Leadership
Linda Hughes has over 25 years of experience in company operations with extensive experience
in business strategy, operational planning, revenue generation, and information technology
management. She has worked in a variety of industries, including consumer products,
hospitality, healthcare, industrial products, retail and telecommunications.
Some of Linda’s past roles include a divisional CIO for The Coca-Cola Company, Vice President
of the Technology Practice and CIO for The North Highland Company, an international management
and technology consulting firm, and most recently held the position of CIO for AIG Agency
Auto. Linda is currently the president and CEO of The Great Ridge Company which provides
consulting services focused on improving the operational and growth capabilities of small
to medium businesses.
Ms. Hughes is a frequent speaker and author on business and technology topics. She has
presented at numerous industry conferences as a panelist, individual presenter, and key-note
speaker. She is heavily involved in non-profit activities and serves on the board of multiple
organizations headquartered in the Atlanta area. She has been interviewed for articles
appearing in CIO Magazine, TechRepublic, as well as many local Atlanta
magazines and has written articles for publications such as Optimize Magazine.
Ms. Hughes received her Bachelor’s of Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech
Core Values
At The Great Ridge Company we are firmly grounded in our values. The values guide our
decisions and our actions. Through the application of our values we remain focused on
delivering successful solutions the right way.
- Client Success - Our primary objective is providing value to enhance our client’s success
- Team Work- we work tirelessly to ensure a win-win solution that results in a mutually beneficial partnership
- Integrity - Our word is our bond
- Accountability - We are responsible and accountable for success
- Quality - We deliver excellence in everything we do
- Innovation - We bring creative solutions to accelerate the sustainable growth of our clients
- Inclusion - We are firm believers that diversity of thought is critical to arriving at the best overall solution
- Community - We are involved in our community through enthusiastic volunteering
Mission
Our mission is to guide our Client's to achieve sustainable business growth and efficiency.
Sustainability
The Great Ridge Company made a commitment to environmental sustainability when it was
founded. In addition to volunteering with many environmentally focused groups, we weave
sustainability into everything we do. Our commitment to sustainability is evident in our
words, actions, and client deliverables.
The Great Ridge Company "In the News"
Many employees of The Great Ridge Company are accomplished speakers. We have presented at
conferences, professional associations, civic associations, and many other venues. Some of
the topics include:
- Successful Leadership Styles - Washington, D.C. Executive Conference
- Organizational Chameleons - Women in Technology International
- Executive Dashboard Components - Nashville Executive Forum
- Strategy Development - GMIS Training Course
- IT Organizational Structures - Information Management Forum
- Non-Profit Involvement - Buckhead Rotary
- Implementing a Global LIMS - International LIMS conference (Keynote)
- Workforce Management - Microsoft International SQL Server Conference
- Demonstrating IT’s Value - Tampa CIO Council
- Establishing a PMO - Florida PMO Conference
- IT Strategy - GA. Center for Non-Profits
- Customer Relationship Management - Denver Executive Conference
- Integration of Voice and Data networks - Avaya User Conference
- CIO panel discussions on various topics
