Alumni Spotlight Archives

Bob Hughes (BLA ’77) and Bill Caldwell (BLA ’97) are changing the scenery around Atlanta

September 19, 2016/by Emily Middleton

Two decades and different landscape architecture firms can’t keep Bob Hughes (BLA ’77) and Bill Caldwell (BLA ’97) from making a permanent impact on not only Atlanta’s parks, but also the regional economy, together.

Bill Caldwell (left) and Bob Hughes (right) Dean Nadenicek of the College of Environment and Design.

Bill Caldwell, Dean Nadenicek of the College of Environment and Design and Bob Hughes

HGOR Principal Bob Hughes and Harrison Design Director Bill Caldwell graduated 20 years apart, and now work together to achieve the same goal in Atlanta, to elevate the economic and social impact of the many parks that help give Atlanta the nickname, “the city in a forest.” Thanks to their joint efforts, Buckhead now boasts Charlie Loudermilk Park, a plot of green space in the heart of the city.

Though their professional endeavors don’t cross often, their commitment to the community creates a tie between them. Bill serves on the board of Chastain Park Conservancy, while Bob serves on the board of Piedmont Park Conversancy. Bill, with the Chastain Park Conservancy, recently opened Play Chastain, a world-class playground, and is undertaking the Powers Ferry path widening. Bill also serves as a member of the UGA Alumni Association Board of Directors. One of Bob’s many projects includes creating a new master plan for Memorial Park that proposes a transformational overhaul of the use and functionality of the park.

Charlie Loudermilk Park

To these two urbanists, parks are about getting people out of their cars and into public spaces while creating a tremendous social, economic and environmental benefit to the community, residents and environment.

“These two men are visionary thinkers who look toward the future. They are committed to improving social spaces and adding green spaces to Atlanta,” said Park Pride Executive Director Michael Halicki. “Places where people want to take their children and where people want to live.”

Bill and Bob encourage their respective teams and all UGA alumni to leave the office confines to make a difference in their neighborhoods.

“Unless you put yourself out there, you don’t experience the great opportunities, potential and people that exist in your community. The best opportunities aren’t in your office,” remark Bob and Bill.

Interview with Morgan Lee (ABJ ’01), Chapter President of Hall County Chapter

September 14, 2016/by Emily Middleton

Ever wonder who helps organize alumni events in your town? That’s one of the many jobs a chapter president juggles. Emily Middleton ’18, digital communications intern, recently interviewed Morgan Lee, a 2001 Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication graduate and president of the Hall County Chapter.

Morgan Lee

What did you study at UGA and what do you do now?

I studied journalism and graduated from Grady in 2011. I am currently the sports editor for Jacobs Media’s web publication, AccessWDUN.com

What made you want to become a chapter leader?

I am a second generation University of Georgia graduate and while I only lived in Athens for a relatively short period, I feel like the town and the university have always been a crucial piece of my life. I wanted to do what I could to help promote and bring a positive light to the university here in my hometown in the hopes that maybe I could bring a little bit of what Georgia has brought to me to the Hall County area.

Why do you feel like it is important to stay connected to your alma mater after graduation?

For so many people, the time spent at a university or college is pivotal — not only because of the ideas and new experiences to which they may be exposed but because of the age in which it happens. And I believe that by staying connected to your alma mater it will help remind you of that learning experience and keep you open-minded about future learning experiences. Plus, I feel that it is important to give back, if at all possible, to the people and places that have helped mold you as a person.

How do you create a sense of unity inside your chapter with other UGA alumni in your city?

We are constantly working on improving that very thing and have begun to work on increasing our chapter gatherings and awareness within the community. Our chapter was re-invigorated fairly recently by our most recent president, Ron Fritchley (MED ’72), and we are starting to fully establish ourselves as a presence in Hall County. The main reason we have been able to do so is via increased communication and maintaining a modicum of informality. Certainly there are times to be officious, but the best way to keep people engaged is by keeping it fun.

What is your favorite event your chapter has planned?

How could it not be the Bulldog Caravan stop that we hosted in 2014? President Jere Morehead (JD ’80), former football coach Mark Richt and a number of others were both impressed and, I believe, a little surprised by the impressive turnout of area Bulldog fans and alumni, who crowded in to the Gainesville Civic Center to listen to their discussions. I actually covered the event for work and was able to take it all in from an overview perspective — which, while not as fun as being there as a fan/booster, was in fact more eye-opening.

