On Leadership

It’s been 20 years since Bernie Marcus retired as CEO of The Home Depot. But he still lives by the “do-it-yourself” philosophy. In his new book, “Kick Up Some Dust,” the 93-year-old entrepreneur provides lessons on tackling tough business problems and the benefit of giving back. He has donated more than $2 billion to charity. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy N...

Frank Argenbright, Jr.’s career “took off” in 1979 when he founded Argenbright Security, a company focused on aviation services. His journey has had its fair share of turbulence. But he's kept going. With more than 50 mergers and acquisitions under his belt, Argenbright is being recognized with the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 2022 Deals of the Year Lifetime Achievement award. See Privacy Policy a...

As the Managing Director of Accenture’s Atlanta office, Chloe Barzey says she aims to ensure the $50 billion global consulting firm has a local impact on metro Atlanta through innovation, collaboration and community service. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

Chris Womack is energized by the prospect of leading one of the nation’s largest utility companies. Named president of Georgia Power in 2020, he became Chairman and CEO of the company in June 2021. In that role he leads an enterprise with 7,000 employees and 2.7 million customers across the state of Georgia. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://a...

As CEO of SignatureFD, Heather Fortner is focused on the “net worthwhile” for her 1,200 clients and employees. The Atlanta-based financial advisory firm has about $4.5 billion under management. By 2025, the company expects that number to grow to $10 billion. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info . See omnystud...

Ravi Saligram, CEO of Newell Brands, is focused on keeping the company young and relevant. Some of its brands are more than 100 years old. Newell Brands makes products under the Sharpie, Rubbermaid and Mr. Coffee brands. When he joined the company in 2019, sales were sagging. Not anymore. Last year, net sales topped $10.6 billion. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Priv...

For Meredith Leapley, founder and CEO of Leapley Construction, leadership is all about one’s ability to LEAP IN. Always Learn, demonstrate Empathy, be Agile, and Persistent. And do it with Integrity. It’s been an undeniable recipe for success for the company which specializes in building out interior spaces for corporate, healthcare and education clients. Its annual revenue tops $200 million. See...

As many as two billion people worldwide do not have access to the medicine they need. MAP International aims to change that. President and CEO Steve Stirling brings three decades of experience to the job, and a sense of empathy--having contracted polio as a child in post-war Korea. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sel...

The current job market is nothing short of “wild” according to Dan Erling, president and CEO of Accountants One. Covid-19 has forced the industry to toss out the old rules of talent recruiting for a more time-intensive and expensive form of finding the right hires. It’s put more demand on his recruiting firm, and led to the company’s best year ever, he said. After 25 years in the industry, “it’s s...

Karen Knudsen, President and CEO of the American Cancer SocietyDr. Karen Knudsen is the first female CEO of the American Cancer Society. As an oncologist, she is also the organization’s first chief executive with a background in science. While 1 in 3 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, more are living beyond the diagnosis. According to the ACS, there are nearly 17 million cance...

Big isn’t just this nonprofit’s middle name, it also describes its latest fundraising win—a $3.6 million grant from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. Kwame Johnson, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta calls the donation “historic,” and says it will help the nonprofit reach more youth through one-on-one mentorship. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Califor...

As president and CEO of Wellstar Health System, Candice Saunders oversees 11 hospitals in Georgia and 24,000 employees. But the chief executive says her “most important job” is taking care of people. In 2021, Wellstar invested $18 million into MyCare Rewards, a customizable employee benefits program. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com...

For Clyde Higgs, president and CEO of Atlanta Beltline, Inc., leadership is about “bringing more people underneath the tent.” Intentional inclusion has been an important component, he says, of generating innovative ideas for one of the nation’s largest urban redevelopment programs. By the time the Atlanta Beltline is completed in 2030, the 22-mile loop is expected to have attracted $10 billion in...

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For T. Dallas Smith, president and CEO of T. Dallas Smith & Co., commercial real estate is not just a career, it’s a calling. He is focused on his mission even if others don’t understand “the call.” It’s paying off. During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, his firm brokered the largest office lease in Atlanta, securing a half million square feet of space in the trendy Midtown area for Micro...

Todd Stansbury’s winning leadership strategy is rooted in a commitment to develop student athletes at Georgia Tech. He returned to his alma mater in 2016 on a mission to build on the Total Person Program which takes a balanced approach to academic and athletic achievement along with personal well-being. He says the goal is to ensure young people are ready for “prime time” after they graduate. See...

Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice’s prescription for being a strong leader includes developing the ability to “find the potential in people,” and create an environment for their success. The Macon, GA-native is president and CEO of Morehouse School of Medicine which has been at the center of Covid-19 vaccine research and innovation. She says her team rose to the challenge of the global pandemic by tappi...

Mike Neumeier’s day is full of growth opportunities. As CEO of the digital marketing and PR agency Arketi Group, he leads a team that helps business-to-business technology firms grow their companies through strategic communications. And as a leader, he says one of his top priorities is to help his employees grow and reach their full potential. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Ca...

Craig Gunckel has been working in the paper and packaging sector since he was a teenager. Today, he is the CEO of Iconex, the world’s largest manufacturer of roll cash register receipt paper. Despite the rise of digital technology, paper isn’t going away any time soon. Iconex’s label division is on a roll, Gunckel says, and could help the company’s revenue next year, top $500 million. See Privacy...

People go into business for many different reasons including to make money and to support their families. But for Thomas W. Dortch, there’s one more reason, to “provide opportunities.” Dortch has more than 400 employees working across his six companies. He is chairman and CEO of TWD Inc. and Chairman of The 100 Black Men of America. He was recently named the Leaders in Corporate Citizenship Ann Cr...

While most people try to avoid a crisis, Dave Poston is often in the middle of them. He is general counsel and CEO of Poston Communications—a crisis communications firm that helps businesses “prepare, respond and recover” when they are faced with challenging situations. He says the hope is that leaders can turn a crisis into an opportunity to be better on the back end. See Privacy Policy at https:...

Keith Parker is president and CEO of Goodwill of North Georgia, an organization known for taking your donated “gently used” items, and selling them in its 68 stores (more than Target’s Georgia footprint). But the idea of upcycling extends beyond products to its people, including its top executive who has transferred his leadership skills from the transit sector to the non-profit world. See Privacy...

At Gas South, everybody may not know your name, but you can bet the CEO does. Kevin Greiner leads nearly 400 people as the president and CEO of Gas South. He says knowing his employees is an important part of the business. Gas South has grown in recent years. In 2020, it purchased Infinite Energy, expanding its service area to six states with more than 425,000 natural gas customers. See Privacy Po...

For Stewart “Stew” Chisam, CEO of Hi-Rez Studios, video gaming is about achieving “Victory Together.” That’s not just the company’s new brand identity, it’s a reminder of its mission. Chisam says Hi-Rez, the publisher of video game hits including SMITE and Paladins, aims to unite competitors to form a strong gaming community. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy N...

Shan Cooper’s leadership style is deeply rooted in her upbringing. The long-time Atlanta business leader and executive director of the Atlanta Committee for Progress says she learned from her parents—local church leaders— how to serve, listen, reach out and face challenges head on. One of her secrets for success--getting up every day “choosing” to be happy and content. See Privacy Policy at https:...