many more students in need of support but our funds are limited. Please help by making a one-time donation, becoming a Monthly Donor, an Event Sponsor or a Corporate Sponsor.
Testimonials
I have been so blessed in being a recipient of the SWM Scholarship. Many people don’t understand the struggles of losing a mother. From the supportive phone calls and Life Coaches to the random gift cards in the mail, SWM helped me through college greatly. I will graduate in December and want to stay active in SWM in any way possible since you all have been so kind. I cannot thank you enough! - Danica, Scholarship Recipient The Students Without Mothers Scholarship has been such a blessing. This scholarship helped me purchase my books, as well as pay my housing deposit and meal plan. I am grateful to be a recipient of this award. Thank you for your contribution to my education. - Zikia, Scholarship Recipient
3355 Lenox Road NE, Suite 750, Atlanta, GA 30326 • 404-250-3232 • www.StudentsWithoutMothers.org
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toDo
FEBRUARY2016
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater FEBRUARY 10-14, 2016 The world’s most popular dance company returns to Atlanta and graces the stage of the Fox Theatre to build on favorite pieces from previous years as well as some of the season’s new works. The Alvin Ailey Dance Theater is sure to capture the attention of audiences as they have done since 1958. alvinailey.org
How to Do Business with the Braves FEBRUARY 17, 2016 3-5:30 P.M. Take part in a great opportunity by joining Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine and the 2016 Atlanta Braves in an informative tradeshow and panel discussion covering how to build and maintain a business relationship with the new SunTrust Park. atlantatribune.com
The Black History Month Parade FEBRUARY 27, 2016 12-3 P.M. The Black History Month Parade will take over Auburn Avenue in downtown Atlanta, highlighting and celebrating the culture, heritage, history and accomplishments of African-American people. Enjoy marching bands, entertainers, dignitaries, civic groups, celebrities and much more in this celebratory parade honoring black history. blackhistorymonthparade.com
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techbyte
TELLSPEC
The Food Science Advisor
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hile helpful, nutrition labels within the parameters of the FDA’s recommended daily allowances can only go so far. And too, calorie counting apps like MyFitnessPal give you ballpark figures for average serving sizes and food compositions via user-provided data, but can fall short when assessing the meal right in front of you — the one where you added a dollop of sour cream and several dashes of salt. Following in the vein of FitBit, which tracks and analyzes real-time activity, the TellSpec food scanner and sensor is like having a nutrition label at your hands for every food item, calibrated and tailored to your own unique dietary needs. For the health-diligent and
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aspirant alike, TellSpec’s handheld scanner uses spectroscopy and a special algorithm to calculate calories and macro-nutrients, like protein and fat, in foods. The device warns you about chemicals, allergens and ingredients you'd rather avoid, and will also help you figure out food sensitivities and track your vitamin intake. It can also give you the background story on little-known ingredients like Tartrazine, a synthetic lemon yellow that's commonly used as food coloring. The boast: Now, you can know whether those sweet potato fries contain traces of trans-fat, or if those purportedly organic celery sticks are truly pesticide-free. Tellspec.com AT
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Tip Sheet
7 SMALL HACKS TO FLEX YOUR COMPENSATION
D
on’t think for a moment that your right to negotiate compensation has been hampered by recent economic conditions. In fact, sharpen your bargaining skills and make the paradigm shift to the “Total Compensation” strategy, defined as the sum of wages, salaries, non-monetary fringe benefits and now job security. Gwen Thomas, an HR consultant, calls it being more “entrepreneurial” in your approach. “Before you come to the table you need to be informed on what your options are. What is my bottom line, what’s my time worth to me? Your base salary isn’t the only way to determine your worth.” It’s not about asking for more, on top of your base salary, but rather tailoring your compensation package to suit what matters to you as a well-rounded individual. Professional Development – Make sure you transition from job to job a cut above the rest. Request that your employer foot the fees for all relevant memberships and certifications. As an added value, ask for scheduling flexibility to attend conferences and trade shows to learn the best practices in your field. Retirement Dreams – Good news: Companies are showing signs of becoming more retirement-friendly again. While many companies suspended 401(k)-matching programs over the last few years, the benefits consulting firm Hewitt Associates recently surveyed 162 mid- to large-sized U.S. companies and found that 80 percent planned to restore full matching contributions in the coming years. Opt in. Financial Literacy Training and Advisement – Employer-sponsored or in-house financial literacy and advisement programs that provide ongoing advisement on