What is your favorite UGA memory as a student?

There are so many it’s hard to pick — My proudest moment, without a doubt, is surviving former Grady professor/legend Conrad Fink. He could cut to the quick, but if you could handle it, it was beyond educational. As far as fun, it would be hard to beat finally defeating Florida in football in 1997 — and watching Steve Spurrier suffer through it.

If there is one piece of advice you could give to a current student, what would it be?

Get involved now. Don’t think that life is something that happens once you graduate. Your time at the university — and certainly after graduation — will be so much more enhanced by doing new things and meeting new people. Whether it’s an intramural team, club, Greek life, student judiciary, working for the Red and Black or just talking to the folks next to you in class… Athens offers so much to do, and while it’s great to find your niche, challenge yourself and occasionally get outside of your comfort zone — as long as you can balance it all with your studies.

40 Under 40 Highlights: Political Figures and Non-Profits

September 8, 2016/by Emily Middleton

Today we are highlighting members of Class of 2016 40 Under 40 who are political figures or work for non-profits. The members highlighted are Allison Alexander, Andres Villegas, Brendan Buck, Brittany Brown, Christina Swoope, Derick Corbertt, Jehan Zweig, Jennie Blake, Katie Childers, and Meredith Seacrest.

Allison Alexander graduated from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication in 1999 with a degree in broadcast news. Mrs. Alexander now lives in Silver Spring, Maryland and serves as the vice president for the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. While the 1996 Olympics were held in Atlanta, some events were held in Athens, Georgia at UGA venues. “I was a flower and medal bearer in the 1996 Olympics for the soccer and rhythmic gymnastics events held in Athens,” said Mrs. Alexander, “I was interning at the County Executive’s office in New Castle County, Delaware, and the local news misreported that I was competing in the Olympics!”

Allison Hoke Alexander

Andres Villegas is the president of the Georgia Forestry Association. Mr. Villegas graduated in 1998 from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Mr. Villegas now lives in Macon, Georgia. After Mr. Villegas graduated, his first job was with the Georgia Department of Agriculture. He led several trade missions with Cuba during his time there. During these missions, Mr. Villegas and nine other people had the opportunity to have dinner with President Castro. “I still have a couple of cigar boxes that he signed,” said Mr. Villegas.

Andres Villegas

Brendan Buck graduated from the Terry College of Business in 2004 with a degree in economics. Mr. Buck now lives and works in Washington, D.C. as the chief communications advisor for the Office of the U.S. Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan. Mr. Buck never imagined he would have a job in politics after graduated; he expected to work in finance. He is also a strong proponent of the oxford comma.

Brendan Buck

Brittany Brown graduated with her first degree in speech communications from UGA in 2007. In 2015, Ms. Brown returned to UGA for her master’s in communication. Ms. Brown now lives in Jacksonville, Florida and works as a combat stress recovery specialist for the Wounded Warrior Project. Did you know Ms. Brown was a Braves girl during her time as undergraduate at UGA? Ms. Brown is also the mother of a Cabbage Patch Kid named Lana and has dabbled in standup comedy.

Brittany Brown

Christina Swoope works in the Office of the President of the United States of America as a Medicare program examiner. Ms. Swoope received her degree from UGA in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in microbiology. She now lives in Hanover, Maryland. “Even though I was a science major, I chose an undergraduate institution based on the band. Words cannot express how excited I was that UGA also had my major,” Said Ms. Swoope.

Christina Swoope

Derick Corbett graduated for a bachelor’s degree in economics in 2000. Mr. Corbett lives in Atlanta and works as the Chief of Staff for the Office of U.S. Congressman Rob Woodall. Mr. Corbett has a secret fear of flying, even though his job requires multiple weekly flights. “It’s ironic that I chose a profession that requires weekly plane rides,” said Mr. Corbett.

Derrick Corbett

Jenah Zweig received her law degree from UGA in 2011. Ms. Zweig lies in Washington, D.C. and serves as the supervisor of policy and technical assistance for the U.S. Department of Energy. “At 12-years-old, I made more than $12,000 buying and selling Beanie Babies. This profit was invested, and helped to fund my UGA Law education,” said Ms. Zweig, “I am the first woman in my family to graduate from a four-year university and the first person in my family to attend graduate school.”

