The Atlanta Urban League is adding an important piece to its rebuilding effort: a new president and CEO.

The league is expected on Wednesday to announce the hiring of Nancy Flake Johnson, a Detroit Urban League executive, at its annual meeting at the Loudermilk Center downtown. Johnson will take the post July 7 and will be the second woman to head the 88-year-old nonprofit.

Hyosub Shin/AJC (ENLARGE)

Nancy Flake Johnson arrives with a record of experience at the Detroit league and Howard University.

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"I'm humbled and honored to have the opportunity to lead the Atlanta Urban League to its next level of contribution to this community," said Johnson, 51, who replaces interim head Ron Frieson.

Frieson, a retired BellSouth executive, is credited with shoring up the Atlanta league's operations, programming, finances and marketing. In August, its survival was in question and its United Way funding in jeopardy.

League officials received more than 80 applications from across the country.

Myrtle Davis, interim board chairwoman, said Johnson's selection for the $140,000 job was unanimous. She said the social services agency was impressed by Johnson's work as the Detroit league's vice president for programs and as executive director of Howard University's Small Business Development Center.

"We think that from those who applied, we selected the right person for the job ...," Davis said.

Johnson, in an interview, said her goals include improving financial stability by creating an endowment and expanding the donor pool. She hopes those moves will enable expanded programs.

"What we do is important," said Johnson, who will work closely with newly elected board chairman Frederick Daniels Jr., an executive at Citizens Trust Bank. "Giving people the resources and tools to change their lives, it doesn't get any better than that."

A Detroit native, Johnson was educated at Howard and DePaul universities. She ran a management consulting and accounting services firm for a decade before joining the Detroit league two years ago.

A certified public accountant, Johnson has taught taxation at Howard and began her career in Atlanta with posts at Coopers & Lybrand and Arthur Andersen & Co.

Michael Turner, a Detroit Urban League board member, praised Johnson's talents for grant writing, her work with youth, and her ability to relate to people. He credited her with growing Detroit's Project Ready, which helps prepare young people for post-secondary opportunities.

"She's wonderful to work with. She's a tremendous asset," Turner said.

The first woman at the Atlanta league's helm was Grace Towns Hamilton, also the first black woman elected to the Georgia General Assembly. She was executive director for 18 years beginning in 1943.