Ann Cramer: Power Woman of the Year

Cover Story

January 28, 2008

Ann Cramer, Power Woman of the Year

To Ann Cramer, it is all about helping people. Taking the credit never is on her mind. “We are all citizens of the world and as such we should all be there for each other,” says Atlanta Woman magazine’s Top Power Woman. “It’s all about building trust relationship and as one grows and opens a door, another one enters and then helps the next. It’s all about people working together for each other.”
     Cramer is the director of IMB Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs for North America. It is through her position that she is able to meld her deep personal civic beliefs with the community service of one of the world’s largest corporations.
     “I am so fortunate to be with IBM in so many ways,” she says. “It is in the DNA of IBM to do service to the community, and I believe that in doing service in my heart as well. Together we have a commitment to children and youth. Through this job I’m able to work for the improvement of conditions for families because of IBM’s historic involvement with and investment in our local communities. It really is perfect.”
     Under Cramer’s guidance, IBM has shown a broad and deep commitment to K-12 education, job training and employment, community and family services, literacy programs and support for the disabled and disadvantaged through its people and technology.
     Cramer’s leadership abilities are well known within IBM and the greater Atlanta community, says Lee B. Torrence, IBM Senior State Executive. “To her it is all about the team, about making a difference and an impact. She truly truly doesn’t believe she deserves the credit. It’s all about what she can do for the community and IBM. That’s Ann. She is simply an outstanding servant leader with an energy level that is immeasurable.”
     It is that energy and positive spirit that may be the key to Cramer’s success and effectiveness. Ann, says Jim Breedlove, who recently retired as director of external affairs for AT&T, addresses “every cause with the enthusiasm of a college freshmen. And it’s a good thing because if she didn’t have that amazing energy and enthusiasm, she’d never get through the day.”
     Adding, “There are people in this town who are very devoted to helping education,” says. “And, there are people devoted to the Junior League, and the arts and Leadership Atlanta. But I don’t know of any other person in this town who across the board has been involved – strongly involved – in so many diverse areas of interests as Ann. She got me on the board of the Alliance Theatre and I’m still there 12 years later. I never would have done that without Ann.” 
     Sallie Adams Daniel, diversity officer at Troutman Sanders, also marvels at Cramer’s energy. “I don’t think she sleeps,” she declares. “I really don’t. I get emails from her at 4 in the morning, 11:30 at night and all through the day. She is such a thoughtful warm person who takes the time to connect with people and cheer on their success.” 
     A.J. Robinson, president of Central Atlanta Progress, calls Cramer a “tremendous community asset. As a business leader and community advocate, there is no more pleasant person to deal with. She cares and it shows in everything she touches.”
     A native of Jacksonville, Fla., Cramer graduated from Salem College in Winston-Salem, N.C, with a degree in mathematics. It was a time when there were few women graduating with math degrees and the college urged her to interview with at least one business because there just might be some opportunities in corporate America. She interviewed with IBM and took a job as a systems engineer. She moved to Atlanta and joined the Junior League and became involved in ministry work at Little Five Points. “It was the start of the duality of my life,” she says. “Working for corporate America and then going out as a volunteer. My life is around working for the better good in corporate America and then doing my faith-based volunteer work. I just think there are so many ways that women, in particular, can make a difference by being a volunteer and the community is so ripe for this involvement.”
       Cramer’s role at IBM grew, as did her family. With two young children, Wil and Megan to tend to, she retired in 1979 – or as she prefers she “worked without pay.” She become involved in the United Way, and worked with former Gov. Joe Frank Harris on his Volunteer Service Leadership program.
     In 1989, Tom Smith, IBM’s senior leader in Atlanta, asked if she would return. It was an exciting time as the company was building its signature tower on West Peachtree Street and a little thing called the Olympics was about to come to town. In fact, Cramer says a lot of the planning for the Olympics was done at IBM’s offices. “It was so fabulous, such a great experience for everyone in town and for the world to see all that Atlanta and the state offers.”
     Her duties grew as well especially geographically. She soon took on the state, then the Southeast, and then the East Coast. Eventually, and not surprisingly, she conquered the country for IBM. “It all morphed and then community relations was pulled in as well. I’ve just have the most wonderful job.”
      If there is a cause near to Cramer’s professional and personal heart it is education. Her husband Jeff is a teacher at Grady High School in Atlanta and her children both graduated from Atlanta public schools.
     “Ann really was one of the early leaders back in the 1970s and 80s who was urging the chamber of commerce and other business groups to pay attention to education,” says Breedlove. “She took it on as a cause, both for herself, as well as IBM.”
      IBM’s primary emphasis is focused on education reform, especially related to the powerful use of technology as a tool for learning. The company has invested more than $35million in providing leading edge information technology solutions to Reinventing Education, a unique initiative with worldwide implications for radically improving public education, especially the high standards of achievement for all children.
     “Education is so important and I’m always the optimist,” she says. “ We must keep establishing an urgency that education is the key to success. It is the critical link to economic health. Education is the code of entry.”
     Cramer believes in the total community. “I believe in the base values of how families interact with each other but that connectiveness should go beyond the family into the community. Each of us should know that we are not the center of the universe. It is not about me me me.”
      She feels strongly about faith and is a volunteer at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. I see that when kids are raised in a faith, they may move away but they come back. I also see that kids are disconnected. The world is so overwhelming that young people especially need someone to talk to. They need role models.”
     The one thing she doesn’t believe in is her power. “I don’t have power,” she asserts. “I affirm others to use their talents wisely in the extended community. I don’t need a big title or anything. I just believe that each of us has the power within us to care, be compassionate and work hard so that no one in the community has to live in fear.”
     Cramer has no intention of slowing down and feels that she still will be called to serve as the years progress. “It still feels good being involved. Maybe I’ll work with children and the arts. I don’t know, but I’ll still be doing this – just using a walker!”