This list is part of the ABL’s Super Tuesday Conference celebration.
By Allison Joyner
Earlier this month, the Atlanta Business League (ABL) announced this year’s Women of Influence list, recognizing 100 African American women making a difference in the Atlanta metro.
The Super Tuesday Conference — where the list was announced — began in 1984 by ABL’s female members as a way to interact and raise awareness of Black women business owners and professionals. The members noticed that there was no space where Black women were recognized for their achievements.
As part of the conference, the ABL added the Women of Influence list to honor those making a difference in their professional lives and communities.
“The definition that we have created for the organization for the ‘woman of influence’ is a woman who is top in their industry and leading organizations of large public bodies and women who are making a difference,” said Leona Barr-Davenport President and CEO of the ABL.
Since its founding by Booker T. Washington in 1933, the ABL has enhanced and expanded Black businesses in the state.
“As an organization, we have always embraced people at so many different levels,” Davenport said. “Our goal has always been to help increase the business opportunities for Black business owners in metro Atlanta.”
At the Women of Vision breakfast, where honorees met for the first time, leadership from the ABL inducted Dr. Helene Gayle, Spelman College’s new president, into their Women’s Hall of Fame.”
Among the honorees are Andrella Kenner, President and CEO of CI² Aviation — the nation’s only minority and women-owned business providing air traffic control tower services. CI²’s service air traffic control towers in the Southern U.S. and Caribbean. Kenner and her team also offer additional airport services like drone services, airfield management and civil engineering.
Chondra Webster, President and CEO of WEBMyers Construction, is the largest minority and woman-owned interior general contracting company in the U.S. As the former director of business management for Leapley and H.J. Russell Construction companies, Myers has made WEBMyers the leading commercial interior general contractors in Georgia.
During the breakfast, the ABL also honored female mayors serving their cities like East Point, Douglasville, Lithonia and McDonough.
“I was honored to be amongst amazing women, a lot of whom I know well in the community, to share this opportunity with them,” said Eshé Collins, Board Chair for Atlanta Public Schools.
This was Collins’ third time appearing on the list. She said she’s always surprised every time.
Collins told SaportaReport that being honored for her work with APS is meaningful to her, especially as they are trying to develop a new sense of normalcy due to the pandemic.
The ABL believes that Black women are doing phenomenal work, especially in nonprofit leadership, major corporations and politics, and thinks we all must call those names often.
“The Atlanta Business League is a critical organization because they truly support minority businesses throughout the city and provide a space of advocacy and learning,” Collins said. “Over the years, I have been impressed with the programming and support they’ve offered for diverse business owners across the city and I’ve enjoyed being a part of this organization.”
