Georgia Trend Magazine's Georgia 500 issue annually recognizes the 500 most influential leaders in the State of Georgia, and this year, Morehouse College President David A. Thomas as well as six alumni Howard Franklin '01, Cameron 'Cam Kirk' Kirkland '11, Milton J. Little '76, C. David Moody '78, Chris Pumphrey '04 and Nathaniel Smith '97 were named to this year's list.
Dr. Thomas was recognized for his historic fundraising efforts for Morehouse, as well as his vision for enhancing Morehouse academically and physically by way of the college's $500 million 'Making Men of Consequence' capital campaign.
Howard Franklin '01, the President and CEO of Ohio River South, was recognized for leading a multi-state public affairs firm with clients across nine Southern states. Through advocacy and communications, Ohio River South helps companies and nonprofits partner with government, win tough campaigns and change their communities for the better.
Cam Kirk '11, Founder and CEO of Cam Kirk Studios, is one of the most influential photographers in the world today whose work has come to define and crystallize hip hop culture in Atlanta and throughout the world. In 2017, he opened Cam Kirk Studios to erase the barrier of entry for new photographers looking for space to create. His studio averages over 500 appointments each month and has hosted celebrity clients from Samuel L. Jackson '72 to Missy Elliott and Nike to Adidas.
Milton J. Little Jr. '76, is the President and CEO of the largest branch of United Way in the country. Little has worked tirelessly to develop the creation of the United Way of Greater Atlanta's innovation strategy to empower everyday people to support local charities that make the entire community stronger.
C. David Moody '78's Moody Construction Co. Inc. is dedicated to training the next generation of construction industry personnel and has prioritized making 'vocational education popular for students who love working with their hands'. Moody is also a public speaker, author and an outspoken about overcoming the trauma of being a childhood sexual abuse survivor, "the goal is to share important information and show that we survivors can do incredible things in our lives, be happy and not let our past control us."
Chris Pumphrey '04, is the President of Elevate Douglas Economic Partnership, which specializes in the economic development and growth of Georgia's Douglas County. This year alone, under Pumphrey's leadership, Elevate Douglas established its first workforce strategy, small business development, large business recruitment and current business retention while also landing animal vaccine company Zoetis as well as film production leader Lions Gate.
Nathaniel Smith '97 is the Founder and Chief Equity Office of the Partnership for Southern Equity, where he and his team lobby aggressively for racial equity and shared prosperity, and teach the communities they serve to do the same. His work resulted in the creation of the Atlanta BeltLine, the passage of a referendum to expand MARTA as well as the creation of tools to measure and illustrate equity in land-use planning.
Read the full issue by clicking here.
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