Carol Farmer (BBA '86) is releasing a children's book, 'Leo the Loveable Lab,' hoping that the endearing dog stories will inspire readers to consider adoption. 'Leo the Loveable Lab' is a heartwarming story that shines light on the joy animals bring as they become a part of your family. Farmer and her spouse recently relocated to the lake, embracing a new lifestyle surrounded by freely roaming animals. Her affinity for dogs,  fueled her passion to craft stories that enchant children of all ages. Farmer's enduring love for dogs finds expression in her appreciation for their unrestrained spirits and daily activities. Farmer earned a marketing degree from the Terry College and began her career as a market research professional. 

Matt Beacham (BBA '09, MAcc '11) is Co-Founder of Drink GoodDays, ready to drink canned cocktails. GoodDays hit stores early 2024 and is made with real spirits and real juice. Beacham is a CPA living in Athens and began his career at Frazier & Deeter in the tax department. After 7 years, Beacham went down the entrepreneurial route and has worked for Onward Reserve, Market Street Partners, and Biolyte. At the beginning of 2023, Beacham and his business partner, Jason Miller, decided to start GoodDays. With an accounting background and previous entrepreneurial experiences to draw from, Beacham is capable of getting a new business off the ground, but knows the work that it’s going to take to sustain in a competitive and ever evolving beverage industry. 

Taylor Lindsey is the SVP, Artists & Repertoire (A&R) at Sony Music Nashville, where she oversees the label's dynamic new A&R team. Prior to SVP, Lindsey was directly involved with the development of artists such as Old Dominion, Luke Combs, Maren Morris, Ryan Hurd and Mitchell Tenpenny. Lindsey has been included in a number of industry power lists including Billboard's 40 Under 40 (2018) and Billboard's Women in Music (2018, 2019, 2023). Lindsey attended the University of Georgia, where she met her husband, Grammy-nominated songwriter Derrick Southerland . Lindsey needed an elective class and thought it'd be easy to study organic chemistry in the back of a music business class, but she fell in love with the prospect of working in music. Lindsey will soon be honored at the Rising Women on the Row ceremony and she shared some advice for a young woman who may want to be in her place one day: Don't forget where you came from. If you want something, just go after it and be okay with pivoting if you have to.

Jay Ferro (MBA '03) was recently recognized as the 2024 Terry College MIS Alumni of the Year at the MIS Advisory Board meeting. As a committed alumnus and loyal donor, Ferro is actively involved in various boards at the University of Georgia, including the MIS advisory board since 2012. Ferro has donated multiple scholarships and lends his expertise and insights to further the mission of the Terry College and nurture the next generation of business leaders. Ferro serves as the Executive Vice President, Chief Information, Technology, and Product Officer at Clario, where he oversees the development of cutting-edge technology solutions for clinical trial management. With his wealth of experience, leadership, and dedication to making a positive impact, Ferro continues to be a respected figure in the technology industry. 

Danette Beck (BBA ' 94) has been named the 2024 UGA RMI Alum of the Year, for her outstanding leadership and service to the department over many years. Beck is on the 2024 Hot 100 Insurance Business America's list. Beck is Head of Industry Verticals and National Construction Practice Leader at USI Insurance Services, where she has been since 2018. Beck is an Emeritus Board member of the Terry College Alumni Board, serves on the Terry Dean's Advisory Council and is often on campus to share her time and talent with students. Jim Carson serves as the Department Head for the Department of Insurance, Legal Studies and Real Estate and is the Daniel P. Amos Distinguished Professor of Insurance and Professor, Risk Management and Insurance Program. He recently succeeded Dr. Rob Hoyt who served as the Department Head for the past 20+ years. The RMI program is the largest of its kind and is consistently recognized as #1. 

Alix Hanna (BBA '16) - Vice President at Newmark

Summer Duperon (BBA '06) - Vice President of Collective Impact at GirlTrek

Charlese Newsome  (BBA '11, MAcc '12) - Associate Director at The Siegfried Group

The Terry College hosted the inaugural MBA Lunch & Learn with speaker Karen Bennett, EVP & Chief People Officer at Cox Enterprises, on Thursday, March 21. Diving into the remarkable journey of Cox Enterprises’ 125 years, Bennett uncovered invaluable lessons on professional growth and development, including to make your mark in your workplace and leave a legacy that echoes your impact. The recording of Bennett's presentation will be released on the Terry College Youtube page in the coming weeks. 

We hope you will make plans to join us at the next MBA Lunch & Learn with Angie Brown, Senior VP of Technology at The Home Depot on Thursday, June 20. Register here.

The MBA Lunch & Learn is an opportunity for MBA Alumni to connect with fellow alumni and hear from influential business leaders. 

