When new administrators and admin managers come on board at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), many of their colleagues point them to Lisa Manning for help and expertise.

Lisa has worked for GTRI for almost 11 years, and before that, she worked on the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) campus from 1994 to 2011. Not only does Lisa possess vast knowledge from her time at Georgia Tech, but she embodies the Georgia Tech motto, “Progress and Service.”

“I love to see the success of other people,” said Lisa. “That's just my passion.”

Administrating Success

Lisa is a senior administrative professional for the Applied Embedded Systems Division at GTRI. Therefore, she is the go-to person for all the needs and questions in her division, from processing travel to supplying a shipping label.

“A major part of my job, for me, is communication,” explained Lisa. “Building a working relationship with [the team] has made my responsibilities a lot more feasible.”

No ask is too big or small for Lisa. She responds with a cheery demeanor that makes everyone feel welcomed and valued. Whether with her smile or work ethic, Lisa knows she impacts people's lives around her.

“What I love about it, Black History Month, is that we now have an opportunity to share our talents,” said Lisa. “As a child, I did not get the opportunity to express all of my feelings and emotions; therefore, as I became an adult, I began to recognize I need to celebrate myself and my achievements.”

And Lisa has many achievements to share.

In 2021, Lisa was an ambassador for Georgia Tech's section of the Georgia State Charitable Contribution Program (GASCCP), which collects donations of all sizes from State of Georgia and University System employees. The campaign's generosity supports cancer research, provides food and shelter to people without homes, assists children in learning to read, and so much more. The diligence of Lisa and her colleagues contributed to the record-breaking participation from GTRI employees, totaling over $60,000 in donations.

Lisa’s been recognized for her outstanding contributions to GTRI with two awards. In 2015, she received the Poodle award from GTRI’s Electronic Systems Laboratory. This award, a physical poodle statue passed from recipient to recipient each year at the annual holiday party, is given to employees who have gone beyond and above expected responsibilities. 

GTRI also awarded Lisa with a Distinguished Performance Award in the category “Outstanding Performance in Research Support – Administrative,” which recognizes a staff member or research faculty employee whose performance was most outstanding in administrative support of GTRI research activities.

Sharing Knowledge and Experience

Lisa’s desire to share her knowledge came early in life. She became a mother right after high school and could not accept the basketball scholarship offered to her for college. That moment propelled a change that would ripple throughout her life.

“I begin to make some healthy changes in my life,” said Lisa. “I begin to pour my knowledge and life of giving others hope in a deferred world!”

Part of giving hope to others is equipping them with knowledge. Lisa never wants to be known as unteachable. Instead, she takes advantage of every educational opportunity.

In the 1980s, Lisa attended Atlanta College of Medical and Dental Careers. However, she found her niche in professional administrative services. So, in 2012, Lisa decided to pursue another degree, this time in Organizational Leadership, from Mercer University. After completing her bachelor's, she immediately began a master's program at the same university. Lisa completed her master's in organizational leadership development and change in 2019, and now she shares those lessons and experiences with her GTRI colleagues.

“I stayed long [at GTRI] because I am a life-long learner, but also I am a woman of my word,” said Lisa. “I have integrity and am very loyal.”

Outside of her typical day-to-day responsibilities, Lisa also serves on the steering committee for the admins at GTRI. Lisa’s helped develop an active community on Slack, connecting administrators across GTRI’s numerous labs and operations units in the office or working from home. She’s involved with GTRI’s Workplace Enhancement team and continues to take professional development courses through GTRI’s Talent Management Department.

“I'm not selfish with the knowledge that I have because I like to see people be successful and not fail,” she shared.

For Lisa, this mentality continues outside of Georgia Tech. At her place of worship, Lisa mentors seven single-parent women, walking alongside them through each victory, pitfall, and question.

The Hope in our History

When thinking about our history, we often reflect on the lives of people who came before and walk alongside us.

"Black History Month gives me hope," said Lisa. "Listening to so many other situations, listening to my friends and other stories, it gives me hope."

Lisa takes great inspiration and hope from her parents. Her mom, Beatrice, who is now 87, told Lisa stories of picking cotton for a living, working all day in the field, and only making a nickel. But reflecting on her mother's life, Lisa focuses on the success she achieved and how she loved people.

"My mom, in her time, didn't get a lot of education at all, very minimal education, but she was a very successful woman in the marketplace, very successful," shared Lisa. "She had many jobs. She even went back to school, herself too."

Not only was Beatrice successful in the marketplace, but she also raised seven children, teaching them never to quit and always hold their heads high. Lisa has taken that advice to heart, leading her to success and happiness.

What Black History Month Means to Lisa

“Black History Month is a fresh reminder that a remnant racism may still exist,” said Lisa, “However, I have made a choice not to continue living out painful situations, but make new victories, which starts with me!”

From the awards she won to the book she’s in the middle of writing, Lisa creates victories all around her.

"We must remember, though, the movement, in reference to Dr. [Martin Luther] King Jr., was for everybody, every race, every culture. It was not just for African Americans," said Lisa. "We all were put here on this earth for one purpose, and that's to find out what our niche is."

Lisa knows her niche and fulfills it well. It is a passion and purpose developed by watching her mother love and care for all the people around her.

"I know that my gift is to share, continue to share my life for other people so that they will become great leaders like myself," explained Lisa.

Lisa empowers others and cultivates leadership in them. For her, Black History Month represents not only a time to reflect but also to spark victories and innovations.

Lisa leaves us with this final thought:

“As time continues to change and evolve, my skin pigment will never change. I might get some wrinkles here and there. However, no matter who we are, our victories start in the heart of the carrier! Another thing my mother has always told us ‘…you might get knock down, but it is your choice to stay down, so get up and live life with pride and not regret!’

Black History Month is relevant for all who desire to change and gives all an excellent opportunity to reflect on resetting, rethinking, rediscovering, reinventing, and of course celebrating who we are as humans!”

Writer: Katrina Heitz
Photos: Christopher Moore
GTRI Communications
Georgia Tech Research Institute
Atlanta, Georgia USA

The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is the nonprofit, applied research division of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). Founded in 1934 as the Engineering Experiment Station, GTRI has grown to more than 2,800 employees, supporting eight laboratories in over 20 locations around the country and performing more than $700 million of problem-solving research annually for government and industry. GTRI's renowned researchers combine science, engineering, economics, policy, and technical expertise to solve complex problems for the U.S. federal government, state, and industry.

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