Atlanta Business Chronicle - July 26, 1999
IN DEPTH: MOST INFLUENTIAL ATLANTANS
From the July 23, 1999 print edition
The Most Influential Atlantans
F. Duane Ackerman
Title: Chairman and CEO
Company/organization: BellSouth Corp.
Age: 56
Why he is powerful: Ackerman is running BellSouth, the second-largest public company in Georgia and the 10th largest telecommunications company in the world. Ackerman has been involved in a number of Atlanta civic organizations and has worked hard to attract technology companies to Georgia.
Example of how he has wielded power recently: Ackerman was appointed Chairman and CEO of BellSouth in 1998. He is chairman of the board of Central Atlanta Progress Inc. and also is on the boards of The Commerce Club and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.
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Miles J. Alexander
Title: Firm co-chairman
Company/organization: Kilpatrick Stockton LLP
Age: 67
How long in Atlanta: Since 1958
Why he is powerful: Alexander leads Kilpatrick Stockton's Intellectual Property practice group, which has always been on the forefront of technological, antitrust and trademark legal representation.
Example of how he has wielded power recently: Alexander was recognized as the second-best trademark lawyer in the world by Managing Intellectual Property magazine.
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Thurbert E. Baker
Title: Georgia Attorney General
Company/organization: State of Georgia
Age: 46
How long in Atlanta: Since the mid-1970s; graduated from Emory University School of Law in 1979
Why he is powerful: Elected in 1988 as a Democratic state representative for DeKalbCounty, Baker served as a floor leader for former Gov. Zell Miller from 1990 until 1997. As floor leader, he successfully sponsored "two-strikes" measures and bills to toughen DUI penalties. Miller appointed Baker AG in 1997 to fill out Mike Bowers' term. In 1998, Baker was elected to a full term as the state's top legal officer, becoming the first African-American to hold the post.
Example of how he has wielded power recently: Baker sued the tobacco industry, getting Georgia its share (just under $5 billion) of a $206 billion settlement from cigarette-makers. He sponsored legislation against financial identity fraud. And, along with Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor, Baker pushed through legislation creating stronger penalties for domestic violence.
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James "Jim" S. Balloun
Title: Chairman, President, CEO
Company/organization: National Service Industries Inc.
Age: 61
How long in Atlanta: Since 1996. He also was here for several years with McKinsey & Co., starting in 1979.
Why he is powerful: Balloun heads one of Georgia's largest public companies, a diversified services and manufacturing firm that focuses on lighting equipment, chemicals, textile rental, and envelopes.
Example of how he has wielded power recently: He has helped govern some of the area's largest corporations and nonprofit organizations. He is a director of Wachovia Corp., Radiant Systems Inc. and Georgia-Pacific Corp. His board positions include spots at The Georgia Research Alliance and The Woodruff Arts Center Inc.
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Juanita Baranco
Title: Executive vice president and co-CEO
Company/organization: Baranco Automotive Group of Metro Atlanta
Age: 50
How long in Atlanta: 21 years
Why she is powerful: She leads one of the largest minority-owned automotive groups in the country. She also is past chair of the University System of Georgia Board of Regents, a former assistant attorney general for Georgia, and serves on the board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, among other leadership roles in the city.
Example of how she has wielded power recently: She was one of two women invited to join Atlanta's most exclusive and influential fraternities, the Commerce Club.
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Arthur Blank
Title: President and CEO
Company/organization: The Home Depot Inc.
Age: 56
How long in Atlanta: 21 years
Why he is powerful: Blank is at the helm of Georgia's largest public company, which he helped found. He has long been involved with nonprofit groups, especially the Atlanta Jewish Federation and Outward Bound.
Example of how he has wielded power recently: Blank formed the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation in 1995, which awarded more than $1 million to nonprofit groups last year. The foundation donated $15 million to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra as the lead gift toward building a new home for the symphony in midtown. Blank also announced an additional $5 million challenge grant to raise $20 million to name the Concert Hall in this new Symphony Center for the late Music Director Emeritus and Conductor Laureate, Robert Shaw.
