Shirley Franklin

Shirley Franklin was the 58th Mayor of Atlanta and the first African American woman to hold the office of a major Southern city in 2002 where she served two terms until 2009. Prior to elected office, Franklin served in the executive position, Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Operating Officer in the mayoral administrations of Mayors Maynard Jackson and Andrew Young completing 21 years of public service in 2010.

As Mayor and as city administrator, Franklin developed and led all aspects of local government of day-to-day municipal operation. Her record of accomplishment as a collaborator and partner with communities and businesses alike set the stage for the unprecedented growth of the city and region into the 21st century.

Ms. Franklin is best known for tackling major government operations, leading the city investment in critical water and airport infrastructure and promoting ethics reform. Her administration planned and executed over $5 billion in the improvements to the water infrastructure as well as Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport. For example: In 2002, Franklin announced an initiative called "Clean Water Atlanta" to address and begin improving the city's sewer system. She led the acquisition of the Morehouse College Collection for the Martin Luther King Jr. Papers. Ms. Franklin is also known for launching the Atlanta Beltline and the Regional Commission on Homelessness by developing successful business and public sector partnerships and alliances.

Aside from her public appearance, Ms. Franklin has participated in Community Service for nearly 40 years. Most notably, she led the Board of Directors of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights for 14 years.

Franklin serves on the Board of Directors of the Volcker Alliance and is a former board member of Mueller Water Products and Delta Air Lines. She is a contributor to several books: "Leaders on Ethics," "Real-World Perspectives on Today's Business Challenges," "Principles for a Successful Life," "Megaregions- Planning for Global Competitiveness," and "Investing in What Works for America's Communities."

In 2005, TIME Magazine named Franklin one of the five best big-city American mayors. In October of that same year, she was included in the U.S. News & World Report "Best Leaders of 2005" issue. Mayor Franklin was the recipient of Profile in Courage Award in 2005, issued by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. The foundation praised her management of the city of Atlanta during the critical period of enormous deficit and loss of public confidence in government.