Stay connected with the Terry College Alumni family! 

THE SKY'S THE LIMIT WITH THE JONESES

Jeff Jones (BBA ’93) is the CEO and Founder of Ad Victoriam Solutions, a technology consulting firm he started with the help of his wife Alice Jones (BBA '94) in 2014. At Ad Victoriam, teams of consultants, developers, and others with cloud and data expertise help clients implement and integrate the Salesforce platform to fit their individual needs. Its clients range from retailers, manufacturers and health care service organizations to software companies and video game developers. Today the firm has just over 100 employees and has been recognized as a fastest growing company on the Inc. 5000 list. The Joneses  frequently share their secrets to success with current Terry College students through engagement opportunities like the Terry Talks series, where alumni connect with students in a small group-like setting. The Joneses partnered with Terry College faculty to present a "Digital Transformation" technology symposium for business leaders. It is a five-week online program led by University of Georgia faculty, Ad Victoriam executives, and Ad Victoriam clients, so attendees benefit from both academic and current real-world experiences. 

QUERY SERVING AS CHAIR AT NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY

Tim Query has spent 16 years at New Mexico State University teaching Insurance and Risk Management classes in the College of Business. Query has held the Mountain States Insurance Group Endowed Chair since his arrival at NMSU in 2006. In his role as chair, Query plays a leading role in overseeing the three major RMI pathways NMSU offers. Query is also helping to expand the types of students who seek a RMI minor, including math, criminal justice, and engineering students who can apply their skills to insurance fraud and loss control. Query completed his Ph.D. in Risk Management and Insurance in 1994 from the Terry College. 

TRAILBLAZERS ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO POUR INTO THEMSELVES

On Thursday, February 23, we honored the Class of 2023 Terry Trailblazers. The Terry College recognizes four outstanding diverse alumni, who are business leaders, that have achieved career success while making a meaningful impact on their organizations and communities. This year's Trailblazers are Kim Adams (BBA '99), Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Talent Acquisition at Ulta Beauty; Lael Chappell (BBA '06), Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer at Desq; Chloé Kelley (BBA '06), Executive Vice President at PIMCO; and Ameet Shetty (BBA '96), Chief Data Officer at The Pilot Corporation. The Trailblazers participated in a Meet & Greet with the Terry Diversity Fellows, sponsored by EY; lunch with Dean Ayers, Terry Administrators and students; a panel discussion; and lastly Flash Mentoring Sessions with students.

The panel discussion focused on how important culture is within a company, stating you should work for a company whose values and beliefs align with your own. You should find a company where you can play a role in continuing to advance the culture and positively add to it. The Trailblazers highlighted that you only get out what you put in and to say thank you in the form of giving back to the organizations that helped pave the way for you. We thank the Class of 2023 Terry Trailblazers for their leadership and celebrate their success. 

Emeritus Members of the Terry College Alumni Board visited campus on January 31 to support UGA student veterans. They gathered for the event, entitled "All Pathways Lead to Business" which offered informal and formal networking amongst the Terry business leaders and student veterans from across campus. Speed networking and casual conversation created connections and fostered community. The group heard from Jon Segars, Director of the Student Veterans Resource Center at UGA and Nancy Whatley (BBA '81), Sr. Director of Talent Acquisition at Veritiv and Chair of the Emeritus committee. "Our Emeritus Board Members are industry leaders and enjoyed the opportunity to meet and connect with servicemen and women who are studying at UGA. We are passionate about helping those who have and continue to serve our country," Nancy said. The Terry College is committed to supporting student veterans. If you are interested in making a gift to Terry's veteran support fund, click here.

