DOCTOR
Readers chose Melanie Thompson, founder and executive director of the AIDS Research Consortium of Atlanta (ARCA), as top physician this year. She is a dedicated provider of care and advocacy for people with HIV and AIDS, and she has been a strong proponent for the use of PrEP to help prevent new infections with the virus.
In second place this year is David Morris of Pride Medical (www.pridemedical.com); in third is Scott Parry of Intown Primary Care (www.intownprimarycare.com).
FINANCIAL PLANNER
Zak Koffler of Morgan Stanley (www.morganstanleyfa.com/zak.koffler) profits most in this category for 2015! The out certified financial planner (CFP) steers the fortunes of many Atlantans, both straight and LGBT, and is active in many associations, including The Trevor Project, Southern Jewish Resource Network (SOJOURN), and the Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.
Don Dusick of Cornerstone (yourcorneronline.com/about.htm) gets second, with Larry Waller of HLM Financial Group (www.hlmonestop.com/ourteam.php) in third.
DENTIST
Filling first place this year, Dr. Chip Hill (www.chiphilldds.com) is crowned our top dentist! The Midtown professional has been practicing in Atlanta for nearly 20 years. He has a perfect 5-star rating on yelp.com, proving that when it comes to caring for our readers’ teeth, he really knows the drill.
Dr. Tammy Bregman (www.myatlantacosmeticdentist.com/Atlanta-Dentist-Tammy-Bregman-DMD-FAGD-13896) is in second, with Dr. Tom Sparkman (www.sparkmandds.com) in third.
BANK
Georgia Voice readers have invested in BB&T (www.bbt.com) as their number one bank this year. The 143-year old financial institution, founded in North Carolina, today has 15 locations in the Atlanta area and a demonstrated commitment to serving the LGBT community; the company is both a sponsor and a vendor each year with Atlanta Pride.
Delta Community Credit Union (www.deltacommunitycu.com) has second place to its credit, and Regions Bank at Ansley Mall deposits third.
PHARMACY
Georgia Voice readers prescribe the medical practice Pride Medical‘s full-service pharmacy (www.pridemedical.com/index.php/services/pharmacy) to treat this category in 2015. The highly qualified staff pharmacists, Jason Nash and Deborah Fincher, work closely with Pride Medical’s physicians, and they stand ready to serve their patients with skill and discretion, and they offer convenient overnight delivery.
The pharmacy in the Kroger’s pharmacy at Ansley Mall is second place this year, with AbsoluteCARE (www.absolutecarehealth.com/atlanta) third.
REALTOR
Kathy Kelly (kathykellysells.com) takes first place this year. The Decatur spouse and parent has lived most of her life in the ATL, and she believes her educational background in business and social work have helped to make her a better real estate agent. Georgia Voice readers have made a down payment on that claim!
Justin Ziegler arrives in second place, and Bradford Smith sets up camp in third.
DERMATOLOGIST
Damon Mauldin, M.D., (www.dermga.com/providers/damon-v-mauldin-md) puts skin in the game with his number one placing this year. The Little Rock native has lived in Decatur with his wife and children for 11 years, and he joined Dermatology Associates of Georgia in 1999 and is site partner at the practice’s Decatur office. His interests include general medical dermatology and skin cancer surgery.
Tiffany Hamilton (www.hamiltonderm.com/providers) is the runner-up, and William Wray (www.atlantadermatology.com/biographies_wray.php) takes third place.
GYM
Gravity Fitness (www.gravityatl.com) muscles into this category’s first place in 2015. The Midtown fitness center, on Faulkner Road off Cheshire Bridge, has been providing the iron for fitness-minded Atlantans to pump for over eight years. It also provides a wide range of other services, including massage, classes, personal training and sauna.
Urban Body (urbanbodyfitness.com) spots second, with the Anytime Fitness (www.anytimefitness.com) in Midtown lifting third.
HAIR SALON
Julia Thaiese wins this year. The multitalented Thaiese, hair stylist, makeup artist and cosmetologist, is a Paul Mitchell graduate who has worked with brides, with models and on movie sets in the Atlanta area for many years. She also loves to teach others the craft.
Bubbles (www.bubblesatlanta.com) is second this year, and Stephen Harvey Salon (www.stephenharveysalon.com) is third.
SPA
Bliss (www.blissworld.com) in Midtown lives up to its name for a majority of readers, as it wins this category in 2015. A range of treatments and products can be found there, from massages and facials to waxing to laser applications. Several products are available to purchase for home use as well.
Second place goes to Blue MedSpa (bluemedspa.com), and Exhale (exhalespa.com/locations/atlanta) wins third place.
LAWYER/LEGAL
Dan Grossman (dangrossmanlaw.com) double-dips this year, since he has also won Best Male Activist. He is a fearless defender of the rights of LGBT people in Atlanta, most famously in the case of the Atlanta Police Department raid on the Atlanta Eagle bar. He’s the man you want when it’s time to question authority.
Jennifer Gibbs (gibbsmabe.com) takes second place, with Kathleen Womack (www.kwomacklaw.com) in third.