Women s HealtH: HeaRt DIsease: silent KIlleR amongst. Hala moddelmog FIRst Female PResIDent metro atlanta CHambeR of CommeRCe

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1 A magazine for ordinary women with extraordinary talents A C E L E B R A T I O N O F W O M E n Georgia s Award Winning Publication Since 1993 Spring Issue 2014 Volume 21 / NO. 2 Commemorative Issue Women s HealtH: HeaRt DIsease: silent KIlleR amongst Hala moddelmog FIRst Female PResIDent metro atlanta CHambeR of CommeRCe

2 COVERstory A Celebration of Women Yvonne Thomas standard Bearer 2014WomanoftheYear GeorGia smostpowerfuland influentialwomen text by norlita brown, Color line Production Interviewed by Rebecca Franklin art Direction by Cordele Rolle for a.j.-miles media group, Inc. Photography by Corey Reese, Corey Reese Photography makeup: Jael Roberson stylist: Kim Reasonover shot on location at the private estate of Hank and Yvonne thomas, with family dog scappy and great granddaughter lilly. Beholding her beauty, her smile, her grace, you understand that greatness is among us. Before she utters one word, you know that she represents leadership. While the man who would later become her husband was blazing the trails of racial equality as one of the first CORE Freedom Riders, Yvonne omas was also making her mark. In 1961, at 13 years of age, she and her girlfriends were taking a short cut across the campus of the University of South Carolina, when they were chased from the site by angry students screaming racial slurs and throwing rocks. What would deter any other young child to ever step foot on that campus again, challenged young Yvonne. For it was at that moment, that she had resolved, not only would she be back, but she would return as a student. It was a vow she would make only to herself, for fear that others would be opposed to her decision and steer her in another direction. Four years later, Yvonne held true to her promise. ough admissions required you to identify your race, as well as accompany a picture with your application, Yvonne omas admits that she omitted both and received her letter of acceptance a mere two weeks before Christmas. It was a gift she believed she was giving to her parents, as she reasoned and rationalized the benefits of attending the University of South Carolina. However her parents, Coleman and Beatrice Johnson weren t pleased; in fact they feared for the life and safety of their eldest daughter, attending an all-white university in the deeply segregated south. Determined to see her goal to fruition, Yvonne omas attended classes in the fall amongst 11 other Black students. e reaction of the students didn t surprise her as they would take every measure to assure they kept as far away from her as possible. Many would walk in the streets to avoid passing her on the sidewalk, or get up from their chairs if she sat near them in class, some opting to stand in the back of the class for the 55 minute duration rather than sit next to her. ough there were four Black students in the School of Business, Yvonne omas never shared a class with any other Black student and many times, she was the only female student in attendance. With all of the opposition she faced, Yvonne omas graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1968 as the first African American with a four-year degree in business. 14 WOMEN LOOKING AHEAD

3 COVERstory WOMEN LOOKING AHEAD 15

4 As the oldest of four girls, she was reminded that she was the standard bearer. 16 WOMEN LOOKING AHEAD

5 e evening my husband asked me to join him in business. He simply said, Can you imagine what we could accomplish if we pooled our talents? Without hesitation I left a burgeoning career in commercial banking to flip hamburgers, and I have never looked back. It was not about the product, it was the opportunity to be the mastermind of my own destiny. In the early 70 s, determined to break out of the traditional jobs given to African Americans at that time, she became part of the first class of African Americans management trainees in commercial banking. is is where she would meet her best friend, husband and business partner of 35 years, civil rights pioneer, Hank omas. She shares that the single most significant moment in her career was, e evening my husband asked me to join him in business. He simply said, Can you imagine what we could accomplish if we pooled our talents? Without hesitation I left a burgeoning career in commercial banking to flip hamburgers, and I have never looked back. It was not about the product, it was the opportunity to be the mastermind of my own destiny. Your opportunities are limited only by your imagination. Hank and Yvonne omas pooling of talents, would lead to them owning a Dairy Queen for a year, before venturing to Burger King. ey later transitioned to Burger King s biggest competitor, McDonalds, where they remained franchise owners for 31 years. She acknowledges that McDonalds has produced more African American millionaires than all of the Fortune 500 companies combined. Having recently sold their McDonalds stores, Hank and Yvonne omas are also franchise owners of Marriott Fairfield Inns and Suites. With the same passion they have for success with themselves, they have for others. Both having been born and raised in small towns that embraced and took care of them, Hank and Yvonne omas became extremely dedicated to service in the community and historically Black colleges. Everybody nurtured you and everybody wanted to see you do well. You were used to sharing. As the oldest of four girls, she was reminded that she was the standard bearer. She laughs as she ponders all the things that she wanted to do and could not, because she knew that she had others looking at her and coming behind her. It is a responsibility that she takes to heart which is why nothing makes her angrier than to see or hear about the possible closing of an HBCU. ough she did not attend one, she knows the importance of them, and many times wishes she had, if for nothing more than the camaraderie and friendship. She knows HBCUs need to be here for the future generation and what they contribute. Hank and Yvonne omas have set up scholarships at HBCUs including his alma mater, Howard University. ey are also involved with the Piney Woods Country Life School in Jackson, MS, which is one of two boarding schools for children in trouble. With a 98% graduation rate, this school has also garnered more students who attend college. Hank and Yvonne omas are also huge supporters of Talladega where the Black men, who are normally the minority, are in the majority. It is programs like these that they search out and support, in an effort to save our children. In all that she has accomplished in life, one of the things she wants to be remembered for is her passion for women and young people. She has been an advocate for women in leadership, women in business, especially business ownership for women of color. With the strides that she and women like her have made, it still saddens her that we re still fighting the same battle of equal pay for women, a battle that she has been fighting since ere has been progress, but yet for the masses, there has been little, she says. So, though these issues are, still on the plate, she remains hopeful that gender or race will cease to become a consideration. In parting, Yvonne omas leaves these powerful words of wisdom, Your opportunities are limited only by your imagination. WOMEN LOOKING AHEAD 17