ATLANTA MAGAZINE NAMES MELT FOUNDER, CHAIRMAN AND CEO VINCE THOMPSON TO THEIR "THE ATLANTA 500" RECOGNIZING 500 OF ATLANTA'S TOP LEADERS; LIST INCLUDES FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER, CNN FOUNDER TED TURNER, HANK AARON OF THE ATLANTA BRAVES AND MANY MORE TOP ATLANTA LEADERS AND ICONS
Atlanta Magazine, Atlanta's most prestigious publication today announced its "The ATLANTA 500", naming Atlanta's 500 most influential Atlantans. MELT Founder/Chairman/CEO Vince Thompson was among those named to the list. Also included in the list was Hank Aaron, Delta Airlines CEO Ed Bastion, Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United owner and Home Depot Founder Arthur Blank, Former President Jimmy Carter, James Quincey and Jim Dinkins of Coca-Cola, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, US Senator Johnny Isakson, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, Home Depot Founder Bernie Marcus, former Augusta National Chairman Billy Payne, Producer Tyler Perry, Usher, UGA Coach Kirby Smart, CNN Founder Ted Turner and many others.
The ATLANTA 500 is comprised of eight categories: Business; Professionals; Real Estate; Government & Infrastructure; Restaurants & Hospitality; and Religion, Nonprofits, and Advocacy. Atlanta Magazine's editors spent months consulting experts across different sectors while also taking into consideration nominations from the public.
Thompson founded MELT in 2000 and has built MELT into one of the country's largest sports, culinary and entertainment marketing agencies. MELT won 11 marketing industry awards last year for their work for clients including The Coca-Cola Company, who they have represented for 18 years. Thompson was also named one of Atlanta's "Most Admired CEOS" by The Atlanta Business Chronicle. Thompson also created MELT University, the award-winning national intern program that has placed dozens of young sports marketing professionals in jobs across the country.