Sarah Edwards earned her BBA in Risk Management and Insurance from the Terry College of Business in 1983. While studying at the University of Georgia, Sarah was also a member of the UGA women’s basketball team from 1979-1982. She spent the majority of her career with The Coca-Cola Company as the Director of Finance and Strategy for the concentrate manufacturing division. In this role, Sarah led operational and supply chain finance activities across 19 plants located in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Her career with The Coca-Cola Company spanned an extensive 35 years. As a longtime supporter of the Terry College of Business, Sarah has most recently created a study abroad scholarship. Through her scholarship, students will be able to travel and focus their efforts on their studies without financial burden. The Sarah Edwards Study Abroad Scholarship will provide valuable experiential learning opportunities and open the world to Terry students. She has also endowed a Georgia Commitment Scholarship benefiting need based students in her hometown of Moultrie, GA. We are grateful to Sarah and her dedication to the students at the Terry College of Business!

          Dr. Jake Goodman

John Longino

Courtney Rodebaugh

Tom Harper

The February Alumni of the Day were Dr. Jake Goodman, John Longino, Courtney Rodebaugh, and Tom Harper. Dr. Jake graduated with an MBA in 2020 from the Terry College and is now a Psychiatry Resident Doctor at Jackson Memorial Hospital and Veterans Affairs Hospital in Miami, Florida. John is a triple dawg having graduated from the Terry College with a BBA in 1973 and MBA in 1976, and a JD in 1976. He owned and operated his own law firm, practicing for over 30 years before retiring in 2012. Courtney graduated in 2007 with a BA in Marketing and is now the Chief Programming Officer for LeadAbroad where she focuses on programs in Europe, Central America and Africa. Tom graduated in 2006 with a BBA in Risk Management and Insurance. He now serves as the President of AssuredPartners Colorado. 

Each week, we feature an Alum of the Day, where alumni can share about their career, company, activities they enjoy in their downtime, favorite Georgia memories, and how they choose to give back to their community. In addition to highlighting successful alumni, 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. Students are encouraged to reach out to each Alum of the Day to connect.

Be sure to check out @terryalumni on Facebook and Instagram each Wednesday to see our next featured alum! Are you interested in being featured as the Alum of the Day? Reach out to Sarah Bratton at sarah.bratton@uga.edu for more information. 

Terry Talks are a small group-like setting event where alumni can connect with students, sharing their background, professional experience, and career advice. Students interested in the speakers career or company attend the talk to learn and network. Terry Talks talk take place in the Glover Boardroom, so students can get used to meetings around a conference table. 

We kicked off the semester with Max Blocker (MAcc '86) a retired Global Partner at PWC, who connected with students on public accounting and his top 10 pieces of advice. Next, Frank Anderson (BBA Finance '96),the CEO of RBW Logistics shared his insight on the challenged within the industry, why they are based in Augusta, GA and what that entails, and what makes RBW unique. Michael Fierman, Managing Partner and Co-CEO of Angel Oak Companies, rounded out the month of February's Terry Talks. Michael provides strategic direction and leadership to Angel Oak and shared with students how he got from owning a bar in Athens to Angel Oak. Thank you Max, Frank, and Michael for taking the time to meet with Terry students!

Morgan Pope is a marketing and management student, graduating in 2023. She is a Terry Diversity Fellow, sponsored by EY, where she serves as a mentor to underrepresented intended business students. Diversity Fellows provide outreach to younger students to expose them to the many offerings at Terry, to create an inclusive community and encourage student participation. Diversity Fellows are paired with a mentor from the Terry College Alumni Board. Morgan's mentor is Brandon Gardner, a 2003 Marketing graduate and current Terry College Alumni Board member. Morgan shared some insight on her site visit to PNC Bank in Atlanta, GA, on Friday, February 17 with Brandon: 

"I recently had the opportunity to participate in a site visit to PNC, and I have to say, it was a wonderful experience. The chance to get an up-close look at the inner workings of such a successful company was an incredible learning opportunity. The knowledge I gained was invaluable and will undoubtedly prove useful as I prepare for my future career. Having a mentor like Brandon has been instrumental in my academic growth. He has provided guidance, support, and invaluable insights into the field I am interested in pursuing. I am truly grateful for his dedication, support, and the opportunity to learn from his experience and expertise. I am incredibly appreciative of the opportunities and resources that have been provided to me, and I look forward to continuing to learn and grow with the help of such supportive mentors."

The Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF) at the Terry College of Business hosted finance students from around the country for the ninth annual Stock Pitch Competition on Feb. 17. The contest brings together investment professionals to judge student teams who make researched pitches for stocks they believe will be future good buys. Catherine Kight (featured above), SMIF president and a graduating senior studying finance, shared "Having a contest that attracts such high-quality judges, panelists and teams is a great resource for students here and for finance students everywhere who want to get involved." The contest ended in a tie, with teams from Washington and Lee University and Florida State University taking home $2,500. 

Don't miss your opportunity to hear from George McKerrow, CEO and co-founder of Ted's Montana Grill during this month's Terry Third Thursday presentation. George McKerrow dedicated his career to making sure dinner out could be both relaxed and celebratory. His work has shaped the trajectory of the American hospitality industry for the last 30 years. McKerrow is also the founder of LongHorn Steakhouse, where he invented the casual dining concept. We look forward to hearing about McKerrow's success in the restaurant industry and his journey to Ted's Montana Grill. 

STUDENT + ALUMNI NETWORKING NIGHT

Join fellow alumni and current Terry College students for an evening of networking and connecting at the Synovus Overton campus in Atlanta. This exciting annual event will feature a brief keynote presentation, opportunities to network and support students and a fun TerryConnect Four game! 

When: Tuesday, March 28, 2023 from 5:30-7:30PM

Where: Synovus Bank - Overton Campus

3400 Overton Park Drive Atlanta, Georgia 30339

Join the Terry College for the Sustainability Speaker Series with Mike Mannina on Thursday, March 16th at 4:30pm. Mannina is the Co-Founder and CEO of ThriveWorx, a non-profit dedicated to disrupting poverty through market-driven collective action. It is sister companies with Thrive Farmers, an award-winning social impact coffee and tea company. Mannina received a BBA in Finance in 2004 from the Terry College. 

Dean Ayers shared in January 2021 that "the Sustainability Speaker Series is a part of Terry's Sustainability Initiative to brings accomplished leaders to campus to educate and inspire students to become ethical leaders who create sustainable businesses and develop innovative models that transform business in all sectors." We pleased to offer a zoom option to alumni all around the world, to join us in listening to Mike Mannina's story and how he leads sustainable businesses.

CALLING ALL TERRY DAWGS!

Dawg Day of Giving is on March 30th 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. 

It has been a momentous year for the Terry College of Business in ways that both inspire us and remind us of the impact of those who have generously supported our efforts. Our undergraduate and graduate programs continue to garner top rankings nationally, reflecting a standard of academic excellence that is embraced by students, faculty and staff alike. 

In October, we grieved the loss of Mary Virginia Terry. Together with her late husband, Herman, Mary Virginia was responsible for setting the college on a path of growth and transformation that continues to this day. We remember the Terrys for their outstanding support of the college that bears their name. 

The Terrys' impact went far beyond their financial gifts. Their tireless support cleared the way for countless others to make their own mark by furthering the college's educational mission. Together, our alumni and friends continue to ensure Terry College students are among the most well prepared anywhere to lead and serve in their careers and their communities. 

Thanks to these partnerships, we are making strides toward realizing the goals outlined in our recent strategic plan, hiring new faculty and launching programs and opportunities in key areas such as innovation, leadership, sustainability and date analytics.

As we celebrate recent successes we also look to our future — a future that is brighter than ever, thanks to our Terry College community. Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Benjamin C. Ayers, Dean

Earl Davis Chair in Taxation

busdean@uga.edu 

The Terry College boasts 13 academic programs ranked among the 20 best public programs in the country, including six in the top 10. 

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