Jennifer “Jenah” Zweig

Jennie Blake began her education at UGA with a bachelor’s degree in social work and graduated in 1999. Ms. Blake continued her education at Georgia State in pursuing a master’s degree in social work. Ms. Blake now lives and works in Atlanta, where she is the director for the Cox Foundation. Her fun fact? Ms. Blake has met and had a conversation with the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson. Sarah Ferguson was the ground breaking ceremony for the Ronald McDonald House Charities, where Ms. Blake was attending as a guest of the Ronald McDonald House, one of her clients.

Jennie Blake

Katie Childers graduated with her bachelor’s degree from the Terry College of Business in 2007. Ms. Childers lives in Atlanta and works as the deputy chief of staff of policy for the State of Georgia Governor’s Office. “My interest in healthcare started when I would spend the night at Athens Regional with my mom while she was on call. I grew up at the nurses’ station on Labor and Delivery, and became fascinated with the healthcare delivery system,” said Ms. Childers, “I knew from an early age that I wanted to be deeply involved in how the healthcare system as a whole functioned.”

Katie Childers

Meredith Seacrest lives in West Hollywood, California and is the executive director and COO of the Ryan Seacrest Foundation. Ms. Seacrest graduated from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in public relations. Ms. Seacrest has traveled to 25 different countries and is always wanting to learn more about the world. “I believe some of the best self-growth and insight can be achieved from traveling, “said Ms. Seacrest.

Meredith Seacrest

Meet the rest of this year’s 40 Under 40 class at alumni.uga.edu/40u40.

40 Under 40 Highlights: Agriculture

September 7, 2016/by Emily Middleton

Today, we are highlighting members of Class of 2016 40 Under 40 who are work in field of agricultire. The members highlighted are Adam Miller, Amanda Lang, Elliot Marsh, and Will Witherspoon.

Adam Miller graduated from the College of Environment and Design with a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture in 2005. Mr. Miller lives in Chicago and is the design principal of Chicago Roof Deck and Garden. As a young adult, Mr. Miller has had almost every job imaginable. “The list includes: Mailboxes etc, Taco Bell, Abercrombie, a plant nursery, J.Crew, phone book delivery, waiter, busboy, host, and disher,” said Mr. Miller.

Adam Miller

Amanda Lang received her undergraduate degree in 2005 from the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and her master’s degree in forestry resources in 2008. She lives in Bishop, Georgia and is a partner and senior consultant at Forisk Consulting. At home, Mrs. Lang and her husband recently started raising chickens. At their house, they have one hen and one rooster. The couple looks forward to raising baby chicks in the future.

Amanda Lang

Elliot Marsh received both his master’s degree and his bachelor’s degree from UGA. Mr. Marsh graduated in 2002 with his first degree in agricultural economics and then returned in 2011 for his master’s in agricultural leadership. Mr. Marsh lives in Statesboro, Georgia and is the precision ag coordinator for the Southern States Cooperative. Mr. Marsh does not know if he has a fact people do not already know about him. “I’ve found that as I got older and grew in my leadership opportunities that I needed to discuss things and situations with others both good and bad. I found it as a way to relate and could often help in situations that others may not be as comfortable to discuss things,” said Mr. Marsh.

Elliot Marsh

Will Witherspoon graduated in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in housing form the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. Mr. Witherspoon is the owner of Shire Gate Farm in Chesterfield, Missouri. While running a sustainable cattle ranch, Mr. Witherspoon said that his closet hobby is making music. Before owning his farm, Mr. Witherspoon was a linebacker for the NFL.

Will Witherspoon

Meet the rest of this year’s 40 Under 40 class at alumni.uga.edu/40u40.

40 Under 40 Highlights: Public Figures and Technology

September 6, 2016/by Emily Middleton

Today we are highlighting members of Class of 2016 40 Under 40 who are notable public figures or work in technology. The members highlighted are Benjamin Watson, Dave Haywood, Julie Smith. Lauren Pittenger, Mandy Edwards, Thomas Davis, and Travis Johnson.

Benjamin Watson is from Metairie, Louisiana and now lives in Baltimore. Mr. Watson graduated from the Terry College of Business in 2003 with a degree in finance. Today, Mr. Watson plays tight-end for the Baltimore Ravens. Some fun facts about Mr. Watson? He is the oldest of six, soccer is his favorite sport and he loves to write.

