2024 Tribute to Achievement Woman of the Year and other awards

MARIETTA, GA – March 22, 2024 – LiveSafe Resources celebrated the 39th annual Tribute to Achievement on Friday evening at the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel & Convention Center. Over 450 guests celebrated 15 outstanding women from throughout metro Atlanta who were selected to join the organization’s prestigious Academy of Women Leaders. Joy Doss, attorney with The Doss Firm LLC in Marietta was named 2024 Woman of the Year.

The 2024 Woman of the Year award was presented to a shocked Doss by Sweetwater Mission Development Director and 2023 Woman of the Year, Debbie Ginocchio. Michele Howard, Board Chair of LiveSafe Resources, described Doss as a humble servant-leader with a strong commitment to serving the community. “On behalf of LiveSafe Resources, I am proud to present this award to her in recognition of her efforts to positively impact the lives of women, children and all Cobb citizens,” said Howard.

Beyond her role as a local attorney Doss has participated and supported a myriad of charitable organizations across the community, from Center for Family Resources and the Cobb Schools Foundation, to local civic and arts organizations.  Her efforts have impacted the Cobb Community far and wide over the last fifteen years.

The fifteen honorees for this year’s Tribute Awards represent the business, medical, education, government and not-for-profit sectors. They join a prestigious group of more than 600 past honorees who have been recognized for their contributions over the past 38 years. This year’s honorees include:

  • Melissa Alterio, Executive Director, Cobb County Department of Emergency Communications
  • Tiffany Barney, Director, Cobb Technology & Innovation Academy, Cobb County School District
  • Ann Burris, Deputy Commissioner, Georgia Department of Human Services
  • Mary Chatman, Executive Vice President, Wellstar Health System
  • Joy Doss, Attorney, The Doss Firm LLC
  • Alisha Hargett, Office and Operations Manager, SCANA Energy
  • Julie Jacobs, Judge, Superior Court of Cobb County
  • Lisa Lawrence, Commercial Lender, LGE Community Credit Union
  • Audrey Lewis, Associate in the Government & Real Estate Practice Group, Gregory, Doyle, Calhoun & Rogers
  • Shelly Owens, Director of Stakeholder Engagement, Cobb Community Foundation
  • Tricia Paterson, Principal, Lockheed Elementary School, Marietta City Schools
  • Katie Pearson, Director of Operations, Northside Hospital Cherokee
  • Rachel Rogers, Vice President, Sports Sales, Cobb Travel & Tourism
  • Natalie Rutledge, Executive Director, Communities in Schools of Georgia, Cobb-Marietta
  • Amy Selby, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Cobb Chamber of Commerce

This year’s Pat Head Dignity Award was presented to Rocky Middendorf, Commander of the Cobb County Police Department SWAT team and Violent Crime Bureau for “Doing the Right Thing,” consistently going above and beyond to support the community.

Beyond law enforcement, his empathy and leadership have brightened holidays for families in need, provided educational resources during the Pandemic, and organized volunteer events at Calvary Children’s Home. His policing career is marked by courage, skilled leadership, and compassionate outreach, embodying the ideals of the Pat Head Dignity Award.

The Kim Gresh Survivor’s Award represents the incredible strength and resilience of abuse and assault survivors everywhere. It is named for Kim Gresh, board member and a tireless champion of the work of LiveSafe Resources on behalf of victims. Presented to domestic violence survivor and former LiveSafe Resources client, Katina Davis, this award recognizes her success along the journey from leaving an abusive home to becoming independent, earning her college degree, writing two books and making a life for herself and her daughter. Her book, “Learning to Love Dark Skinned Me” has earned a spot on the Amazon Best Seller list among others, and she has also written a successful book to educate and inform other abuse survivors like herself.

Tribute to Achievement benefits LiveSafe Resources and their efforts to bring safety and healing to those impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault. Condace Pressley of WSB-TV and Cox Media Group emceed the evening, and Justin O’Dell of O’Dell, O’Neil, Hungerford, Blanchard served as auctioneer. Entertainment was provided by the Whitefield Academy Jazz Band.