Kim Gatling, 42, Attorney
By day, Kim Bullock Gatling is a Partner with the Smith Moore Leatherwood law firm in Greensboro, focusing on patents, trademarks, copyrights, and information technology. By night – or in what little free time this wife and mother of three boys has – she is also very active in helping her community achieve a better quality of life.
“My parents invested a lot of their time into their community, so that was a model that was set for me. I am so blessed and have had so many opportunities presented to me that I feel like I’m being selfish if I don’t give back with my time and financial resources.”
Gatling, 42, serves on the Boards of the North Carolina Humanities Council, American Cancer Society South Atlantic Division, Cone Health Foundation, United Way of Greater Greensboro, and Gateway University Research Park. At her alma mater, NC A&T State University, Kim is Vice Chair of the Board of Visitors.
Kim also recently got her first taste of working with the City of Greensboro as she co-chaired the Yes 4 Greensboro Bonds committee. This committee helped educate the community on the importance of the $126 million bond referendum on the November 2016 ballot. “Being part of this grassroots effort taught me a lot about Greensboro city government. Greensboro is so special in part because of the great quality of life we have here and the bonds helped enhance those things. I was excited to go out and speak to different groups on why this is so important for our community.”
Despite growing up in Hampton, Virginia, Kim has a strong connection to Greensboro. Her father was a student at NC A&T during the sit-in movement in Greensboro. In fact, he wrote for the NC A&T Register and covered the story of the A&T Four – the first four students to peacefully protest at the Woolworth’s lunch counter on Elm Street.
“I think the Greensboro Four exemplifies everything good about Greensboro, especially our educational system. Students from all universities in Greensboro participated in the sit-ins. There is so much diversity at our institutions.” As Kim notes, “the Greensboro Four represent strength and humility, and the idea that we can make a difference.” Kim is working to make a difference in Greensboro everyday.