Benjamin Watson

Dave Haywood graduated in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in management information systems. Mr. Haywood lives in Nashville, Tennessee and is a singer/song writer with the country group Lady Antebellum. “Most people don’t know that my father, Dr. Van B. Haywood (BS ’71), helped invent teeth whitening,” said Mr. Haywood, “Or what I look like without a beard.”

Dave Haywood

Julie Smith serves as the vice president of external affairs for Verizon in Atlanta. Ms. Smith graduated from UGA in 2000 with a degree in political science. Ms. Smith is a stickler about returning her shopping cart. ““I always put shopping carts back where they belong, I even push mine together with the rest making it easier for the next person to grab it or for the employee to push them back inside,” said Ms. Smith, “No one is ever around when I do this, but I just view it as the right thing to do. My philosophy is character is who you really are when no one is looking.”

Julie Smith

Lauren Pittenger currently has four degrees from UGA. She started with a bachelor’s in ecology in 2001. Dr. Pittenger continued her education by pursuing a master’s in veterinary medicine in 2003, followed by a doctorate in food science in 2007. Dr. Pittenger returned to UGA in 2008 to pursue her MBA from the Terry College of Business. Dr. Pittenger now lives in Atlanta and is a senior associate with Booz Allen Hamilton. Dr. Pittenger is passionate about raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. “I have led my corporate team in raising nearly $60K for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society over the last five years,” said Dr. Pittenger.

Lauren Pittenger

Mandy Edwards lives in Statesboro, Georgia and is the owner and founder of ME Marketing Services. She graduated from the Terry College of Business in 2001 with a degree in marketing. Ms. Edwards is a fan of ESPN’s College Game Day and has even made it on camera four times, most recently in 2013 on Myers Quad for the LSU v UGA game.

Mandy Edwards

Thomas Davis graduated in 2011 from the College of Family and Consumer Sciences with a bachelor’s degree in consumer economics. Mr. Davis is a NFL linebacker for the Carolina Panthers. Mr. Davis’ guilty addiction is watching Pawn Stars and Storage Wars. If Mr. Davis wasn’t playing for the Carolina Panthers, he might have been a truck driver, even after receiving his degree in consumer economics. “It would be fun to be on the road and meet new people all over,” said Mr. Davis.

Thomas Davis

Travis Johnson received his degree in economics in 2011 from UGA. He now lives in Atlanta and is the assistant commissioner for external affairs and facilities for the Technical College System of Georgia. Mr. Johnson does not use any social media outlets. “I feel as though the interpersonal element, and the ability to connect with others one-on-one, has been eroded by the growing presence of social media,” said Mr. Johnson. “True relationships are best measured by personal interaction, not web-based.”

Travis Johnson

Meet the rest of this year’s 40 Under 40 class at alumni.uga.edu/40u40.

40 Under 40 Highlights: Real Estate

September 5, 2016/by Emily Middleton

Today we are highlighting members of Class of 2016 40 Under 40 who are involved with real estate. The members highlighted are Chase Lawrence, Kevin Aycock, Lana Chumachenko, Ryan Irvine, and Wes Rogers.

Chase Lawrence graduated from the College of Family and Consumer Science in 2005 with a degree in housing. Mr. Lawrence lives in Athens, Georgia and is the founder and principle of College Town Properties, LLC. Mr. Lawrence says he is always looking to the next endeavor and challenge. “I think it’s important to recognize that life is precious, and that you have to truly enjoy the time you have, rather than being so focused on particular goals,” said Mr. Lawrence.

Chase Lawrence

Kevin Aycock lives in Atlanta and is the president of Kevin Aycock Homes. Mr. Aycock graduated in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in economics and then returned to UGA for his master’s MBA in 2015. Did you know Mr. Aycock used to be a competitive boxer? “I was the 2012 Golden Glove Heavy Weight Champion of Georgia. I won at the age of 34 which is the oldest you can be to compete in the regular division,” said Mr. Aycock, “I have retired from competitive boxing but still very much enjoy the sport.”

Kevin Aycock

Lana Chumachenko graduated from UGA in 2006 with a degree in business. Mrs. Chumachenko is a senior real estate representative for Chick-fil-a and currently lives in Grayson, Georgia. Mrs. Chumachenko is originally from Moldova, one of the poorest Eastern European countries. “During our first year in the United States, we ate at the soup kitchen due to the lack of funds for the family of five,” said Mrs. Chumachenko, “Today, I mentor four business owners overseas in Kiev, Ukraine and Minsk, Belarus. I have come full circle and it feels great to serve others!”

