In 2008 under the chairmanship of Michael Russell, the Atlanta Business League (ABL) highlighted black-owned businesses that have flourished for twenty-five years or more by inducting them into the Business Hall of Fame.
Since the organization’s inception in 1933 as an affiliate of Booker T. Washington’s National Business League, thousands of businesses like Atlanta Life Insurance Company, Citizen’s Trust Bank, Paschal’s Concessions and Lottie Watkins Enterprises, Inc. have prospered while utilizing the ABL’s resources, connections, and guidance. More than forty of those businesses, in operation for more than 25 years, were inducted into the ABL’s Business Hall of Fame during the 75th anniversary celebration. Their pioneering entrepreneurial endeavors have paved the way for others to follow and we are proud to highlight them.
ABL now inducts black owned businesses into the Business Hall of Fame each year during the Annual Meeting.
Atlanta Inquirer Owner: John B. Smith
Founded: 1960
The Atlanta Inquirer provides local,national and international news to promote an agenda of inclusiveness, equality and social justice for all with timely and on-target stories to uplift the Black family unit for generations to come.
The Atlanta Voice Newspaper Owner: Janis L. Ware
Founded: 1966
The Atlanta Voice newspaper chronicles, captures and preserves the voices of the community for posterity via print and online.
Leroy R. Johnson & Associates Law Office Owner: Leroy R. Johnson Founded: 1960
Leroy R. Johnson & Associates Law Office is a legal firm providing services in the areas of probate and estate, criminal, domestic relations and personal injury.
Harold A. Dawson Company Publisher: Harold A. Dawson, Sr. Founded: 1969
Harold A. Dawson Company, Inc. is a developer of mixed-used and transit-oriented development primarily located in urban infill communities specializing in structured real estate finance for prominent national and international financial institutions and funds.
Lottie Watkins Enterprises, Inc. is the first black female-owned real estate firm specializing in property management in Metro Atlanta.
J.W. Robinson & Associates Owner: Joseph W. Robinson Founded: 1970
J. W. Robinson & Associates, Inc., (JWRA) is an architecture, interior design, and urban planning firm marrying of traditional values, new technology and innovative thought to meet design challenges.
Bussey Florist & Gifts Owner: Alice and Jimmy Bussey Founded: 1962
Bussey Florist is a full service floral retailer servicing clients in the U.S., Europe and Africa.
Anderson Communications Owner: Al Anderson Founded: 1971
Anderson Communications is the second oldest African American owned marketing services firm in the country specializing in developing strategically based integrated ‘Go to Market™’ programs for its clients.
Sanderson Industries Owner: Rory W. Sanderson Founded: 1965
Sanderson Industries, Inc. supplies stamped metal products for passenger cars, trucks, commercial and utility vehicles globally.
Atlanta Livery Services Owner: Frank Monteith Founded: 1971
The Atlanta Livery Company provides one stop ground transportation services throughout the southeastern United States and around the world.
Thomas, Kennedy, Sampson & Thompkins Owner: Thomas Sampson Founded: 1971
Thomas, Kennedy, Sampson & Thompkins is the oldest minority-owned law firm in Georgia providing and serving legal needs of major corporations, governmental authorities, small businesses and individuals.
First Class Owner: Bunnie Jackson-Ransom Founded: 1975
First Class, Inc. is a recognized marketing, public relations and governmental affairs firm servicing clients' locally and around the globe.
Charles F. McAfee FAIA NOMA PA Owner: Cheryl McAfee-Mitchell Founded: 1972
McAfee Provides Architectural Design, Planning, Program Management, and Construction Administration services with a commitment to design excellence.
Gourmet Services, Inc. provides the highest quality foodservice programs, Concessions Management, Vending and Golf Course Management complemented by impeccable customer service for each of its divisions.
Confidential Security Agency Owner: Tom Hutchinson Founded: 1972
Confidential Security Agency is one of the top security agencies meeting client needs in municipal, corporate and private sectors.
Barbara J. Alexander Realty Co. Owner: Barbara J. Alexander Founded: 1977
Barbara J. Alexander Realty Company, Inc. provides real estate and property management services to clients locally and nationally.
Banks Finley White & Company Owner: Gregory Ellison Founded: 1973
Banks Finley White & Company is committed to the development, implementation and maintenance of the highest quality services required by our clients: Audit and Assurance, Accounting, Advisory and Tax Services.
Stanley, Love-Stanley, P.C. Owner: William and Ivenue Stanley Founded: 1977
Stanley, Love-Stanley is one of the largest African-American practices in the country concentrating in architecture, planning, program management, and interior design throughout the U.S. and abroad.
