Olivia Parks Woods Retired from the City of Atlanta in 1998, After 26 Years of Service

Olivia Parks Woods is currently employed with the Southern Company where she serves on the National Accounts Team as a Senior Administrative Assistant. She started her career with the utility industry in 2001 with Marketing Regulatory Affairs at Georgia Power Company. Olivia currently serves as Parliamentarian of the American Association of Blacks in Energy, Atlanta Chapter. This is Olivia's second career.

In 1998, Olivia retired from the city of Atlanta after 26 years of service. She served as the Municipal Clerk for the city of Atlanta during the last eight years of her tenure. Under her leadership, the entire manual operations of the Clerk's Office were computerized and all legislative records were converted to electronic documents. As Municipal Clerk, Olivia served in several leadership roles. She was a member of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC) Board Directors (1996-98) and President of the Georgia Municipal Clerks/ Finance Officers Association (1992). Olivia was the first African-American in Georgia to be elected to both positions. During her tenure as GMC/FOA President, the City Clerks Mandated Training Program was approved by the State Legislature and signed into law by the Governor. Olivia also served as President of the Georgia Municipal Association's Women in Government (municipal elected and appointed officials).

Olivia served in numerous leadership positions within her community: Vice President of the Atlanta Planning Advisory Board, Vice President of the Atlanta Commission on Women and as a member of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. She is the Past President of the South River Gardens Community Association (1999 – 2000).

Distinguished honors include the Arthur Beavers NPU Leadership Award for Dedicated Community Service (1999); IIMC Distinguished Service Award (1998), the Mayor's Distinguished Service Award (1998), GMC/FOA Clerk of the Year (1997) and the City of Atlanta Employee of the Year Nominee (1989).

Olivia resides in Atlanta with her husband Lee and is the proud grandmother of Shamar, Blayre and Leah. Olivia is a graduate of Cambridge Business Institute, Detroit, Michigan and a member of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Decatur Georgia.