Svetlana Chumachenko

Ryan Irvine graduated from the Terry College of Business in 2004 with a degree in finance. Mr. Irvine is senior vice president of CBRE. Mr. Irvine has lived in Atlanta for 23 years now, but does not see himself leaving any time soon. During his childhood, he moved five times in the first eleven years of his life. “The longest I’ve ever lived in one place was my family’s first home that I purchased right after graduation,” said Mr. Irvine.

Ryan Irvine

Wes Rogers graduated from the Terry College of Business in 2005 and then returned to UGA for his master’s in 2004. Mr. Rogers lives in Athens, Georgia and is the president and CEO of Landmark Properties. Mr. Rogers was born and raised in Athens, Georgia and has never left. “Most people probably don’t realize that I have lived all but about four years of my life in Athens—- with almost all of it within a one mile radius,” said Mr. Rogers, “As we grew Landmark, I often feared we might need to relocate the business to attract the talent we would need to successfully grow the company, but that has fortunately not been the case.”

Wes Rogers

Class of 2016 40 Under 40 Highlights: Medical

September 2, 2016/by Emily Middleton

Today we are highlighting members of Class of 2016 40 Under 40 who are involved with the medical field. The members highlighted are Erica Parks, Hammad Aslam, Lance Boles, Mark Schaeffer, Sarah Smith, Stephan Schaefbauer, Steve Herndon, and Thai-An Nguyen.

Erica Parks graduated from the College of Public Health in 2011 with a Master’s in public health. Ms. Parks now lives in Elgin, South Carolina and is a health promotion officer and ORISE fellow for the United States Army Training Center at Fort Jackson. In 2003, Ms. Parks was deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan. “I was responsible for supervising soldiers and distributing medical supplies to over 61 units,” said Ms. Parks, “Following my outstanding performance overseas, I received the Army Commendation Medal and the Overseas Service Bar.”

Erica Parks

Hammad Aslam graduated in 2008 from UGA with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry then continued his education at Augusta University. In 2014, Mr. Aslam graduate from Augusta University with his Doctor of Medicine degree. Mr. Aslam now works as a doctor at the University of Alabama Birmingham hospital. While in college, Mr. Aslam started breakdancing. While he admits he was never very good, Mr. Aslam still occasionally dreams about breakdancing and walking on his hands while he sleeps.

Hammad Aslam

Lance Boles graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in pharmacy in 1999 then completed his master’s degree in business administration in 2003. Mr. Boles now lives in Hartwell, Georgia. Mr. Boles is the owner of Independent Pharmacy Stores in Hartwell, Georgia and Hartwell, South Carolina. A little unknown fact about Mr. Boles is he completed all thirteen years of schooling, prior to college, with perfect attendance. Mr. Boles attributes his perfect attendance, “to both the values of dependability and accountability instilled in me during my childhood and youth by my parents– and the blessing of good health.”

Lance Boles

Mark Schaeffer graduated from UGA in 2006 with a degree in marketing from the Terry College of Business. Mr. Schaeffer now lives in Birmingham, Alabama, where he is an optometrist at Schaeffer Eye Center. While his singing voice might be less than impressive, Mr. Schaffaer has a hidden passion for karaoke. “I thoroughly enjoy the excitement and entertainment that comes with it,” said Mr. Schaeffer.

Mark Schaeffer

Sarah Smith came to UGA to continue her education and earn her Masters of Public Administration in 2001. Ms. Smith lives in Atlanta and is a management officer for the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While Ms. Smith now works in public health, she almost became a vet student at UGA due to her love and passion for animals.

Sarah Smith

Stephan Schaefbauer began her education at Claflin College with a Bachelor’s of Science degree. Mrs. Schaefbauer then came to UGA to study veterinary medicine and graduated in 2006. Mrs. Schaefbauer now lives in Des Moines, Iowa, where she works as an epidemiology officer for the United Sates Department of Agriculture in Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Did you know that Mrs. Schaefbauer is a first degree black belt? She began training in 2010 then had a son in 2012. After a six-month break, Mrs. Schaefbauer returned to her training and received her black belt.

