Students expressed gratitude for Terry College donors on Dawg Day of Gratitude. 

Join us in honoring and celebrating the birthday of the late C. Herman Terry. Born in 1917, he had a passion for education and an extraordinary generosity that, thirty-three years ago, led to the naming of the Terry College of Business. His vision laid the foundation for a legacy that continues to transform lives. He was deeply committed to providing opportunities for students to achieve their highest potential, and his impact lives on through the countless individuals who have benefited from his support. His wife, the late Mary Virginia Terry, continued his legacy with unwavering dedication, further strengthening the college’s influence through her ongoing support. Together, their contributions have empowered generations of future business leaders. C. Herman Terry’s passion for education and his family’s commitment to excellence will continue to inspire for years to come.

Karen Bennett (BBA '95, MBA '11) joined the Board of Directors for Girls Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering young girls. Her appointment is expected to enhance the board's collective expertise, bringing valuable insights and leadership skills to the organization. With a strong commitment to advocacy and community service, Bennett aims to help advance Girls Inc.'s mission of inspiring girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Bennett is excited to collaborate with fellow board members and contribute to initiatives that support girls' development. Bennett is the Executive Vice President & Chief People Officer at Cox Enterprises and received a BBA in Management and Executive MBA from the Terry College. 

Roberto Billa (MBA '98) joined Gorilla Logic as Chief Financial Officer, bringing 25 years of experience as a highly accomplished finance executive. He has worked across a range of Fortune 50 companies, mid-size firms, and start-ups, with extensive expertise in technology and IT consulting. His focus has included financial strategy, analytics, and operations, leading to successful business transformation initiatives. Billa will concentrate on strategic processes and revenue enablement at Gorilla Logic, helping the company deliver exceptional value to clients through technology solutions in digital product development, cloud engineering, DevOps, QA automation, and data and AI. Billa holds an MBA from the Terry College.

Christine Curry (BBA '13) was recently honored with the National Association of Industrial Office Properties (NAIOP) Developing Leaders award, a recognition that highlights Curry's outstanding contributions to the rising industry. Curry serves as vice president of education for the NAIOP Georgia chapter. Curry is vice president of investments at Selig Enterprises, where she is responsible for evaluating development, acquisition, capital markets, and disposition opportunities. Curry served as President of the Association of Young Real Estate Professional (AYREP) from 2017-2018 and currently serves on the Terry College Young Alumni Board. 

Jamie Shepherd (BBA '02) was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Shepherd Center, a rehabilitation center in Atlanta, GA. Shepherd has served as president and chief operating officer since 2022, providing leadership and strategic vision. Before joining the Shepherd Center, he was the executive vice president at Rogers Bridge Company. Shepherd is also a founding member of the Shepherd Center Society and a board member. Shepherd's vision is to further build on the strong foundation his father and grandparents established. Shepherd received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Terry College in 2002.

Briana Stenard (BBA '09) has been named to the Atlanta Business Chronicle's 40 Under 40, for making significant career achievements and demonstrating social responsibility. The program intends to spotlight the next generation of business leaders. As an Associate Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship at Mercer University, she has been instrumental in shaping the next generation of business leaders through her innovative teaching methods and research initiatives. Her work focuses on entrepreneurship education, fostering a mindset of innovation and resilience among her students. She actively collaborates with local startups, providing valuable insights and support to aspiring entrepreneurs. This recognition underscores her dedication to excellence in academia and her role as a catalyst for positive change in the entrepreneurial landscape. Stenard holds a bachelor of arts in economics from the Terry College. 

Evan Karanovich received an MBA from the Terry College in 2020. He began his career at Chick-fil-A in 2016, arriving with a background in government, politics, public affairs, and community engagement. Currently, he serves as Principal Lead to the Chairman, Executive Office at the Atlanta-based company. His day-to-day responsibilities include leading key initiatives in both Chick-fil-A’s core business and across various new ventures (for-profit and non-profit) overseen by Dan T. Cathy. In addition, Karanovich cherishes regular opportunities to serve at one of the brand’s restaurants while connecting with operators, team members, and guests.

From his younger years as an Eagle Scout and then as a certified volunteer firefighter, Karanovich has always had a heart for service and helping others. His first gift to UGA was through Senior Signature. He was proud to see his name on the donor plaque at the Tate Plaza, but even more proud to know he was part of building a greater legacy for his family throughout campus. Karanovich remains connected with Terry through mentoring students and completing his term on the Young Alumni Board.

