Born in Anderson, SC, Ann received her doctorate in business and leadership education from The University of Georgia and has had post-doctorate training in Leadership Mastery and Organization Systems Theory studying with Peter Senge at Innovation Associates, with Robert Fritz in functional systems, and with Dr. Fred Jarvis at The Center for Constructive Change in strategy and change systems.  She has been a Chief Operating Officer for three organizations: one company in the global 1000 (IAC) and the other two in the non-profit world.    She has traveled the world in those jobs, with a focus on England, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong, China, Australia, New Zealand and parts of Africa. She has served as CEO of Atkinson & Associates for over thirty-five years, specializing in strategic planning, organization design, change management, board of director training, organizational culture, future trends, franchising, leadership mastery, emotional intelligence, economic development and systems development. She normally delivers over 100 keynotes a year.  She currently teaches online in the doctoral program of International Business for the University of Phoenix and in the Masters of NonProfit Education for the University of Maryland.  Her 1000+ clients have included the top Fortune 50 as well as multi-national organizations and non-profits. In other roles, she has served as V.P. in Continuing Education at the University of Georgia; the Dean of Education and Chief Academic Officer for The Art Institute of Atlanta, and a Vice-President of Marketing for Bell & Howell.  Learning has always been a compelling part of her life, but she is also passionate about laughing, traveling, gardening, hiking, reading, writing, and music.

Our mission is to create programs that encourage open communication, inspire shared visions, enhance teamwork, invite creativity, and propel people to perform and excel.  Ann's depth of knowledge combined with her years of personal experience make her able to customize her programs for each audience. She is a dynamic and fascinating speaker, captivating audiences with both her style and her content.