Checking in with Alumni Board Member Wes Neece

There’s a group of committed UGA alumni who dedicate their time, energy, and financial resources to bringing Bulldogs together year-round, worldwide, and lifelong. These spirited Alumni Board members represent the diverse and passionate UGA alumni family and strive to provide feedback, guidance and leadership as the University of Georgia seeks to ensure that its graduates Never Bark Alone. Throughout the year, we’ll get to know these individuals; they hail from various backgrounds and are involved in all corners of campus. Their goal: to empower the next breed of Bulldog to continue ta tradition of excellence.

Name:

• Wes Neece

I live in:

• Atlanta, GA

Degree:

• 2000 – BBA in Management Information Systems (UGA)

I joined the board in:

• 2018

Ways I support UGA:

• UGA Alumni Board of Directors
• Executive Sponsor of the Home Depot Corporate Chapter 
• Dinner with a Dozen Dawgs
• Financial Support to the William C. Hartman Fund and the Home Depot UGA Alumni Corporate Chapter Scholarship 

My first job after graduation:

• A computer programmer at The Home Depot

The class at UGA that I enjoyed most was:

• Intro to Management Information Systems. I love the way that business and technology interact.

What makes me most proud to be a Georgia Bulldog:

• The fact that our academic reputation continues to escalate!

My family includes:

• Wife, Becky (BS ’01)
• Daughters, Rowan and Carlson
• Dogs, Olaf and Dolly

A special connection I have to UGA is:

• I met my wife and my best friends there.

As a student, I was involved in:

• Honors Program (editor note: now the Jere W. Morehead Honors College!)
• Alpha Kappa Lambda
• Job at the UGA Golf Course

My favorite place to study on campus was:

• Law Library— cool, quiet, and close to downtown for when study time is over!

On a Friday night in college, you would have found me:

• Having one too many at Sons of Italy and Steverino’s

When I was a student, I lived in:

• Creswell
• University Commons
• College Park

My greatest accomplishment as a student:

• Graduating Magna Cum Laude— I was proud of the balance I struck between partying and school!

My favorite memory from graduation:

• I only slept for 90 minutes the night before my graduation ceremony. My mom was mortified that I wore flip flops to it!

A fellow UGA grad who inspires me is:

• Ernie Johnson, Jr (AB ’74) – he’s intelligent, witty, and dignified. (editor note: check out Johnson’s commencement address at UGA)

My favorite tradition at UGA:

• The Battle Hymn Trumpet solo

When I visit Athens, I have to grab a bite at:

• The Last Resort

On game day, you’ll find me:

• Rushing to make kickoff after a kid’s soccer game!

My most disliked athletic rival is:

• University of Florida— everyone knows that Gators wear jean shorts!

A few of my favorites:

• Book: Pillars of Earth
• Podcast: The Daily
• Movie: The Shawshank Redemption
• Band: Mumford & Sons
• TV show: The West Wing

Favorite alumni-owned restaurant:

• Georgia Grinders

No. 1 tip to a graduating Bulldog:

• There will be higher highs (wedding day, birth of your children, etc.), but know that when you look back at your life, your time in Athens will be one that you long for. You only get one go at this. Make sure you enjoy it!

No. 1 tip to a fellow Georgia grad who has lost touch with their alma mater:

• Your school has so much to offer you. It gives you a sense of grounding of who you are, who you were and, most importantly, what used to be important to you. A sense of grounding is incredibly important in the chaos that is today. Let UGA be an anchor for you.

Wes, who you might recognize from UGA’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2017, supports UGA in a variety of ways—including being a wonderful advocate at The Home Depot—and we appreciate his ongoing commitment to his alma mater.