Class of 2025 Terry Trailblazer La'Vonda McLean (BBA '04) shares insights through flash mentoring sessions. 

Janis L. Ware (BBA ’81), Publisher of The Atlanta Voice, has been named the recipient of the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA). This prestigious honor recognizes her exceptional leadership in journalism and her dedication to amplifying the voices of the African American community. As one of the first African American women to graduate from the Terry College of Business, Ware paved the way for future generations of leaders. Her business acumen and passion for community advocacy have shaped a career spanning over four decades. Since taking over The Atlanta Voice in 1991, Ware has led the newspaper through a digital transformation, ensuring its continued impact in the ever-evolving media landscape. Under her leadership, the publication remains a vital source of news, culture, and civic engagement for the Atlanta community. Beyond journalism, Ware has made a lasting mark in affordable housing. As Executive Director of SUMMECH Development Corporation, she has played a pivotal role in revitalizing neighborhoods and developing over 1,800 affordable housing units in Atlanta’s Mechanicsville district.

Kenneth Duncan (BBA '16) and Drew McLeod (BBA '15) are making their mark in the golf industry as the co-founders of Renegade Golf, the first wholly Black-owned company to manufacture a USGA-approved golf ball. With Duncan’s background in financial consulting at Accenture and McLeod’s expertise in business strategy, the duo’s journey into entrepreneurship was anything but conventional. Their time at the Terry College equipped them with the strategic mindset and problem-solving skills needed to navigate the challenges of breaking into the competitive golf ball market, dominated by giants like Titleist and Callaway. Originally launching Renegade Golf with a focus on golf bags, they quickly adapted when supply chain issues arose. The Atlanta-based Renegade Golf Company named their preeminent golf ball "Mbu," an Igbo (Nigerian) word meaning “first,” as an ode to its cultural roots and groundbreaking role in the industry. Now, with Renegade’s golf balls gaining traction in retail and securing partnerships with courses nationwide, Duncan and McLeod are proving that innovation and perseverance can open doors in traditionally exclusive industries. As Renegade Golf continues to grow, Duncan and McLeod remain committed to expanding access to the game while honoring the lessons learned from their time at Terry.

Shawn Vincent (MBA '05) has been named Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Illinois Health and Hospital Association (IHA). The IHA Board is the policymaking body for the Association, which represents more than 200 hospitals and nearly 40 health systems across Illinois. Vincent serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Loyola Medicine, Chief Executive Officer of Saint Joseph Health System, and President of the Trinity Health Illinois/Indiana Region. Vincent joined Loyola from Augusta University Health, where he served as Chief Operating Officer. Previously, as Vice President for Partnerships and International Healthcare at Augusta University Health. Prior to Augusta University Health, he held leadership positions with Hospital Corporation of America and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Vincent served in the United States Marine Corps and holds a master’s degree in business administration from the Terry College of Business.

Luciana “Lucy” Pinto graduated from the Terry College in 2012 with a BBA in Management and International Business. Since then, she has built a remarkable career as a Senior Marketing Manager at Google, where she is dedicated to helping small businesses unlock economic opportunity. Through her work, she leads initiatives and partnerships that empower small businesses with the skills to compete in today's increasingly digital economy.

In addition to her professional achievements, Pinto has made significant contributions to the Terry College community. As a founding member of the Terry Women’s Initiative, she has provided resources to help promote the confidence and leadership skills needed for students to achieve their academic, personal, and professional goals. Pinto has served as a mentor for the Sea Island Scholars Program and the Management Leadership for Tomorrow Program, where she continues to inspire and guide emerging leaders. Outside of Terry College, Pinto was a founding member of the Latino Alumni Scholarship, which is awarded to a first-year student who exhibits dedication to community, connection and belonging.

Throughout the year, Pinto shares her insights and expertise as a speaker for Terry Talks, engaging with students through Coffee & Conversation workshops and other mentoring initiatives. This spring, Pinto will be honored for her dedication with the UGA 2025 Young Alumni Award.

As a first-generation college graduate, Pinto's journey stands as a testament to the power of hard work, mentorship, and a commitment to making a meaningful impact.