Stephan Schaefbauer

Steve Herndon graduated from the College of Education in 1999. He now lives in Alpharetta, Georgia and is the president of Safety Net Recovery. “Most people are unaware that I have a seat on the Board of Directors at the University of Georgia’s Fontaine Center, said Mr. Herndon, “Our goal is to promote an environment that supports responsible decision-making regarding alcohol and other drug use, on campus and in the community, and to create a center for alcohol awareness and education. I am honored to make a difference at my alma mater.”

Steven Herndon

Thai-An Nguyen currently lives and works in Atlanta, where she is an epidemiologist for the Enteric Diseases Epidemiology Branch inside of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ms. Nguyen graduated from UGA with a Bachelor of Science in microbiology. Ms. Nguyen is also a trained marksman in shooting rifles and pistols. She learned this skill from a former Russian Olympian as an exchange student in Russia. “We would set up targets in their apartment hallway,” said Ms. Nguyen.

Thai-an Nguyen

40 Under 40 Highlights: Investment and Law

August 31, 2016/by Emily Middleton

Today, we are highlighting members of the Class of 2016 40 Under 40 who are involved with investment and law. The members highlighted are Brooks Andrews, Heather Ripley, Meredith Forrester, Mitch Reiner, and Ronnie Mabra.

Brooks Andrews graduated in 2007 with a BBA in finance and an MA in business from the Terry College of Business and Franklin College of Arts & Sciences. Mr. Andrews currently lives in San Francisco. He is the vice resident at Essex Woodlands. One little unknown fact about Mr. Andrews is, “My dad and sister went to Georgia Tech, so when I decided to attend Georgia my mom cried every day for two weeks straight, because she thought I was making a huge mistake. Thankfully, my parents trusted my judgment and within a couple years, my mom acknowledged that I had made the right decision after all.”

Heather Ripley currently lives in New York and is a senior associate for federal and international tax at Alston and Bird. Ms. Ripley graduated from the Terry College of Business in 2006 with a BBA in business and a MACC in business. Ms. Ripley continued her education at Harvard Law and graduated in 2009 with her law degree. Ms. Ripley’s favorite place she has traveled to is Cuba and she is considering one day retiring to Cuba to paint on the beach. UGA blood runs deep through Ms. Ripley’s family with both of parents meeting at UGA and Ms. Ripley continuing the tradition of education at UGA.

Meredith Forrester graduated from Terry College in 1999 with a BBA in international business. Mrs. Forrester now lives and works in Atlanta as the senior vice president and senior managing director of internal audit at SunTrust Bank. Besides working in finance, Mrs. Forrester has always loved the arts. She loves music, photography, and sharing this love for arts and crafts with her young daughters.

Mitch Reiner graduated in 2005 with a BBA in finance. Mr. Reiner lives in Atlanta and is the COO of Capital Investment Advisors and the founder and managing partner of Wela. When asked to define success, Mr. Reiner said it is “the desire to build something incredible any time that I get involved. Whether it is my children, my business or my community, I am uninterested in being a passive participant.”

Ronnie Mabra graduated from UGA’s School of Law in 2004. Mr. Mabra is a State of Georgia Representative and an attorney at The Mabra Firm, LLC. Mr. Mabra lives in Atlanta, Georgia. Did you know Mr. Mabra’s father was an NFL player for the Atlanta Falcons? But that’s not all the unknown facts about Mr. Mabra. He is Kenny Chesney’s biggest fan and lives next to Hip-Hop legend and Rock and Roll Hall of fame inductee Chuck D.

Meet the rest of this year’s 40 Under 40 class at alumni.uga.edu/40u40.

Courtney Khail’s (BFA ’07) Watercolors

August 30, 2016/by Deja White

Courtney Khail (BFA ’07), a self-proclaimed lover of nature and detailed art, has found a way to combine her passions. Courtney was inspired to start her business, Courtney Khail Watercolors, after seeing that there was a desire for fine art stationery that also had a handmade aesthetic. Courtney Khail Watercolors has expanded its original client list, which consisted of mostly friends, family and co-workers, to now also serve art enthusiasts who are looking for something one-of-a-kind. She has dubbed her clients “modern traditionalist.”

The alumna’s full-service studio boasts brilliant original watercolor paintings, custom wedding invitations and stationery. Hints of her scientific illustration background can be seen in her work, as she often combines watercolors with graphic lines. With this technique, Courtney attempts to focus the viewers’ attention on her artistic choices, such as color variations, textures, and shapes, rather than the subject matter of her pieces. To get a closer look at Courtney’s artistic process and her background, read the interview below:

Courtney Khail (Courtney Reece)

BFA 2007, Scientific Illustration, Graduated Summa Cum Laude

Resides in Atlanta, Georgia

Describe your UGA experience.

