The Benson family’s commitment to the University of Georgia began in 1918 when family patriarch, the late W. H. “Howard” Benson, founded Benson’s Bakery in downtown Athens. Howard’s son, the late Ed Benson (BBA ’42), graduated from the Terry College of Business and later took over the company from his dad in 1958. It was his keen interest in management and logistics that led him to diversify the company into the hospitality business. Benson’s Inc. became the parent of Benson’s Bakery and Benson’s Hospitality Group, formed in 1960 to build and open the original, iconic Holiday Inn in downtown Athens next to the University of Georgia’s historic North Campus. Larry (BBA ’74), Ed’s son, also graduated from the Terry College and is now Benson’s chairman and CEO. His business acumen and financial expertise have grown the family business to unprecedented levels, including an expansion of the baking facility and the construction of new hotels. Benson’s Hospitality Group is redefining hospitality across their properties with an approach that’s uniquely Southern and, most importantly, uniquely Athens. In 2017, the Benson family recognized their 100-year relationship with Athens and the University of Georgia by making a transformational gift to the Terry College, naming Benson Hall (in honor of W.H. Howard, Ed, and Larry Benson) in the Business Learning Community. 

Christina Noel's (MBA '14) long-standing commitment to supporting sustainable business growth has led her to her newest endeavor: an e-commerce-based-gifting platform called 'Better Made Easy.' The website features unique gifts that give back, organized by category such as Local to NC, for Foodies and Jewelry. Noel is based in Raleigh, NC and has a deep passion for mission-driven organizations that uplift their local communities. Noel is also the Founder & Principal at Noel & Co., a marketing and strategy consultancy that works with mission-driven organizations to achieve sustainable growth.

Myrlande Demosthene (MBA '22) is CEO and co-founder of Heart of Moisture, a premier beauty and wellness supplier that aims to advance access to essential beauty supplies on campuses for Black college students. Heart of Moisture provides a solution to ensure students  have access to essential and up-to-date grooming supplies. The UGA bookstore carries more than 30 Heart of Moisture products. Demosthene and Heart of Moisture are paving the way to ensure students have access to hair care needs and products, and know how to best address their concerns on campus.

Congratulations to the 10 outstanding Terry Alumni named to the University of Georgia's Class of 2024 40 Under 40. 40 Under 40 celebrates the personal, professional and philanthropic achievements of successful UGA graduates under 40. Read about the class here.

Left to Right: Jeremy Adams (BBA '07), Tamara Branch (BBA '09), Rodd Cargill (BBA '10), Brittany Chitwood (BBA '14, MAcc '15), Candler Cook (BBA '11, MBA '18), Will Ferrand (BBA '15), Alex Hill (BBA '10), Jessica Pittard (BBA '11), Thomas Presley (BBA '08, MAcc '09) and Zain Hasan (ILA Leadership Fellow '09).

Please help us congratulate the newest members of the Terry College Alumni Board and Young Alumni Board. We are excited for a great year ahead, with the leadership and talents that all members encompass. 

New members of the Alumni Board serve a three-year term and are responsible for Terry initiatives such as the Alumni Awards and Gala, Terry Third Thursday and the Professional Women’s Conference. 

Young Alumni Board members must be 35 years old or younger and serve a two-year term, and their initiatives include the Second Century Club, TerryConnect and 10 for Terry.

Each year, the Terry College recognizes two Distinguished Alumni and one individual as our Outstanding Young Alumnus. Review award criteria and nominate a candidate for consideration for the 2025 Terry College Alumni Awards. The deadline to complete your nomination is Thursday, August 15, 2024. Selected honorees will be recognized at the 2025 Terry College Gala. 

We are saddened by the loss of a dear friend and Terry alum, Mr. Dudley Moore (BBA '57). Moore graduated from the Terry College with a bachelor’s degree in Insurance and Real Estate. After graduating, Moore returned to his family’s small insurance agency before embarking on many endeavors leading to his successful business career.

Not only did Moore possess a remarkable work ethic, but he also had a passion for giving back. He attributed much of his success to his UGA education and was inspired to show his appreciation. Moore believed that in a fast-changing world, business students need the strong foundation of an outstanding education to be competitive in their careers. With that in mind, Moore made an impact at Terry that will last for generations to come. He endowed the Dudley L. Moore Jr. Chair of Insurance, which provides faculty support, and teamed up with a close friend and fellow Terry grad, Jack Rooker, to name Moore-Rooker Hall in the Business Learning Community.

Over the years, Moore served in several alumni leadership roles, including as founding chairman of the Terry College Board of Overseers, chairman of the UGA Foundation Board of Trustees, member of the Terry Business Advisory Board and a trustee of the UGA Real Estate Foundation. He received the Terry College Distinguished Alumni Award in 1985 and was named the 1992 Risk Management and Insurance Alumnus of the Year.

We are grateful for Moore’s many contributions, and we continue to keep his family in our thoughts as they navigate this difficult time.

Logan Brown

Dylan Sims

Ellina Berman

Teddy Gillen

The July Alumni of the Day were Logan Brown, Dylan Sims, Ellina Berman and Teddy Gillen. Brown graduated in 2016 with a BBA in Marketing and is Vice President of Marketing at Reagan Consulting. Sims graduated in 2017 with a BBA in Risk Management and Insurance and is an Assistant Vice President, Client Manager in the National Casualty Practice at Brown & Brown Risk Solutions. Berman graduated in 2022 with a BBA in Management Information Systems and is a consultant at EY. Gillen graduated in 2004 with a BBA in Risk Management and Insurance and is a Senior Principal at Epic Insurance Brokers & Consultants.

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. 

Meet the 2024-2025 Student Philanthropy Council! SPC is a group comprised of students in the Terry College of Business who play an integral role in outreach efforts for the college's Office of Development and Alumni Relations. The goal of this group is to help build a culture of philanthropy within Terry’s student body in order to ensure our students become engaged and loyal alumni donors. To learn more about what SPC does and the member benefits, click here. To get to know our members, click here and follow the Terry Alumni Instagram. 

With access to state-of-the-art facilities, award-winning faculty, unmatched career services and an alumni network 75,000 strong, Terry College students are primed for lasting success. We call this The Terry Edge. Yet one-third of Terry students have a documented financial need. This can prevent them from taking full advantage of all the college has to offer. With your support, we can ensure all students have the needed tools to learn, then lead.

Interested in helping a student take full advantage of their learning and leadership opportunities at Terry? Let’s talk. Contact Natalie Glenn at nglenn@uga.edu.

Are you interested in mentoring a current student? Are you looking for a new job? Do you want to connect with classmates and share advice? 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. Tip: Turn on post notifications so you don't miss any opportunities! 

Stay in the loop and never miss a beat by following Terry Alumni on Instagram. The Terry College is abuzz with alumni accomplishments, student stories, exciting events, and incredible opportunities. Get social with the Terry College to stay connected and informed about all the happenings that shape our community. 

The Risk Management and Insurance Program has grown into the largest undergraduate program of its kind and is consistently ranking among top two programs in the country.

Charlie Condon (BBA '25) made history as the highest drafted Bulldog selected in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft.

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University of Georgia
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