Her work at Google and her ongoing dedication to the Terry College reflect Pinto's passion for empowering others and creating lasting change. We are proud to highlight her as an outstanding alumna and a leader who continues to pave the way for future generations of innovators and change-makers.

The February Alumni of the Day were John Byers, Daisha Phelps, Connor Reed, and Shelby Boykin. Byers graduated in 2003 with a BBA in Marketing and is a Senior Vice President at Alliant Insurance Services. Phelps graduated in 2021 with a BBA in Finance and International Business and is an Associate at BlackRock. Reed graduated in 2014 with a BBA in Marketing and is Senior Director of Partner Development at OMNIA Partners. Boykin graduated in 2020 with a BBA in Finance and Real Estate and is an Associate at Liberty Hall Capital Partners. 

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. 

Institute for Leadership Advancement students recently played a pivotal role in helping Malcolm Mitchell’s nonprofit, Share the Magic, develop a strategic growth plan to expand its reach. Using their leadership training, they conducted a S.W.O.T. analysis and provided actionable recommendations to ensure the organization's long-term success. Beyond Share the Magic, ILA scholars recently worked on five other nonprofit and community projects, tackling issues such as housing, small business development, and volunteer engagement. Their recent work with The Cancer Foundation helped build a sustainable volunteer pipeline connecting UGA student organizations with the nonprofit. Another team recently partnered with the UGA Archway Partnership to create a business startup guide for Appling County entrepreneurs. Through these projects, ILA students have recently applied their leadership skills to make a tangible impact in communities across Georgia.

Don't miss your opportunity to hear from Griff Lynch, President and CEO of Georgia Ports Authority, at next month's Terry Third Thursday presentation. Lynch is president and CEO of the Georgia Ports Authority, an 1,800-person strong state authority that owns and operates the Port of Savannah, Port of Brunswick and Bainbridge Port Terminal. As CEO, Lynch oversees the nation’s third-busiest gateway for containerized trade in Savannah and second-busiest auto port complex in Brunswick. Together, these form one of the largest economic engines in the Southeast U.S. Lynch has helmed the Georgia Ports Authority since 2010 and has more than 35 years of operational and commercial shipping experience. We hope you can make plans to join us. 

Established in 2016, the Terry Women’s Initiative (TWI) instills confidence and leadership skills in Terry’s student body. TWI offers an array of programming to build connections with alumni and industry professionals, helping students achieve their academic, personal and professional goals.

The Terry Excellence Fund supports critical funding for TWI, with six founding donors providing the seed money to kickstart this program. Now, with eight years of proven success, it’s time to permanently endow a program that is part of the fabric of the Terry College experience.

A $1.5 million endowment is needed to sustain the quality programming, immersion experiences, and experiential nature of the Terry’s Women’s Initiative. A few alumnae have already committed to building this endowment. Still, we need others to join and help us secure the foundation that will enable us to provide the unique and life-changing offerings of the Terry Women’s Initiative in perpetuity. Reach out to Natalie Glenn at nglenn@uga.edu with questions. 

Save the Date! This International Business Week, March 17-21, we’re celebrating the power of global experiences by launching Around the World in 80 Gifts—a giving challenge to raise 80 gifts in one week to support the Passport Terry Fund and help more students gain international business experience. Terry students account for one-third of all UGA study away participants, yet we face a $200,000 funding gap to maintain the level of scholarship support that has made these opportunities possible. Last year, over 1,000 students participated in study abroad, but only 150 received financial aid. It's time to change that, one gift at a time! 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS, TERRY DAWGS!

On March 27, we’re Calling All Dawgs for the University of Georgia’s Dawg Day of Giving!   For 24 hours, we’re rallying Bulldogs around the world to celebrate and strengthen the university we love. We’re challenging you to answer the call, donate to any program at Terry, and show the world that nobody supports their school like the Bulldogs.  

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. 

Read how Rachel Perry (BBA '93) is paying it forward here.

Congratulations to the Class of 2025 Terry Trailblazers!

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