Gwinnett's most influential women

Metro Atlanta

They work in education, medicine, criminal justice and local government making a difference in the lives of thousands of families in Gwinnett County. Based on their positions of leadership in the community, they are some of the Gwinnett's most influential women — wives, mothers, grandmas and neighbors, who are known for serving their communities with distinction.

Lorraine Green, a member of the Gwinnett Board of Commissioners for three years, is an environmental engineer with her own business and a memember of the board for the Foster Child Foundation and the Peachtree High School Foundation. The most influential person in her life: Her parents, Chris and Anne Vorndran. "They taught me the value of hard work and strong ethics," Green said.

Dr. Meena Shah is the medical director for Gwinnett Clinic, a full-service chain of medical offices that serves more than 200,000 patients in Gwinnett, Walton, Barrow, DeKalb and Jackson counties. The issue she's most passionate about: Affordable and accessible health care. "We make it easy for people to come to our facility. Easy access, that is what makes a big difference."

Mary Kay Murphy is the associate vice president at Morehouse School of Medicine and a Gwinnett County Board of Education member for 11 years. The most influential person in her life: Her parents, Joseph C. Connors and Eileen Erin Connors. "We almost never missed school," she said. "My mother so firmly believed in education. She kept saying to my brother and me, 'It is the only thing you can never have someone take away from you.'"

Stay-at-home-mom turned politician, Lilian Webb was the first council woman elected in Norcross in 1970. She's served as its mayor for about 13 years. The most influential person in her life: "Women like Amelia Earhart and Madame Marie Curie who broke barriers in fields dominated by men."

Associate superintendent of human resources for Gwinnett County Schools, Frances Davis supervises 78 people and facilitates hiring. The issue she's most passionate about: education. If we fail to educate the masses, communities suffer, she said. "The educational system is the heartbeat of the community. It is an economic driver for the community. My role is to make sure that our educational system is world-class."

Long-time politician and community activist Louise Radloff has two buildings ⿿ a school and a the new public health administration building in named after her. She has served on the Gwinnett Board of Education for 35 years. The issue she's most passionate about: Improving the lives of children and their families. "It is absolutely critical that we get those who are decision makers to sit around the table ... so we can stand up for issues we believe in," she said.

Carole Boyce, a member of the Gwinnett County Board of Education. The most influential person in her life: her children. "They have achieved great things from their education ... It is inspirational for me to feel like I've had a little part of their success," she said.

Gwinnett Juvenile Court Judge since 2005, Phyllis Miller resigned her seat on the state legislature to accept the appointment. "The youth in our community have tremendous needs and we have limited resources," she said. "We need more treatment options, programs to deal with children who have substance abuse problems, mental health issues and we need more sanctions for children who choose to continue to violate the law and victimize the members of community."

Diana Preston is the new mayor and first female mayor of Lilburn. "I think our democratic form of government relies on getting the best leaders," Preston said. "To have leaders, you have to have people who are involved, know what the issues are and are willing to give of their time to make things happen and to help the community progress."

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Our own listing of Gwinnett's most influential women -in no specific order. Beginning with Kay Kim, owner of Kay Kim Realty, which sells an average of 450 homes per year. "I know when I'm making some money I must hand it down," Kim said. "I am involved with the Korean American Scholarship Foundation. I have sponsored about $15,000 cash in an interest bearing account for scholarships as a life member."

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