Karanovich's commitment to service is also evident by his commissioning in the U.S. Navy Reserve as a Public Affairs Officer currently assigned to Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet. Influenced by his grandfather's military service in Korea and Vietnam, he recently established the “Alan Karanovich Military Appreciation Scholarship Fund” in honor of his father. While his father didn’t attend college, the scholarship’s aim is to support military veterans and their families in their educational pursuits as undergraduate business students. Karanovich recently commemorated and shared this newly-created fund with his dad on his 70th birthday. 

We are grateful for Karanovich’s passion and support of our servicemen and women in the Terry College.

Xander Vaz

Bella Silverman

Turner Brennan

Alexis Biondi

Peter Do

The October Alumni of the Day were Zander Vaz, Bella Silverman, Turner Brennan, Alexis Biondi, and Peter Do. Vaz graduated in 2019 with a BBA in Real Estate and is a Sr. Account Executive at SnapSoft. Silverman graduated in May 2024 with a BBA in Marketing and is the Name Image and Likeness (NIL) Coordinator for the University of Georgia Athletics Association. Brennan graduated with a BBA in Finance in 2017 and is an Account Manager at Meta. Biondi graduated in 2021 with a BBA in Marketing and 2022 with a Master of Market Research and is a Manager, Cardiometabolic Health Market Research at Eli Lilly Company. Do graduated in 2022 with a BBA in Real Estate and is a Real Estate Banking Analyst at Regions Bank.

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. 

Stephen Amolegbe was crowned UGA's 2024 homecoming king at the homecoming football game vs. Auburn University on October 5. Amolegbe is a Double Dawg student from Kennesaw, Georgia, pursuing a bachelor's degree in Management Information Systems, a Master of Science in Business Analytics and a certificate in Personal and Organizational Leadership. During his time at UGA, Amolegbe has been involved with many organizations. From serving as an Orientation Leader, being a member of the business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi, and serving as the Vice President of the UGA Student Government Association, Amolegbe has met so many people, made a community, and made UGA's big campus feel like a smaller home. 

Join us for the 14th annual Professional Women's Conference, on Friday, November 8. Hosted by the Coca-Cola Company, the conference offers a day of networking and learning through keynote speakers, panel discussions and session with industry leaders, executives and mentors. To view the agenda, visit here. 

Don't miss your opportunity to hear from David Cummings, Founder of Atlanta Ventures and Atlanta Tech Village, and Jon Birdsong, CEO of SoDo Atlanta. Cummings is an Atlanta-based tech entrepreneur who founded 10 companies employing thousands of people and is the lead investor in Calendly, the world's most popular scheduling app. He has been named the Ernest & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and one of the 100 Most Influential Atlantans by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Birdsong spent six years as a partner at Atlanta Ventures, where he started six companies and invested in more than 20 others. In January 2024, Birdsong became the CEO of SoDo Atlanta, a holding company of 10 city blocks, 15 acres and 55 buildings in Atlanta's historic South Downtown. Birdsong received a bachelor’s degree in family and financial planning from the University of Georgia in 2008. We hope you'll make plans to join us.

This spring, 15 students in the Institute for Leadership Advancement (ILA) will embark on an exciting leadership journey to London, where they'll gain global insights through company visits and cultural experiences. With the support of generous donors, we can significantly reduce the financial burden on these students, ensuring that each one can fully engage in this transformative opportunity. The trip costs $2,500 (+ airfare) per student. Make your gift by November 1 to support their leadership journey across the pond. 

ILA is an innovative, ever-evolving certificate program that combines coursework with real-world experience, which is privately funded within the Terry College. ILA is sharpening the next generation of leaders who stand out distinctly because of their unwavering commitment to make values-based, impact-driven decisions. 

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. 

Dan Amos (BBA '73) was the guest speaker for the Mason Public Leadership Lecture on Wednesday, October 2.

George Azih (BBA '03), Founder & CEO of FinQuery, presented at the October MBA Lunch & Learn. 

Real Estate alumni gathered at Cousins Properties to celebrate the program's #2 ranking among public institutions.

Scott Steilen, President & CEO of Sea Island Company, presented at the October Terry Third Thursday.

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