I am originally from Augusta, Georgia, and came to UGA to study advertising. After attending UGA’s Freshman College, I realized just how much I missed being in the studio and promptly changed my major to fine art. More specifically, I chose an interdisciplinary study in scientific illustration, which was introduced to me by my Honors art advisor. After hearing me lament about no longer having any science courses to take, he suggested I give scientific illustration a shot. It ended up being the perfect choice as it provided the ability to tailor my course requirements to what truly interested me – both artistically and academically.

In addition to the Honors Program, I was also a member of Zeta Tau Alpha, an anatomy and physiology teaching assistant, and for two semesters, I re-lived freshman year as an RA in Creswell Hall.

Was there a particular professor, class or experience that influenced you while at UGA?

Studying abroad in Cortona, Italy (one of Lamar Dodd’s study abroad programs) was by far one of the most amazing, life-changing experiences of my life. I was actually in Cortona when I decided to pursue fine art full time after college. The people, culture, and the scenery change you. Even if you have to take out a loan, I strongly encourage every student to study abroad at least once during their college career.

As for professors, I was fortunate to have so many amazing ones while at Georgia. A few names that come to mind immediately are Deloris Wenzel, Alex Murawski, Janice Simon, Scott Belville, Rocky Sapp, and Neil Summerour. Each of their influences helped shape the artist and person I am today.

Give us a peek into life just after graduation.

Right after graduation, I became the Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory Coordinator for UGA’s Cellular Biology Department. While not related to art, it was a fantastic job that taught me so much about managing people, producing quality work, and working in an academic setting. I worked there until relocating to Atlanta, where my husband Jordan was studying to receive his doctorate in pharmacy.

I fell in love with invitation design after creating our wedding invitations and began working at a stationery store to learn more about the retail side of the business. In 2009, I took the leap and launched my fine art invitation company, Courtney Khail Watercolors. After Jordan graduated from pharmacy school in 2012, we moved to Denver, Colorado, where I expanded my company to include fine art paintings and stationery, in addition to custom invitations. After an amazing three years in Denver, Jordan and I realized just how much we missed family, friends, and the South, and in 2015 we moved back home to Atlanta.

What would be your advice to a student interested in “being their own boss” and launching his or her own business?

You have to passionately believe in what you do, as well as be self-motivated. Owning a business is tough work and when you’re faced with critics, challenges, and startup costs, it’s imperative to have that passion and drive in order to succeed. On a financial note, try to have at least six to twelve months of expenses saved before going out on your own. This will give you the ability to focus on what you are creating and make smart decisions based on what’s best for the business without the stress of how you will pay your bills. Lastly, don’t go at it alone. Get a mentor, surround yourself with people you admire and who are also passionate about what they do, and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

Tell us about your business and why you elected this career path.

I own Courtney Khail Watercolors – a fine art studio in Atlanta, Georgia. I originally started CKW to provide a way for couples to express their unique stories through one-of-a-kind fine art wedding invitations. A few years later, I added a stationery line in order to provide beautiful, timeless note cards for everyday life. Soon after, I began spending more time in the studio just creating art. When people began asking to purchase my paintings (as well as requesting commissioned work), I decided to offer my artwork to the public in addition to my paper goods. On any given day, you can expect to find me either painting in the studio, designing invitations (I only accept a limited number of wedding orders per year in order to guarantee an exceptional experience), selling my stationery (which can be found online as well as in various stores across the nation) or some combination of all of the above!

As for why I chose this path- I don’t think I chose it as much as it chose me. Being an artist has never been “what I do,” but rather “who I am,” so it seemed only fitting that art should be my career. I’m also fortunate to have come from a family full of entrepreneurs, so the idea of running a business was always exciting to me (as opposed to terrifying.) Of course, being self-employed definitely has its challenges, but I feel so grateful for the opportunities and success I’ve had thus far. Plus, in my opinion, nothing is more rewarding than spending every day adding beauty to someone’s life.

Anything else you’d like to share about UGA, being a Bulldog or advice for current students?