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Bill Bolling
Title: Executive director
Organization: Atlanta Community Food Bank
Age: 51
How long in Atlanta: 24 years
Why he is powerful: Bolling founded the Food Bank 20 years ago to provide food assistance to nonprofit agencies serving the needy in the Atlanta area. Today he works with, and is trusted by, a diversity of groups and individuals throughout the Atlanta region. He communicates with the powerful and powerless. He also is described as an excellent facilitator in community problem-solving.
Example of how he has wielded power recently: Bolling continues to bring the players in welfare reform and government decentralization to the table to negotiate new roles for the public and private sectors.
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Charles Brewer
Title: Chairman and CEO
Company/organization: MindSpring Enterprises Inc.
Age: 40
How long in Atlanta: 12 years
Why he is powerful: Brewer started MindSpring in his AnsleyPark condominium in 1994 and took the company public in 1996. It has become the first Internet service provider (ISP) to show a profit.
Example of how he has wielded power recently: As part of a string of acquisitions, MindSpring recently acquired Sprynet's 150,000 customers and 400,000-plus users from Netcom On-Line Communication Services Inc.
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Bernard L. Brown Jr.
Title: President and CEO
Company/organization: Promina Health System Inc.
Age: 59
How long in Atlanta: 28 years
Why he is powerful: He leads the largest health-care provider in metro Atlanta, an alliance of 13 hospitals, including WellStar Health System's five hospitals, PiedmontHospital, GwinnettMedicalCenter, DeKalbMedicalCenter, and 2,500 doctors.
Example of how he has wielded power recently: Promina took steps to broaden its reach across the state by agreeing earlier this year to manage Medical Resource Network (MRN), a statewide network of nonprofit hospitals that includes Promina facilities.
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Charles Brown
Title: President
Company/organization: CRB Realty Associates; vice chairman of Technology Park/Atlanta Inc.
Age: 61
How long in Atlanta: 43 years
Why he is powerful: Brown founded Technology Park/Atlanta Inc. and made it such a success that the company is looking for another large tract on which to build a business park in the extreme northern suburbs.
Example of how he has wielded power recently: As consultant to Jacoby Development Inc. (JDI) and its Atlantic Steel project, Brown has been working furiously to ensure that Jacoby gets all necessary approvals so it can move ahead with the midtown project.
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Otis A. Brumby Jr.
Title: Publisher/Owner
Company/organization: Marietta Daily Journal/Neighbor Newspapers Inc.
Age: 59
How long in Atlanta: CobbCounty native
Why he is powerful: Backed by his media empire, Brumby remains one of the most powerful men in CobbCounty. He also has extensive real estate holdings in CobbCounty.
Example of how he has wielded power recently: Brumby's editorial-page outspokeness regarding education, along with his ardent support of Gov. Roy Barnes, paved the way for the Georgia School Board appointee's election to chairman.
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Annie Hunt Burriss
Title: Assistant Vice Chancellor for Development and Economic Services
Organization: University System of Georgia Board of Regents
Age: 46
How long in Atlanta: Since 1975
Why she is powerful: Burriss is a driving force in Georgia's pursuit of knowledge, jobs and a technology-based economy. During this past year, Burriss has focused on branding the state's first university economic development initiative born out of her first month on the job -- Intellectual Capital Partnership Program (ICAPP). Her ingenuity and ability to act fast has saved Georgia from losing big businesses like Columbus-based credit card processor Total Systems Services Inc. by creating a fast-track degree program through ICAPP to fill the company's need for 1,500 computer programers.
Example of how she has wielded power recently: Burriss brought Vice President Al Gore to Georgia to make a major economic development announcement using ICAPP as the focal point in March of 1998.
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Bill Byrne
Title: Chairman
Company/organization: Cobb CountyCommission
Age: 58
How long in Atlanta: Almost 30 years
Why he is powerful: Byrne's management has yielded Cobb AAA bond ratings. In addition, Byrne is vice chairman of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) board of directors and is a member of several county authorities and boards.
