Dr. Arefa Cassoobhoy/Clarkston Community Health Center

Dr. Arefa Cassoobhoy is the Medical Director at Clarkston Community Health Center, a non-profit clinic for individuals without adequate health insurance, many of whom are recent immigrants. She is an advocate for health equity and health literacy and serves on the Emory School of Medicine Alumni Board, is the recent chairman of the Sahiyo U.S. Advisory Board, and is a Leadership Atlanta alumni. Dr. Cassoobhoy’s background includes health communications with expertise in the health media industry and a background in public health. She is the former chief medical editor at Everyday Health and spent many years at WebMD and Medscape. Dr. Cassoobhoy is a board-certified internist with degrees from Emory University in medicine, public health, anthropology, and human biology.

Jan Rooney/State Farm Insurance

Jan Rooney is a business owner, wife, mother of 5, and community champion. Jan celebrates 25 years of experience in the insurance industry holding numerous positions from underwriting to claims, to human resources, to State Farm Agent where she enjoys serving her community. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida; a master’s degree from Warner University; a Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters Designation from the American Institute; and earned her Series 6 and Series 63 designation in the insurance business. Jan leads the most compassionate and knowledge team in the North Georgia area. She and her team are committed to ensuring everyone they speak with understands how to protect their assets, manage risk, and reach their financial goals. Their 4 pillars are Asset Protection, Income Protection, Asset Growth, and Fund Access.

Jan believes her family is her greatest accomplishment. She’s dedicated her life to ensuring her children are not only well educated but caring, productive members of society. Jan believes that one should work, spend time with family, and give back to their community. She models this behavior by being a Rotarian, serving as Chairman of the Board for Family Promise of Forsyth, Second-elect Chair of the Forsyth Chamber of Commerce Board, a member of Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, and utilizes her Good Neighbors Help - Quotes for Good program to help many local non-profits opportunities such as Family Promise, Scouts of America, and others. Jan was selected to be the Kindness Champion for Cherokee and Forsyth Counties by Ed Horrell, nationally recognized author, and Founder of the Kindness Revolution. Jan has partnered with local schools and developed a Kind Student of the Month program and has a mission to highlight kindness in all Cherokee and Forsyth County schools. Every student may not be gifted with intelligence or athletic ability, but Jan firmly believes everyone can be KIND.

Celebrating Powerhouse Women salutes and recognizes women who are making an impact, whether it’s in business, philanthropy, public service, or elsewhere.

Lisa Schultz/Cheers Tailgate Company

Concierge level service is a top priority at Cheers Tailgate Company. They want you to show up, have a good time, and let them worry about the rest. They bring the party to you so you can host your event on YOUR terms!

From their custom mobile bar, to A/V & streaming services, high end furniture, menu planning, bartending services, and yard games, they’ve got what you need to host the perfect upscale tailgate style event. No thinking, just drinking!

Celebrating Powerhouse Women salutes and recognizes women who are making an impact, whether it’s in business, philanthropy, public service, or elsewhere.

Schelly Marlatt/Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful

A lifelong resident of Gwinnett, Schelly Marlatt is passionate about people and community, crediting her parents for instilling the values of engagement, service and paying it forward. She believes the phrase “it takes a village” rings true as it takes many people with different qualities, skills and values from all walks of life to make a community great. Her deeply rooted commitment to community has led her to serve Gwinnett County Government since 2010 and assume the role of Executive Director of Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful in 2016. At the helm of GC&B, Schelly is dedicated to providing a safe and sustainable community – free of litter, graffiti and blight – to attract an up-and-coming generation of people, businesses and organizations to Gwinnett County. She strives to engage her neighbors to do the same and wants people to be proud of where they live, work and play.

This two-time breast cancer survivor and lover of all things Auburn is proud to be a single mom to two amazing boys. When not hard at work in GC&B’s offices, at a local school or out in the community networking, collaborating, building new partnerships, or facilitating a cleanup or recycling event, Schelly can be found in the congregation at Gwinnett Church at Hamilton Mill, in the stands watching her boys play sports (a LOT of sports – including baseball, basketball, tennis and swimming) or creating a culinary masterpiece in the kitchen of her Dacula home. She is a firm believer in the power of red wine and chocolate to solve most problems.

Celebrating Powerhouse Women salutes and recognizes women who are making an impact, whether it’s in business, philanthropy, public service, or elsewhere.