E.R. Mitchell Construction Company Owner: E.R. Mitchell Founded: 1973
E.R. Mitchell Construction Company, Inc. provides a wide array of services to our clients and has extensive experience with projects that span across most market segments to include: Construction Risk Management, Program Management, Construction Management and General Contracting.
Turner Associates/OLH International Owner: Oscar Harris Founded: 1977
Turner Associates is an architectural firm providing Architectural Design, Interior Architecture, Planning and Program Management services on a multiplicity of projects, transforming the urban fabric of Atlanta and other major urban areas.
The Baranco Automotive Group Owner: Gregory and Juanita Baranco Founded: 1973
The Baranco Automotive Groups owns and operates full service dealerships providing exceptional service to their clients.
Dobbs, Ram & Company Owner: Ronald McCrae Founded: 1981
DOBBS, RAM & Company provides professional Information Technology systems management and consulting services..
Brown Office Systems Owner: Threet and Rhonda Brown Founded: 1980
Brown Office Systems, Inc. is a leading supplier of office furniture for corporations.
EC London & Associates Owner: Edward London Founded: 1981
EC London & Associates specializes in providing commercial and residential real estate development and marketing, facility management and operations support services for public and commercial clients.
Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Home Owner: Gregory Levett Founded: 1980
Gregory B. Levette & Sons Funeral Home provides funeral services with full support for families at their time of bereavement and the very best personal service.
Heads Plumbing Sales & Service Owner: Phenus and Sheila Head Founded: 1981
Heads Plumbing Sales & Service, Inc. is a complete residential and commercial plumbing company with a reputation on getting the job done quickly and efficiently.
Young International Development Cooperation Owner: Dr. Walter Young Founded: 1980
Young International Development Cooperation is an international consulting firm serving Africa, Japan and the Caribbean supporting companies seeking to do business in the United States.
Murray Brothers Funeral Home Owner: Kenneth Murray Founded: 1981
Murray Brothers Funeral Home offers traditional and non-traditional funeral services, funeral with cremation and cremation services and pre-need arrangements.
The Cuffie Law Firm Owner: Thomas Cuffie Founded: 1981
The Cuffie Law Firm is a personal injury law firm servicing clients locally and nationally.
The Harwen Group Owner: Bernice Franklin Founded: 1982
The Harwen Group is an insurance and financial services brokerage firm with the primary focus of assisting private and public sector employers in implementing high-quality and cost-effective employee benefit packages.
Eventions Owner: Sonjia Young Founded: 1982
Eventions is a full service communications agency that is customer focused and service driven specializing in public relations, special event planning and convention management.
Willie A. Watkins Funeral Home Owner: Willie Watkins Founded: 1982
Willie A. Watkins Funeral Home, Inc. is a full service funeral home specializing in Funeral Service, Creamtions, Transport Services, Funeral Program Design & Printing and Aftercare.
Goodrum Enterprises Owner: Leon Goodrum Founded: 1982
Goodrum Enterprises operates seven McDonalds Restaurants in Atlanta, Georgia and is one of the first African- American McDonalds franchise owners in the United States.
Donald Trimble Funeral Home Owner: Chedonna Trimble-Holston Founded: 1983
Donald Trimble Funeral Home is a full service mortuary offering funeral services and training for funeral directors.
Gus Thornhill Funeral Home Owner: Gus Thornhill Founded: 1982
Gus Thornhill Funeral Home is a full service funeral home offering traditional and non-traditional funeral services.
2009 Inductee
E. W. Bowen & Company Founder & Principal: Edward W. Bowen Jr. Founded: 1983
E.W. Bowen & Company, Inc. is a real estate services company that provides innovative solutions that address the unique conditions impacting the urban market. We combine extensive experience in the private sector, with an approach designed specifically for the public sector, to help our clients meet both short and long term business and operational goals. E.W. Bowen brings world class expertise across all real estate disciplines to redefine the way public and private institutions operate in today’s changing environment.
Delmar and Dr. Shirley Carmack started GNLD in 1984, specializing in whole food natural organic food supplements for adults and children, skin care and biodegradable cleaning products. After six years with the company their organization became the number one (#1) team in America. The Carmack’s organization claim more than 15,000 members across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the Philippines, England, and Africa.
2009 Inductee
Sadie G. Mays Health & Rehabilitation Center President & CEO: Charles Robinson Jr. Founded: 1947
Sadie G. Mays Health & Rehabilitation Center is the oldest African-American owned, skilled nursing facility in the state of Georgia. Founded by the late Sadie Gray Mays, it was the first nursing facility in Georgia where the poor, black, elderly or ill could go for long term care with dignity. The current facility is a modern 206-bed facility that offers comprehensive in-patient and outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy, IV therapy, short-term rehabilitation, post-operative care and specializes in wound care management.
