SMART & BOLD IN ACTION: DeAnne Huff

Profile of a Girls Inc. of Columbus & Phenix-Russell Alumna

DeAnne “Coach Dee” Huff has spent nearly three decades shaping leaders, strengthening organizations, and uplifting her community. A seasoned corporate professional, leadership coach, and etiquette expert, Huff brings a rare blend of experience, compassion, and vision to every space she enters.

Huff began her corporate career at AFLAC in 1997, building an accomplished résumé across Policy Service, New Business, Customer Service, Claims, and Compliance. Over 28 years, she became known for her expertise in leader development, vendor relations, internal operations, and quality management. She later became a certified behavior coach through the Aubrey Daniels Institute, specializing in behavioral science and positive reinforcement strategies used to help organizations improve culture and performance across the U.S., Asia, and Africa.

A Troy University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership, Huff remains deeply engaged in community service and civic involvement. She serves on the United Steering Committee and previously held a board position with the Columbus Regional Tennis Association. Her passion for the sport earned her recognition as the 2007 Female Tennis Player of the Year, the same year her team became the first minority women’s team from Columbus to win the state championship and advance to regional competition.

In 2017, Huff co-founded Sisters for the Love of Tennis, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to the sport for women and girls while promoting sisterhood and empowerment.

Beyond her corporate and athletic accomplishments, Huff is committed to helping individuals—especially young people—develop confidence and social awareness. A Certified Etiquette Consultant through the American Academy of Etiquette, she operates Olive Tree Coaches Etiquette under her parent company, Olive Tree Enterprises LLC. Her approach focuses not on rigid social rules but on cultivating presence, self-assurance, and the ability to build meaningful connections.

“True leadership is about making others better through your presence and ensuring your impact endures in your absence,” Huff often says, reflecting her philosophy of service and purpose.

Rooted in Girls Inc.

A proud Girls Inc. alumna, Huff credits the organization with helping shape the trajectory of her life. Growing up on the south and east sides of Columbus with limited resources, she spent her summers and afternoons at the Garrard Girls Club Center on Clover Lane. There, she learned lessons in teamwork, responsibility, creativity, and self-confidence.

Her positive experience with Girls Inc. carried into the next generation. Her daughter and five nieces all attended programs at the Baker Center in the early 2000s.

“Girls Inc. shaped me and ALL my babies,” Huff said. “This safe haven will always hold a special place in my heart. I owe much of our success to this amazing organization.”

Today, Huff continues to support Girls Inc. through her nonprofit, by contributing to programming, and by teaching etiquette workshops designed to empower girls to navigate any environment with poise and confidence.

A Living Legacy

Leaders at Girls Inc. say Huff represents the organization’s multigenerational influence across the Chattahoochee Valley.

“Families like DeAnne’s show us what the power of Girls Inc. looks like across multiple generations,” said Danita Gibson Lloyd, CEO of Girls Inc. of Columbus & Phenix-Russell. “She, her daughter, and her nieces are living proof of what happens when girls are surrounded by support, opportunity, and high expectations.”

Lloyd added that Huff not only benefited from Girls Inc. but continues to strengthen it through service and mentorship. “That is the true legacy of strong, smart, and bold women lifting as they climb.”

A Life of Purpose

Outside of work, Huff enjoys golf, travel, and spending time with her family and church community. She is the proud mother of one adult daughter, Olivia, a Neuro ICU nurse who also serves in the U.S. Air Force Reserves. Her beloved fur baby, Sir Charles Pierre, is known for keeping the household lively.

From the boardroom to the community, from tennis courts to Girls Inc. classrooms, Huff’s life reflects a commitment to leadership, service, and empowering others. Her journey continues to inspire girls and women across the region to pursue excellence with confidence and grace.