LiveSafe Resources is proud to announce the honorees for the 40th Anniversary Tribute to Women of Achievement. This annual event celebrates fifteen exceptional women from the metro Atlanta area who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in their personal, professional, and volunteer endeavors. These honorees join the esteemed Academy of Women Leaders, a group of over 500 women recognized for their significant contributions to their professions and community.
Meet the 2025 Honorees:
Angela Blank – Community Advocate & Volunteer
Angela is a proud Georgia native who worked in sales & marketing for the majority of her career. After her retirement, she began her journey in philanthropic work in an area that means so much to her – military veterans transitioning from active duty to civilian life. One of her greatest accomplishments was establishing the Mission 85 initiative to expand access to quality, holistic services to veterans and their families through partnerships up the I-85 corridor of GA, SC and NC. Angela is involved in The Shepherd Center, The Warrior Alliance, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta, and Operation Rally Point. Her favorite thing to do is spend time with family and friends, especially her mom and sister, who are her biggest supporters.
Edith Boy – Financial Advisor, Edward Jones
Edith loves working with people and takes great joy in helping them succeed. She volunteers on several community boards and also with her job at Edward Jones. After 30+ years working in the banking industry, she started a new career at the age of 52 and has built a successful business. Edith’s biggest influence was her mom, who showed her the importance of giving back. Edith finds pleasure in assisting others in planning the lives of their dreams. Edith enjoys spending time with her friends and family, especially her granddaughter, traveling as much as possible, and cheering on the Tennessee Vols.
Charisse Braxton – Sr. Director of Clinical Operations, Kaiser Permanente of Georgia
From an early age, Charisse knew she wanted to be a nurse, inspired by her grandmothers and driven by the desire to help others feel better. As she grew in her profession, becoming a Nurse Practitioner and later a nurse leader, Charisse recognized her purpose in life was to help her community achieve optimal health. One of her proudest moments was as chairman of the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce during the pandemic and leading a major vaccine distribution effort. Charisse is deeply passionate about creating healthier communities and ensuring that high-quality, equitable healthcare is accessible and affordable for all.
Sandra Butler – CEO & Founder, Advanced Skin Care
Sandra, founder and CEO of Advanced Skin Care, has over 30 years of experience empowering women to feel confident in their skin. Through her education, she gained valuable experience in both spa and dermatological skincare and established one of Georgia’s first medical spas. Sandra’s greatest accomplishment is her Pink Passion Breast Cancer Fundraiser, an event where proceeds go directly to the Wellstar Foundation to make Courage Kits with essential items for individuals undergoing treatment in our community. For the past 11 years, this event has fostered a sense of belonging among women who share similar experiences, empowering them with knowledge about breast cancer and available resources. She is deeply grateful for the unwavering support of her family and friends, cherishing the time they spend together, which continues to inspire her every day.
Kimberly Carroll – Deputy Court Administrator, Cobb County Superior Court Administration
Kimberly has dedicated two decades to the Cobb County Judicial System, working in Superior and Juvenile Courts and as Deputy Clerk of the Superior Court Clerk’s Office. Kimberly serves her community as an active member of several organizations, including Cobb Chamber’s Cobb Executive Women, Leadership Cobb Alumni, the Government Affairs Committee, Honorary Commanders Alumni, and Marietta PAL; and has also served on the Georgia DBHDD and Marietta Schools Foundation boards. Kimberly earned her paralegal certification from Kennesaw State University and holds multiple court administration certifications. Aside from her career, Kimberly’s greatest joy is being a mother, and in her leisure time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, and spending quality moments with family and friends.
Cassy Ferrell – Senior Vice President, Treasury Operations, Georgia’s Own Credit Union
Cassy is very passionate about giving back to her community through her servant leadership and involvement with local non-profits that focus on education, domestic violence, and family and children homelessness. In 2007, Cassy and several others started the community bank, Vinings Bank, which became a vital support to the local businesses during difficult times before selling in 2022. Being part of the growth and sales of the startup was the highlight of her professional career. Cassy is a Cobb County native and an alumnus of Kennesaw State University. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, volunteering, exercising, attending sporting events, and spending time with family and friends.
Judy Fitzgerald – Executive Director, Voices of Georgia’s Children
From service delivery to consulting, public service, and now non-profit leadership, Judy has embraced mission-driven opportunities and is continually amazed at how much more there is to learn. Judy is a mother, wife, sister, daughter, friend, and social worker, bringing energy, purpose, and optimism to everything she does. Throughout her career, she has had the privilege of working alongside brilliant and compassionate leaders and colleagues. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading books, and traveling. From her New York roots to her home in Georgia, Judy is deeply grateful for her life of abundance.