Example of how he has wielded power recently: A month after the county's takeover of the Cobb composting facility, Byrne and other commissioners were able to get a contract to sell the massive amounts of compost that Bedminster Bioconversion Corp. couldn't sell in four years.
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Bill Campbell
Title: Mayor
Company/organization: City of Atlanta
Age: 46
How long in Atlanta: Since the late 1970s
Why he is powerful: Campbell was elected mayor of Atlanta in 1993, the third African-American to serve in the position. He serves as chairman of the United States Conference of Mayors' transportation panel, and has been appointed to Federal Aviation Administration and Federal Communications Commission committees.
Example of how he has wielded power recently: Campell awarded the lucrative water privatization contract to United Water Services Inc. He joined leaders of other cities in filing lawsuits against the gun industry. Having passed a $150 million bond referendum to improve infrastructure in 1994, his administration is again pushing for a multimillion-dollar bond issue to restructure the city's pension obligation debt.
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Ben Carter
Title: Chairman and CEO
Company/organization: Ben Carter Properties Inc.
Age: 45
How long in Atlanta: Entire life
Why he is powerful: Carter broke away from his late father's commercial real estate company in 1993 and started his own companies that have experienced great success in office and retail real estate development and management.
Example of how he has wielded power recently: Carter joined with Scott Hudgens in 1996 and convinced investors, planning officials and GwinnettCounty residents that a huge mall would work 38 miles north of downtown Atlanta. The 1.7 million-square-foot Mall of Georgia opens Aug. 13 at Interstate 85 and Georgia 20 in North Gwinnett.
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William Chace
Title: President
Company/organization: EmoryUniversity
Age: 60
How long in Atlanta: 5 years
Why he is powerful: Chace, an award-winning scholar and teacher, heads up one of the nation's premier research universities. The private institution has nine major divisions, numerous centers for advanced study, and strong ties to the Atlanta business community through its network of alumni and partnerships with businesses.
Example of how he has wielded power recently: Chace is overseeing the implementation of a campus master plan that calls for the construction of eight major buildings and the creation of a pedestrian campus.
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Thomas F. "Tom" Chapman
Title: Chairman and CEO
Company/organization: Equifax Inc.
Age: 56
How long in Atlanta: Entire life
Why he is powerful: Chapman heads one of Atlanta's largest and fastest-growing technology companies. He has developed a vast network of contacts during his nine-year career at Equifax, as well as during 20 years in banking.
Example of how he has wielded power recently: Equifax is building a new headquarters in midtown. Chapman sits on the boards of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the Atlanta Sports Council. He plays a key role in preparations for the Super Bowl in January 2000. He also sits on several boards of cultural and charitable nonprofits.
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Pin Pin Chau
Title: CEO
Company/organization: Summit Bank Corp.
How long in Atlanta: 6 years
Why she is powerful: Summit National Bank, a subsidiary of Summit Bank Corp., is one of the area's leading small-business lenders. Chau is one of the leaders of the Asian-American business community in Atlanta.
Example of how she has wielded power recently: Chau has tried to develop Georgia's economy and culture through work at nonprofits such as the Georgia Council for Economic Education, the Consumer Credit Counseling Service, The Business Development Corporation of Georgia Inc., Atlanta College of Art, and The Carter Center's Board of Councilors.
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G. Wayne Clough
Title: President
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology
Age: 57
How long in Atlanta: Since 1994
Why he is powerful: With the state now focused on high-tech economic development, Clough works to place Georgia Tech in an even more competitive position, both through altering curricula and hiring new faculty. Clough also is involved both on the state and national level in programs like the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce's Industries of the Mind; the Yamacraw initiative; and the National Council on Competitiveness, an advocacy group for federal funding of basic research. So far this year, he has helped the college raise about $106 million for its capital campaign fund.