2009 Inductee
Smith Real Estate Services, Inc. President & CEO: Pamela Smith Founded: 1984
Smith Real Estate Services, Inc. is a full service real estate firm dedicated to giving its clients an advantage in the highly volatile and competitive real estate industry. The firm is capable of providing expert real estate advice on a variety of real estate situations and problems related to the valuation, assemblage, acquisition, development and disposition of real estate assets.
2010 Inductee
Duckett Design Group, Inc. President: Karen Duckett Founded: 1985
Duckett Design Group, Inc. is a full service professional design firm providing architecture, interior design and planning. Duckett Design Group has been in professional practice since 1985 and has served a diverse body of clients from both the public and private sectors. Their projects include Maynard Holbrook Jackson International Terminal, Gateway APM train station, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta- Hughes Spalding, Dekalb Medical Center at Hillandale, etc.
2010 Inductee
Russell Contract Furnishings, LTD President: William Russell Founded: 1985
Russell Contract Furnishings, LTD (RCF) is a veteran-owned company, committed to providing the highest quality services and products chosen specifically for each client’s needs. RCF specializes in providing furnishing and print management solutions for four core environments: Corporate Offices, Educational Settings, Medical Offices & Waiting Areas and Law Offices.
2010 Inductee
Williams-Russell & Johnson Owner: Pelham Williams Founded: 1976
Williams-Russell and Johnson, Inc. (WRJ) is a multi-disciplined engineering, architectural, planning, program management and construction management firm. The company was organized in 1976 to provide professional services to public, private, military and governmental clients. Williams-Russell and Johnson has provided significant consultancy (engineering, architectural, planning, and construction management) service to large clients such as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (H-JAIA), Dallas Fort-Worth International Airport (DFW), Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Tranist Authority (MARTA), and Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT).
2011 Inductee
Cox Brothers Funeral Home Vice President: Carlton Webb Founded: 1900
Cox Brothers Funeral Home, Inc. is one of the oldest African American owned funeral homes in the city of Atlanta. Established in 1900 by Emily S. Cox and her two sons, Charles and Allen Cox, it became a staple in the community and in 1927, the business moved from its original location on Pryor Street, to Atlanta’s Historic Auburn Avenue where it is now an official historic landmark.
2011 Inductee
EGM Services, Inc. President & CEO: Arthur Queen Founded: 1986
Founded in 1986, as Ebony Glass & Mirror, EGM specializes in providing Engineering Services, Glass Services and Program Management/Construction Management Services for municipal, commercial, educational, and governmental clients. Over the years, EGM Services, Inc. (EGM) has grown into a company which is respected throughout the industry for quality work with professional delivery.
2011 Inductee
Prestige Packaging President: Michael Griffin Founded: 1986
Prestige Packaging, Inc. is the premier “go-to” source in the packaging industry, providing an array of plastics packaging products including shrink film, stretch film, grocery sacks, trash bags, bubble wrap and all manner of disposable plastic packaging.
2011 Inductee
Premier Academy, Inc. Executive Director: Cindra Taylor Founded: 1973
Premier Academy, Inc. is a non-profit corporation organized for the primary purpose of providing a comprehensive developmentally appropriate pre-school program for young children, as well as needed additional services. The mission of Premier Academy, Inc. is to provide a quality education program that fosters the development of preschool age children through planned learning environments, which aim to enhance their physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development.
2012 Inductee
Atlanta Peach Movers President & CEO: Orlando Lynch Founded: 1987
Atlanta Peach Movers, Inc. is a relocation service company that offers commercial and residential relocation services locally in the Metro Atlanta area, nationally and internationally the company has garnered a reputation of quality and reliability among the Atlanta real estate community, mortgage brokers, home builders and national corporations.
2012 Inductee
Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine Publisher: Pat Lottier Founded: 1987
Atlanta Tribune is the business lifestyle magazine positioning you to make the most of your finances, career, community and life beyond. Since 1987, Atlanta Tribune has been providing our readers with ideas, viewpoints and possible solutions in the areas of wealth-building, technology, careers, entrepreneurship and politics. Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine is Black Atlanta’s leading source for relevant, thought-provoking news and information on business and wealth-building.
2012 Inductee
Dove Direct Vice President/CEO: Harvey Newton Founded: 1987
Dove direct has been providing customers with unparalleled, cutting edge print and mail, direct marketing services, and is committed to providing quality customer service, on-time delivery, and offering a level of professional services that exceeds expectations.Their services offer a wide range of opportunities to increase quality, reduce postal costs and improve deliverability.
