On Jan. 1,
Georgia Trend, the state’s leading magazine on Georgia business and politics, released its 22nd annual listing of the 100 Most Influential Georgians. This remarkable assemblage of people features four Georgia city leaders including the 2020 Georgian of the Year,
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. Bottoms was credited for her hard-won accomplishments, her ambitious plans for the future and her confidence that the people around her will help make these plans a reality.
In addition,
Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis Jr.,
Atlanta City Council President Felicia Moore and
GMA Executive Director Larry Hanson were also named to this year’s list. In the mayor’s profile, editor Michele Cohen Marill wrote, “As companies move into the new Georgia Cyber Center, [Mayor] Davis promotes Augusta as the ‘cybersecurity capital of the nation.’ The $100-million, state-funded center provides cybersecurity education through Augusta University and Augusta Technical College. Davis hopes to leverage new excitement about Augusta to boost the renewal of its riverfront downtown.”
Atlanta City Council President Felicia Moore was noted as being a strong supporter of transparency at City Hall. She spearheaded the creation of an Office of Independent Compliance, which is now part of the Board of Ethics.
Editor Adina Solomon highlighted Hanson as a champion for all of Georgia’s cities with an emphasis on rural communities’ broadband needs in Georgia and nationally. In support of that goal, he serves on the Federal Communications Commission’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Commission, she wrote.
Along with the most influential, magazine editors included a list of Notable Georgians who are leaders making a significant impact on residents’ lives.
Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz was named to this list.
“It is an honor to be recognized by
Georgia Trend as an influential Georgian,” said Hanson. “There are many men and women on this list whom I admire and have great respect for. More importantly, it shows the influence and importance of cities to Georgia’s economy and culture to have city leaders named to these lists as well.”