Ginger Powell/GMC Foundation (Northside Hospital)

As a nonprofit professional since 2001, Ginger Powell has had the opportunity to work with some of the most elite and philanthropic leaders in the greater Gwinnett area. In her role as Director of Development for the GMC Foundation (now part of Northside Hospital in Gwinnett), she provides leadership for an 80+ member Board of Directors, manages philanthropic contributions, and oversees the Foundation’s marketing and public relations efforts. During her tenure, several major capital campaigns have been successfully launched and completed, ultimately raising more than $80 million to invest back into Gwinnett’s community hospital system.

Since graduating from Leadership Gwinnett in 2011, she has served this organization in many capacities including chair of Management Team, Steering Committee and Alumni Programs. Currently, she serves on the Leadership Gwinnett Board of Trustees and the Foundation Board of Directors. She is an active member of the Rotary Club of Sugarloaf, where she is immediate past president and public relations chair. In 2019, she was named Rotarian of the Year.

Ginger graduated Magna Cum Laude from Georgia College and State University in 1998 with her Bachelor of Science degree and then earned her Master of Public Administration in the year 2000. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Bob, and they enjoy living on the family farm with their two children, Kiley and Michael and a multitude of animals.

Celebrating Powerhouse Women salutes and recognizes women who are making an impact, whether it’s in business, philanthropy, public service, or elsewhere.

Hilda Abbott/Rudhil Companies

As the Founder and CEO of RudHil Companies, Hilda Abbott is a passionate leader, entrepreneur, and real estate professional with over 20 years of experience. She has worked in various sectors in the real estate industry such as property management, investments, development, commercial, and residential properties. Throughout her career, Hilda has brokered, managed, and assisted in over $700 million in transactions. She is a proud Latina who sees the real estate industry changes and loves to educate those around her.

Before founding RudHil Companies, Hilda was the Chief Operating Officer and Partner of an Atlanta-based commercial and investment firm for seven years. Prior to that, she served as the Business Development Manager to a privately owned investment firm, specializing in redevelopment of impoverished communities in Miami, where she gained extensive experience in low income tax credit and government backed housing assistance.

Hilda earned her bachelor’s in business administration and management from St. Leo University. She is currently continuing her passion for learning by pursuing her Master’s in Real Estate Studies from Georgetown University.

Celebrating Powerhouse Women salutes and recognizes women who are making an impact, whether it’s in business, philanthropy, public service, or elsewhere.

Melissa Meeker/The Water Tower

Melissa Meeker is the CEO of The Water Tower in Buford, Georgia, a nonprofit focused on advancing water utilities through applied research, technology advancement, workforce development, and public engagement. Melissa previously served as the CEO of the Water Environment and Reuse Foundation and was instrumental in the merger of three critical U.S. water-related research foundations. She also served as Executive Director of the South Florida Water Management District and Deputy Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. In each of these roles, her focus has been on alternative water supply development. Melissa has her MS in Environmental Resources Management. You can find her on Twitter @MLMeekerWater.

Celebrating Powerhouse Women salutes and recognizes women who are making an impact, whether it’s in business, philanthropy, public service, or elsewhere.

Lisa Blaurock/5Strands

In 2017, a mom (Lisa) started her mission to create transformation and change within the healthcare system. 5Strands started it’s foundation in the gluten free industry. The 5Strands team traveled to tradeshows, got on the ground, and started spreading awareness about gut health and food intolerances. The functional health assessment 5Strands provides leads to many solutions for “unsolvable” health problems. Those who are truly ready to experience a positive transformation can trust the people at 5Stands to help lead to movement.

Celebrating Powerhouse Women salutes and recognizes women who are making an impact, whether it’s in business, philanthropy, public service, or elsewhere.

Leta Brooks Hays/Entrepreneur, Interior Designer & Influencer

A busy entrepreneur whose life and business are in a constant state of evolution, Leta Brooks Hays has been an interior decorator for 20 years as well as a blogger and podcast host. At one time as a business owner, Leta owned and operated four different companies under her “Status” brand.

Celebrating Powerhouse Women salutes and recognizes women who are making an impact, whether it’s in business, philanthropy, public service, or elsewhere.

Katrina Lucisano/Silverton Mortgage

Katrina Lucisano owned Family First Mortgage for over 20 years before she joined Silverton Mortgage. She is a member of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce and Extraordinaire Eucharistic Minister to assisted living homes through St Benedicts Catholic Church.