Claudia
Mertl attended Georgia Southern University where she received both
her BS and Masters degrees in Recreation Administration. She was
Assistant Director of the Clayton County Parks and Recreation
Department until 1981 when she resigned to start her own playground
and recreation equipment sales organization, Leisure Lines
Playground & Recreation Equipment Co., Inc.
Claudia has served as President of the Georgia Parks and
Recreation Association and Chairman of the Board of the Clayton
County Chamber of Commerce where she received the Small Business of
the Year award and the National Athena Award for women in business.
She has served as the Chairman of the Clayton County Unit of the
American Cancer Society and is an honorary life member of the Board.
Claudia is a member of the Metro United Way Board and has received
the Spivey Leadership Award from United Way for outstanding
community service.
Jovita Moore received her
undergrduate degree in literature from Bennington College in Vermont
and her Master's degree in journalism from Columbia University.
Jovita is the weekend news anchor for Channel 2 Action News. Prior
to coming to Atlanta, she worked as the weekend anchor for WMC-TV in
Memphis.
Jovita is a member of the Junior League of Atlanta
and both the Atlanta and National Associations of Black Journalists.
Jovita also has the distinction of winning an Emmy in 2001 for her
news reporting series on Women and Fibroids.
After retiring from a 22
year career in the banking industry, Valencia Seay currently serves
as President/CEO of Seay & Associates. She is also a member of
the Georgia State Senate. Prior to the current legislative term,
Valencia served on the Clayton County Board of Education from 1993 -
2000 and was elected to the Georgia State House of Representatives
in 2001.
Valencia is a graduate of Clayton College &
State University and The Flemming Fellows Leadership Institute. She
is a member of numerous civic organizations including the NAACP,
National Council of Negro Women, Georgia Legislative Black Caucus,
National Organization for Women Legislators, and Women in
Government. Valencia and her husband have two children and one
grandson.
Evelyn Gibson Lowery is the wife of the
Civil Rights Leader, the Rev. Joseph E. Lowery. She is the founder
and Chairman of the Board of SCLC/W.O.M.E.N. (Southern Christian
Leadership Conference Women's Organizational Movement for Equality
Now), an organization which promotes the rights of women, children
and families. Since the 1950's, Mrs. Lowery has been actively
involved in demonstrations and marches, including a march from
Alabama to Washington D.C. in 1982 to extend the Voting Rights Act.
Evelyn attended Clark College and Youngstown University. Among
her numerous contributions to society, she created the
"Bridging-The-Gap~Girls to Women" mentoring program in
1995 and initiated an HIV/AIDS Conference in Atlanta and Washington,
D.C. in 1980-81. Mrs. Lowery is the Atlanta Tribune Magazine's '2004
Hall of Fame' "Women in The Civil Rights Movement"
Honoree.
Pauline Mallory earned her private
pilot's license before she learned to drive a car. During her flying
career, she worked as a flight instructor and charter pilot for
South Haven Flying Service. In 1958, she began competing in air
racing. Since then, she has won 10 of the 103 air races she has
flown, including the 1977 All Women's International Air Race. In
2001, she and her husband flew her 180 horsepower Beechcraft
Musketeer over the ALCAN Highway to Alaska and above the Arctic
Circle.
Her book, Racing in the Skies, a Pilgrimage to the Past, is
a memorable account of her air races throughout the United States,
Canada, Bahamas, Mexico, and Central America. This year, Pauline
celebrates 50 years of active flying and sport aviation.
April - "Four Cornerstones for Building a
Successful Life"
Since 1998, Harriet Hessam
has served as the chief executive officer of the Girl Scout Council
of Northwest Georgia. She has more than 26 years of management
experience in corporate and not-for-profit sectors. From 1981 to
1993, Harriet directed the U.S. operations of Goemar International
Corp., a French manufacturer of skin care and agricultural products.
From 1993-1996, she served as director of development and chief
operating officer of the Atlanta Union Mission. In 1996, Harriet
co-founded Trillium Consulting Group, which provides fund raising
and public relations consulting services to a variety of
not-for-profits.
Harriet is an
honors graduate of Wellesley College. She earned her MBA degree,
with honors, in marketing from Georgia State University. Harriet is
also a member of the Atlanta Rotary Club, TEC, and has served as
president of the Wellesley College Club and chair of the United Way
Forum.
