Doug Ivester (BBA '69) was awarded the Doctor of Humane Letters, our highest academic honor,

during the 2025 Fall Undergraduate Commencement ceremony.

Congratulations to the 54 Terry Alumni named to the 2026 Bulldog 100 list. Bulldog 100 celebrates the top 100 fastest-growing organizations owned or led by UGA alumni. Sponsored by the UGA Alumni Association, the winners were measured by the compounded annual growth rate of their business over a three-year period. See the the full list of honorees here.

Join the Terry College in congratulating Colin Rocker (BBA '18) on being named to Forbes 30 Under 30 list. This prestigious honor recognizes the most inspiring young leaders and innovators under 30 who are making a meaningful impact in their field. Rocker, an Atlanta native, has built a remarkable career as a career creator, keynote speaker, and community builder. Through his brand CareerColin, he equips young professionals — especially first-generation talent — with practical career strategies, personal finance insights, and real-world advice that helps them navigate work and life with confidence. His digital presence reaches millions each month across platforms, and his work includes brand partnerships, speaking engagements, and curated resources that uplift a new generation of professionals.

The lessons Michael Lage (BBA'05) learned through the Leonard Leadership Scholars Program, a core offering of Terry’s Institute for Leadership Advancement, are ones he continues to utilize today. Those lessons—centered on service, values-based leadership, and putting others first—have shaped his professional journey. After graduating from Terry, Lage began his career at Chick-fil-A before earning his MBA from Harvard Business School and gaining experience at Google and Facebook. He later returned to Chick-fil-A, where he worked alongside fellow Terry alumni to help launch the company’s mobile app. Now vice president for field operations, Lage leads with the same values-first mindset rooted in his Terry education. As a committed Terry alum, he regularly returns to campus to engage with students, share insights, and support the next generation of leaders.

The Terry College is saddened to share the passing of Jack Rooker (BBA '60), a distinguished leader in commercial real estate development whose philanthropy, good humor, and thoughtful counsel left a lasting mark on The University of Georgia and the Terry College of Business. A 1960 graduate of Terry, Mr. Rooker’s legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of our college. Alongside his longtime colleague and friend Dudley Moore Jr., his name graces the Moore-Rooker Building in Terry’s Business Learning Community—a lasting symbol of his commitment to education and student opportunity. The Rooker family’s connection to UGA spans three generations and includes 10 alumni, reflecting a deep and enduring devotion to this institution. Mr. Rooker’s generosity, leadership, and belief in the power of a Terry education will continue to shape lives for generations to come.

Shane Foye (BBA '15) is the President of Discount Waste Inc. (DW1), the nation’s leading provider of essential site services. Under his leadership, DW1 operates an asset-light model and delivers roll-off dumpsters, portable toilets, storage containers, fencing, mobile offices, and related solutions nationwide through a white-glove, single-point-of-contact service model with 24/7 availability. Foye is the co-founder of Overcast Holdings, the parent company of Waste Applications, a patented enterprise software platform that modernizes service-based industries. As DW1’s backbone ERP, Waste Applications continues to drive operational efficiency and provide teams with the tools needed to better serve customers. He also serves as Vice Chair of Same Capital, the Foye Family Office, overseeing investments, philanthropy, and long-term legacy planning. Foye is active in the arts community, serving on the boards of the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center and the Woodruff Arts Center, and curates his family’s contemporary art collection, Sealed Collection.

Foye maintains a strong connection to the University of Georgia and the Terry College of Business. His support includes a financial commitment to the Management Department with a focus on logistics. He serves on the Supply Chain Advisory Board and the Terry Young Alumni Board, participates in Leadership Dawgs, and mentors students through guest lectures and panels. His passion lies in helping students build confidence, clarity, and real-world perspective as they begin their careers. In 2025, Foye was recognized as a University of Georgia 40 Under 40 honoree. Beyond Terry, Foye and his family are proud supporters of the UGA Athletic Association as members of the Silver Circle and the Magill Society. He resides in Brookhaven, Georgia, with his wife, Sydney Topper Foye, a 2016 UGA graduate, and their three children, Harper, Hadley, and Hudson.

The December Alumni of the Day were Coleman Jones and Melissa Diaz. Jones graduated in 2023 with a BBA in Finance and is the Senior Procurement Specialist at the University of Georgia. Diaz graduated in 2001 with a BBA in Finance and is Vice President of Distribution Strategy and Finance for Warner Brothers Discovery.

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. 

The Terry College is thrilled to congratulate the fall class of 2025 and welcome the newest alumni to the Terry College alumni family. We know they will succeed in everything they set their minds to and soar to new heights.

Make plans to attend the January Terry Third Thursday with John Hearn (BBA '94), chief operating officer for IMA Financial Group. In 2009, Hearn joined Atlanta’s The Benefit Company, which merged with IMA Financial Group in 2023. In 2024, he began serving as IMA’s COO. Hearn is involved in serving key clients, including controlling health care and insurance cost trends. A leading authority on health care reform, he often speaks to industry forums on the subject. Outside of IMA, Hearn serves on the board of directors for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and served on the United Benefit Advisors board for six years. Hearn and his wife Amy reside in East Cobb and all three of his children attended UGA. We hope to see you there!

Join the Terry College at the first MBA Lunch and Learn of the year with speaker Michael Lonergan (BBA '01), Founder and Managing Partner at Georgia Oak Partners, on January 15, 2026. Lonergan partners with Georgia Oak’s portfolio companies to drive revenue growth and evaluate new investment opportunities. His Georgia roots have shaped the firm’s mission and its commitment to fostering economic growth and sustainability throughout the state and the broader Southeast. Lonergan earned a BBA, cum laude, in Finance and Management from the Terry College. In 2018, he was named a 40 Under 40 Honoree by the Atlanta Business Chronicle and received the Emerging Leaders Award from The M&A Advisor.

Registration for the second annual Young Alumni Summit is officially OPEN! At the Terry Executive Education Center on Friday, January 23, this year’s summit brings together fresh perspectives, meaningful connections, and the momentum you need to keep your Terry journey going. We’re thrilled to welcome an exceptional speaker lineup, including keynote voices Donna Hyland of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Benjamin Watson (BBA '03), SEC Network college football studio analyst. Additional speakers include Matt Beacham (BBA '09, MAcc '11), Co-Founder of GoodDays Classic Cocktails; Jonathan Newar (BBA '17), Co-Founder & CEO of Captain Experiences; Jerry Kane, Department Head of Management Information Systems; and Mary Holland Nader (BBA '21), Founder of Mary & Pip.

A special thank you to our event sponsors for making the second annual summit possible!

This holiday season, give a gift that says “Go Dawgs!” and “We’re proud of our Terry Dawg” all at once.

Picture your Terry Dawg returning to campus, finding their name among the community of proud alumni and supporters — a moment they’ll never forget. Purchase a brick here.

Jonathan Newar (BBA '17) spoke at the Institute for Leadership Advancement's

Spring 2025 Fellows graduation.

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