Alfred J. "Jack" Smith III, senior vice president of customer service,joined AirTran Airways in April 2002. He is responsible for reservations, customer relations, customer service, security, airport operations, baggage service,inflight service, and catering.With more than 20 years of experience in the airline industry,Jack Smith served as vice president - global operations for Northwest Airlines where he oversaw the execution of multiple cargo and postal product lines at 165 locations throughout the world. He began his tenure at Northwest Airlines in 1992 as vice president - customer service. In the mid-1980s,Smith served as director of customer service, prior to serving as director of inflight service for Midway Airlines.

Smith began his airline career at Eastern Air Lines in 1974 where he held various positions before joining Altair Airlines as director of inflight service.In the community, Smith believes in giving back and is involved as a board member of the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau,a board member of the Boys and Girls Club of the West End, and a member of the Kiwanis Club of Atlanta.Smith earned a bachelor of science degree at Ithaca College in Ithaca, N.Y., and a master of business administration degree from Manhattan's New York Institute of Technology. He resides in Atlanta with his wife and two sons.

Jace Smith is American Heart Association Grassroots Advocacy Director.The AHA completed significant internal changes between 1980 and 1986, allowing it to reach the public with a louder,clearer voice. With the hard work demonstrated by Jace Smith and team the association became a much more visible champion of public health. The AHA also developed guidelines for the nation's healthcare system and supported the federal government's attempt to improve access to healthcare.At the same time, the AHA continued to strengthen its internal programs and its internal management.The association revised its mission statement and focused its planning in three areas: cardiovascular science,cardiovascular education and community programs, and fund raising efforts.Achievements included stricter research standards, new healthcare site modules,and development of several new cookbooks. Large gifts allowed the AHA to support new research projects,move all scientific staff into one building, and sponsor creative professional education programs.Efforts to include more women and minorities in the leadership ranks began to pay off by the late 1980s,resulting in more efforts to understand the effects of heart disease and stroke on women and minorities.

Jackee Smith President and CEO Co-op OpticalIn the course of her 30-year optical career,Smith has risen from being a ceptionist to being president and chief executive officer of Co-op Optical,a Detroit-based company with 135 employees and 11 retail stores,an optical manufacturing division and a vision insurance company.She is one of the few African American women to lead a regional optical company.Under her leadership,Co-op Optical's sales have grown from $13.6 million in 2004,the year she became CEO, to $17.7 million in 2006.The company's customers include the Detroit Board of Education, Wayne County Community College District and Oakland University.Nationally, it serves DaimlerChrysler and American Axle.She sees Co-op Optical as an "eyecare conservation organization."She serves as chairperson of the children's division for New Center Community Mental Health,and coordinates a Toys for Tots program for low income children.She has also participated in the Child Care Coordinating Council.