Holly Meidl is no stranger to travel. Through her work, she travels all over the U.S. and internationally. Her passion for exploring new places started when she was honored to be one of the first Terry students to study abroad in London. This was an experience Holly said changed her life and set her on a trajectory in her career. Because of the impact of her experience, Holly created a study abroad scholarship for undergraduate students with a preference for those studying in Oxford.

Holly graduated from Terry in 1983 with a BBA in Risk Management and Insurance. With more than 40 years working in a field focused on risk solutions, she now serves as the Senior Vice President and Chief Risk Officer at Ascension, the largest not-for-profit health system in the U.S.

Even while establishing her career, Holly stayed connected with Terry, serving as a chair and panelist for the Professional Women’s Conference, by participating in student workshops such as Terry Talks, and as a member of the Terry Dean’s Advisory Council.

A notable contribution was the time and energy she poured into the Building Terry Campaign. Holly assisted as a co-chair and Terry Ambassador for the Nashville area, raising funds and connecting alumni. To leave her legacy during the campaign, Holly named a connection point in Correll Hall dedicated to her parents and named a faculty office in Moore-Rooker Hall.

Holly continues to support Terry through serving on the Emeritus Board and the RMI Program Advisory Board. We are thankful for Holly’s passion for helping students and her drive to stay connected to her alma mater.

The March Alumni of the Day were Thomas Adams, Mitchell Kersey, Anna Grace Hawkins, and Stephen Moore. Thomas graduated in 2022 with a MAcc and is an Audit Associate at KPMG. Mitchell graduated in 2023 with a BBA in Marketing and is the Partnership Services Coordinator at Georgia Bulldog Sports Marketing. Anna Grace graduated in 2017 with a BBA in Finance and Marketing and is a Private Wealth Advisor at Goldman Sachs. Stephen graduated in 2019 and is a Broker for Alliant Insurance Services.

Each week, we feature an Alum of the Day, where alumni share their career, company, activities they enjoy in their downtime, favorite Georgia memories, and how they choose to give back to their community. The goal of the Alum of the Day series is to show current Terry students the types of career opportunities that exist and give them great contacts in their industry. 

Be sure to check out @terryalumni on Facebook and Instagram each Wednesday to see our next featured alum! Head to the Alum of the Day page for more information and to fill out the form. 

Ella Heywood (BBA '25) brings light and life into every moment with Ellaments balloon designs. Heywood is a marketing major from Greensboro, NC, offering custom balloon arch services to elevate every event. Heywood has leveraged the resources and expertise gained through the entrepreneurship program at the University of Georgia, as she founded Ellaments just one year ago. 

Jillian Rhae Maxwell (BBA '24) transferred to the University of Georgia to take the next step in her path to success. Jillian Rhae Company was launched and Maxwell focuses on timeless, classy fashion design. Maxwell designed the Day2Night Jillian Jumper, which she says would not have been possible without the support of her faculty mentors at UGA. Read more here. 

Don't miss your opportunity to hear from Mayor Andre Dickens, City of Atlanta, during next month's Terry Third Thursday presentation. Dickens, an Atlanta native, entrepreneur and veteran community leader, was sworn in as the 61st mayor of Atlanta in January 2022. His platform, “Moving Atlanta Forward,” focuses on ensuring every neighborhood is safe, healthy and has access to the economic development that turned the city into a tech and entertainment hub over the last two decades. Dickens is a graduate of Mays High School. He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master of Public Administration from Georgia State University. We hope you will make plans to join us. Register here.

Dawg Day of Giving is on March 26th and we're calling all alumni to show their support. You can play a role in the goal of 10,000 gifts across campus, which will create a lifetime of opportunities for UGA students. 

Your gift to the Terry Excellence Fund will help remove financial barriers, including internship support and study away opportunities. The Terry Excellence Fund serves as a versatile resource that benefits a variety of high-impact programs across the college and allows the college to provide scholarship support to students. 

TerryConnect is the hub for student-alumni networking for the Terry College. Students are encouraged to join and build relationships with Terry Alumni, leading to shared information and advice, hiring opportunities and long-term networking. Whatever your question, whatever your need: TerryConnect can find a helping hand and keep you connected within the Terry community. 

Shep Ogden (BBA '18) and Bailey Grady (BBA ’19) launched Interlock Studios, a company where they build and buy mobile apps and hold them for a long term. Mark Cuban and Atlanta Ventures lead the investment round to launch. 

Tina Carpenter, EY Faculty Fellow and Professor in the J.M. Tull School of Accounting, is being honored with the University of Georgia's highest award for teaching, the Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professorship.

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