I know students have probably heard this a thousand times by now, but it’s important so I will say it again. Your time at UGA is limited and will go by so much faster than you could ever imagine. Do your best to take advantage of it all. Study abroad, take classes that interest you (not just the ones that will boost your GPA or fill a requirement,) meet someone new every day, get to know your professors, explore Athens, watch live music, go to art shows, kayak the Broad, and stay out too late. You may be a Bulldog for life, but you only get a couple of years to be a college student so make every moment count.

Alumna Spotlight: Maggie Smith Kühn (BFA ’09)

August 15, 2016/by Jamie Lewis

UGA alumna and Atlanta painter Maggie Smith Kühn (BFA ’09) has had her work featured on Good Morning America, Daily Mail, Buzzfeed and more. The UGA Alumni Association asked Maggie to write about her time at UGA and her recent successes.

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There is a horrifying (and untrue) statistic all art majors hear at some point, and it’s a variation on this theme: only one in five art students actually work in the art field after college. It strikes fear in the hearts of aspiring artists and creates a gloom that is specific to an art school campus. As a Lamar Dodd School of Art student myself, I felt curiously doomed to savor my time in the studio, knowing that it would probably come to an abrupt end when I graduated and the “real world” demanded repayment for those blessed stolen hours of fun.

The truth is that one in two art students go on to have professional art careers, which are great odds for any major. I’m proud to be one of the artists that left Lamar Dodd and jumped right into the art field. I hope I can encourage any gloomy art kids who feel that art school might be the wrong move, even though they are obsessed with making art. I am one of you, and I make a living by painting.

I am an event painter. What is an event painter, you ask? We’re pretty rare; I go to corporate events, parties, weddings, fashion shows, and I paint the scene as it’s happening. It’s half entertainment, half recording the event as it goes on around me. You are probably familiar with it if you’ve been to Paris, or gone to the Kentucky Derby. Live painting is a strange concept everywhere else. I picked up the habit while attending middle and high school, when I started to bring my sketchbook everywhere I went and I would constantly ask to draw portraits of people. Some people said no, but most people were curious to see what they looked like through someone else’s eyes. My first drawings were not masterworks, but eventually I got faster and made better decisions when I sat down to draw, and some of my art was pretty good.

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I decided that art school was the right move for me, despite the literature and stereotypes against it. I remember feeling a tingle of excitement when I drove down Broad Street in Athens for the first time, and saw the senior painting studios. I made my mom stop the car, and walked right in and started learning names and visually drinking in the artwork. I had arrived.

My tenure at Lamar Dodd was pretty typical. I bummed around outside the old Jackson Street building between classes, wandered North Campus and asked to draw people, and displayed series of artwork in various restaurants downtown. Athens embraced my work, and I lived off the cash I made from paintings. I started to get confidence in my ability to make a career with my art. UGA taught me so much about the importance of networking with people outside the studio and how to push through the tedious moments of creating something while inside the studio; I grew up into an artist there.

Once I was out of school, I started painting on weekends and every weeknight, confident that I could get my little idea of event painting off the ground if I had the right knowledge of running a business. I worked an internet and commerce marketing job to fill in the gaps of what I didn’t know, while I waited for the right moment to work full time on my paintings. I tinkered with social media sites, learning what makes businesses go viral.

I went full time with IAmNotMaggie Fine Art in 2014, and it was profitable within the first three months. I had a steady stream of painting commissions, portraits, and events to keep me happy and busy. My business grew to encompass Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee, but I wanted more. I wanted national recognition for my work.

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Recognition came on a random Thursday night when I made a post for Reddit and then went to bed, thinking no more about it. I woke up in the morning to see that my post had hit the front page and had generated over a million views on my website. There were more than 400 emails in my inbox. It was insanity. Suddenly, people knew I existed and saw that my artwork was good. It was phenomenal. Buzzfeed, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and a number of blogs wanted to write about me. Brides from all over the globe booked me for their events. It was my tipping point; it felt so much like driving past the senior painting studios on Broad Street. I had arrived.

So many artists are ashamed to acknowledge the fact that art is a product. To live off of your art, you will need to know something about business. There is no shame in having some business savvy, and the University of Georgia has incredible resources for a budding entrepreneur. In fact, you have already invested in your future as an artist by coming to the University of Georgia. Take a business class. Start a drawing club. Open a show of your artwork downtown. I’m proud of my tenure at UGA because it prepared me for the journey of my life as a professional artist, and I can’t wait to see what the future alumni of the Lamar Dodd School of Art do in the art field.

UPDATE (August 16, 2016): Maggie’s art just went viral – again!