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prudent financial stewardship are highly beneficial to both the employer and employee. The employer can reduce stressrelated health care costs and absences, time and resource theft and retain employees; and the employees learn how to stretch their paychecks; find pre-tax savings; set up retirement savings accounts; reduce their debts; ease family conflicts over money and learn how to handle those stock options that they were afforded. Compensation Combo – Compensation and time ratios are largely contingent on what you value most, which is often a very fluid determination. Choose your combo: Less upfront pay/more vacation time; Less pay/more stock options; Less vacation time/more stock option; Less vacation time/more pay; More pay/less stock options. Commuter Benefits – Mass transit vouchers, gas cards, MARTA Breeze cards — anything to shave off the cents from the daily commuting two-step. Check with your HR department to see if your company will allow you to pay for parking or metro fees with pre-tax dollars. Paying with pre-tax dollars is the same as being able to write off your expense which could save you $50-$100 a month. Corporate Credit Card – Ask your employer to let you keep or transfer to yourself accumulated reward points, miles and credits on airfare, hotel stays, car rentals, etc., earned on corporate credit cards for company-related travel. Supplemental Reading – Every industry has at least one trade journal to accompany it. Secure an online or print subscription through your company and impress your boss with your insider knowledge at the next staff meeting. AT
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for the LOVE of FOOD
ON A SWEET NOTE Citrus Pound Cake I spent a recent Sunday afternoon drinking in the fading sunshine ... and baking a cake. It wasn't the fancier variety of cake that may immediately come to mind. But one equally special, all the same — and for all the right reasons. Reasons like a beautiful, moist crumb, and wave upon wave of citrus infusion. From zest and juice, to syrup and glaze, there was no mistaking the bright flavors and under notes that have made this cake a personal favorite for many years now. I especially love it when a little something extra special is the order of the day. Rather than go my traditional route of lemon only (lemon pound cake is a wonder), I decided to mix things up and combine the flavors of grapefruit, orange and lemon. Did I say this was a citrus pound cake? The absolute best part, however, is that it yields two cakes — one for savoring and one for sharing (or freezing until you're ready to indulge your sweet tooth all over again). There's really not much left to say, other than you have to bake it. And thank me later.
CITRUS POUND CAKE Ingredients: 1/2 lb. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature 2 1/2 cups sugar, divided 4 large eggs, room temperature Grated zest of one grapefruit, one orange and two lemons 3 cups flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup of citrus juice (combination of 1/4 cup each of grapefruit, orange and lemon), divided 3/4 cup buttermilk, room temperature 1 teaspoon vanilla extract For the glaze: 1 ½ cups confectioner's sugar 2 tablespoons citrus juice Method: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 2 (8 1/2 by 4 1/4 by 2 1/2-inch) loaf pans. Line the bottoms with parchment paper.
Dawn M. Richards is the founder of the food and lifestyle brand, D.M.R. Fine Foods. With her food passion leading the way, Dawn shares recipes, travel stories, fashion, entertainment and lifestyle features on dmrfinefoods.blogspot. com and other media outlets, while maintaining a career as a FORTUNE 500 legal executive.
Cream the butter and 2 cups sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, until light and fluffy, about five minutes. With the mixer on medium speed, add the eggs, one at a time, and the citrus zest. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. In another bowl, combine 1/4 cup citrus juice, the buttermilk, and vanilla. Add the flour and buttermilk mixtures alternately to the batter, beginning and ending with the flour. Divide the batter evenly between the pans, smooth the tops, and bake for 45 minutes to one hour, until a cake tester comes out clean. Combine 1/2 cup sugar with 1/2 cup citrus juice in a small saucepan and cook over low heat until the sugar dissolves. When the cakes are done, allow to cool for 10 minutes. Remove the cakes from the pans and set them on a rack set over a tray or sheet pan; spoon the lemon syrup over them. Allow the cakes to cool completely. For the glaze, combine the confectioners' sugar and the citrus juice in a bowl, mixing with a wire whisk until smooth. Pour over the tops of the cakes and allow the glaze to drizzle down the sides. (Cook's Note: If freezing the cakes, don't apply glaze until you are ready to serve.) Enjoy! AT
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ONE MORE THING
How to Keep Your New Year's Resolutions in 5 Steps
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he idea of New Year's Resolutions has become a bit hackneyed over the last decade. Just bring up the topic in the crowd and you're sure to notice a few smirks. Most of us can think of more anecdotes about failed attempts than our successful transformations from January 1st to December 31st. But, we're not giving up on the notion of change for the better just yet; our glass is always half full. So, we've pulled together five steps to making a go at it again (and again). Good luck! Take the time to carefully determine the resolutions or life adjustments you'd like to make that are not only top-of-mind for you but that are interconnected. The more impact a change would make in your life, the more you're likely to invest your energy into seeing it through. Begin with a surmountable goal. For instance, the thought of stopping or changing something cold turkey for 365 days can be overwhelming. Consider starting with 28 days and building and adding days from there until it becomes more of a habit than a project. Who says you have to begin January 1st? We put a lot of weight on the first day of the new year; so much so, that it can seem more ceremonial than anything else. Why not quietly, without announcement, begin at the end of the November or even the day after Christmas — when all of our holiday indulgence comes to a halt. Find someone to partner with you. Having a partner will give you support and accountability. If you fall off the wagon, get back on. No one ever said change was easy, and there really is no full-roof science to formulating new habits. So, you make your own. AT
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Love it again and again. Enjoy the Coke. Recycle the bottle.
©2016 The Coca-Cola Company.vv