Kate Gaffney – Director of Pro Bono, Atlanta Legal Aid Society
Kate believes that shared human connections empower both clients and staff at Legal Aid, and through her clients’ stories, she finds inspiration and hope for the future. In her role, she focuses on expanding impact and engaging the legal community to address the civil justice gap. Her greatest accomplishments are serving individuals, standing with survivors, and helping caregivers navigate the court system for stability and safety. Her husband and two sons are her greatest joys and bring laughter to her life.
Rachel Harmon – Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science, Oxford College of Emory University
As a first-generation college graduate, Rachel has been profoundly transformed by education and is deeply grateful for the opportunity to help others pursue their academic goals. As Visiting Assistant Professor at Emory University, Rachel focused on human rights and contributed to programs for autistic students. Additionally, Rachel founded and directs the EverWell International Scholarship, which has awarded 80 scholarships to survivors of human trafficking across 8 U.S. states and 5 countries. Her greatest passion is advocating for equitable access to education as she serves on the board of Climb Beyond the Barrier. In her spare time, Rachel enjoys rock climbing, reading, thrifting, and queer line dancing.
Jessica Lee – Director of Ticket Operations, Atlanta Braves & Truist Park
As a first-generation U.S. citizen, Jessica was able to live the life her parents dreamed for her and provided her with the opportunity to explore her passions in life and career. Through finding those passions, Jessica has been able to give back to the community in a deeply fulfilling way. An East Cobb native and a graduate of the University of South Carolina, Jessica enjoys traveling, reading, attending sporting events, and movie nights with her friends. Jessica feels that her greatest accomplishment has been seeing how far she has come in life in battling mental health issues and eating disorders.
Freda Lyon – Vice President of Emergency Services, Wellstar Health System
In her role for Wellstar Health System, Freda is responsible for strategic planning, evidence-based practice, patient experience, and recruitment and retention. As part of her role, she oversees Wellstar’s Transfer Center, workplace violence, and human trafficking initiatives. She also serves on local, regional, and national emergency preparedness committees and is a board member of Rescuing Hope. Her greatest accomplishments are her role as a mentor to new nurses and leaders in quality patient care and staff safety, as well as a Fellow at The Academy of Emergency Nurses.
Betsy Madrerohon – Vice President, Commercial Banker, Capital City Bank
As a banker, Betsy finds joy in taking care of her clients and helping them grow their businesses. Outside of work, she loves to volunteer in the community and is also very passionate about staying fit and healthy. She has been married to her husband Charlie for 22 years, and they have two sons, Ross and Ben, and a Cavapoo puppy named Maple May. You can usually find her and her family at a baseball field. Betsy’s favorite thing is being a mom to her two sons; raising them has been her greatest accomplishment.
Ashley Palmer – Judge, State Court of Cobb County
Ashley is a passionate advocate for the law, a wife, and a mother dedicated to serving her community. She currently serves as a State Court Judge in Cobb County, becoming only the second African-American to hold this position. A proud Double Dore, Ashley earned both her undergraduate and law degrees from Vanderbilt University. She practiced criminal and civil law from 2006 until her appointment to the bench in 2021. Ashley is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Leadership Georgia, Leadership Cobb, and several boards. Ashley’s two greatest accomplishments are serving the citizens of Cobb County and being a mother to her three children. Her greatest passions are her family, reading, traveling, and relaxing at the beach.
Jennifer Stanley – Physician Liaison, Northside Hospital
As physician liaison at Northside Hospital, Jennifer is honored to witness the positive impact of the hospital’s funding on the community, particularly organizations like Live Safe Resources. Serving on boards on behalf of Northside has given Jennifer a unique perspective to provide insight to assist organizations. Her greatest personal accomplishment is her family. Professionally, Jennifer takes pride in being a part of the team that helped the new Northside Cherokee Hospital open in 2017. Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and reading.
Heather Walker – Chief Deputy, Cobb County Tax Commissioner’s Office
Heather’s passion for people drives her work in the Cobb County Tax Commissioner’s Office and her service to others through MUST Ministries, the South Cobb Lions Club, and the Girl Scouts. She strives to focus on her faith, family, and loved ones by cherishing time with her husband and daughter. Heather strongly values integrity, accountability, and treating others with compassion and kindness. Her greatest accomplishment is earning her master’s in business administration while working full-time. Heather values the challenging yet enriching experience that not only earned her a degree but also introduced her to truly amazing individuals.
The 2025 Tribute to Women of Achievement gala is scheduled for Friday, March 21, 2025, at 6:00 PM at the Atlanta Marriott Northwest at Galleria. The evening will feature a social reception, dinner program, silent and live auctions, and an after-party. During the event, one honoree will be named the “2025 Woman of the Year.” Additionally, the Pat Head Dignity Award and the Kim Gresh Survivor’s Award will be presented to individuals exemplifying outstanding service and resilience.
Tickets and corporate tables are available for purchase. Proceeds support LiveSafe Resources’ mission to serve victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in our community.
Join us in celebrating these remarkable women and their contributions to our community. Learn more>