Example of how he has wielded power recently: Clough is making sure that the infrastructure of Georgia Tech has the capacity to change with the times, starting such programs as the Student Computer Ownership program where every entering freshman has his or her own computer.
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Johnnetta B. Cole
Title: Professor of anthropology, African-American studies and women's studies
Company/organization: EmoryUniversity
Age: 62
How long in Atlanta: 12 years
Why she is powerful: Cole, a former president of SpelmanCollege, is a leading educator whose expertise in human relations is regularly sought by large corporations. She is on the boards of Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc., Merck & Co. and Management & Training Corp., a privately held company, and a consultant to The Home Depot Inc. She also is active in community service, involving individuals and businesses in the Johnnetta B. Cole Society of United Way.
Example of how she has wielded power recently: In June, Cole was one of nine collegiate educators named to Gov. Roy Barnes' Education Reform Study Commission.
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A.D. "Pete" Correll
Title: Chairman, CEO and President
Company/organization: Georgia-Pacific Corp.
Age: 58
How long in Atlanta: Native of Brunswick, Ga.
Why he is powerful: Correll is at the helm of the nation's leading manufacturer and distributor of building products. He was the 1997-1998 chairman of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and serves on several company boards, as well as on the board of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
Example of how he has wielded power recently: In May, Correll helped secure the $840 million acquisition of Berwyn, Pa.-based Unisource Worldwide Inc., the largest independent marketer and distributor of printing and imaging paper and supply systems in North America. The combined 1998 revenues of the two companies last year exceeded $20 billion.
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Tom Cousins
Title: Chairman and CEO
Company/organization: Cousins Properties Inc.
Age: 67
How long in Atlanta: Entire life
Why he is powerful: Tom Cousins, who started Cousins Properties with his father Ike Cousins more than 40 years ago, has become synonymous with successful real estate development. Tom Cousins' company, which began as a home builder, has earned a nationwide reputation as one of the top commercial real estate investment trusts.
Example of how he wielded power recently: His Cousins Foundation Inc. has successfully revitalized the East Lake community and Golf Club despite opposition from longtime East Lake residents. Also, he showed all other developers how to build a new tower in Buckhead during a time of zoning and building moratoriums.
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Joel Cowan
Title: Chairman
Company/organization: Georgia Regional Transportation Authority
Age: 62
How long in Atlanta: Cartersville native
Why he is powerful: He developed Phipps Plaza and Peachtree City, a planned community that uses golf carts for transportation. He was honorary chief of staff for Gov. Joe Frank Harris and has been a senior advisor to Gov. Roy Barnes.
Example of how he has wielded power recently: He set out to tackle Atlanta's smog and traffic problems by outlining his vision for the city's transportation, which includes expanding the use of bus systems, carpooling and high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes.
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Ann W. Cramer
Title: Regional manager, corporate community relations and public affairs, Eastern areas
Company: IBM Corp.
Age: 54
How long in Atlanta: 31 years
Why she is powerful: Cramer serves on several nonprofit organization boards, including The Carter Center Board of Councilors, The Woodruff Arts Center Inc., The Atlanta Committee for Public Education, the Regional Leadership Foundation and the Interdenominational Theological Center at the Atlanta University Center.
Example of how she has wielded power recently: As chair of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, she is working to build public support for the governor and his Education Reform Study Commission. She also serves as chair of the Grady Foundation and is immediate past chair of the Alliance Theatre Co. and the Georgia Chapter of the International Women's Forum.
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Michael Cummins
Title: CEO and director
Company/organization: Georgia Center for Advanced Telecommunications Technology
Age: 54
How long in Atlanta: 6 years
Why he is powerful: He oversees state initiatives to foster technological research and commercialization of that research. He helps incubate start-up companies that contribute to the state's economy and boost its standing as a leader in technological research and development.
Example of how he has wielded power recently: He became the director of the state's new Yamacraw Design Center, where high-tech companies will research new technology that will result in some form of commercialization.
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Bill Dahlberg
Title: CEO and chairman