Alumna Spotlight: Mariah Domenech (BSED ’15)

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The UGA Alumni Association welcomes Mariah Domenech (BSED ’15) as today’s guest blogger. Mariah is a Georgia Fund scholarship recipient who studied abroad this past fall in Spain. The Georgia Fund is the annual giving program to support academic and alumni initiatives at UGA. Georgia Fund gifts enrich the lives and experiences of students, faculty and alumni, wherever they are engaged in advancing the University’s mission – on campus, around the state or abroad. For Mariah, this trip would not have been possible without generous support from alumni and friends.

 

“Teaching in Spain was a life changing experience. Being completely submerged in such a different culture was nerve-wracking. I wasn’t sure what mannerisms were appropriate or how to ask for things without coming off as rude; it took a lot of observing my surroundings in order to find out the proper way to interact with others. It also took a lot of me asking my host family a ton of questions whenever I didn’t know or understand something. The school system is so different from what I am used to in the United States. The teachers were more affectionate and open with their students; there was more physical interaction than what I was used to. Seeing new, beautiful landscapes and interacting with new people and gaining such an amazing experience is something I may have never been able to experience if it was not for the OIE – Alumni Association Study Abroad Fellowship. I am beyond thankful for receiving this scholarship that made it possible for me to study abroad in Spain.”

 

In December, Mariah graduated from UGA with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education. She is currently pursuing a graduate degree from the College of Education. To learn more about Mariah’s study abroad experience, click here.

UGA alumni named to Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 2016 30 Under 30

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30U30

The Atlanta Business Chronicle has released its second annual 30 Under 30 Who’s Who list. This list of young professionals focuses on the generation of millennials rather than one specific industry. The following UGA alumni were named to the 2016 list of exceptional leaders making a difference in the metro Atlanta area.

Greg Davis (MBA ’15), Director of sales and marketing, Davis Broadcasting Inc.

Nicole Goldsmith (BBA ’10), Associate, CBRE Inc.

Nick D. Hendricks (BBA ’09), Group benefits consultant and strategist, The Benefit Co.

Turner Levison (BBA ’12), CEO, Commissiontrac

Ellis C. Liu (AB ’10), Associate, Gordon & Rees Scully Mansukhani

Sierra Rae Moore (ABJ ’13), Digital marketing manager, InnoVergent GovSense

Eric Spett (BBA ’10), CEO, Terminus

Michael Tucker (AB ’09), Principal, Scotland Wright Associates

Chris Turner (MA ’10), Founder and CEO, Tenrocket

Congratulations to our alumni on this impressive accomplishment! For more information about the honorees, click here.

2016 TEDxUGA

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Join the University of Georgia for the fourth annual TEDxUGA on Friday, March 18.

TEDxUGA 2016: Illuminate will bring UGA’s brightest minds into the spotlight to share their stories, experiences, and ideas worth spreading. Today’s ideas will illuminate tomorrow’s possibilities. The faculty, staff, student and alumni presenters of TEDxUGA 2016 know that all it takes is a single spark. Several alumni will present at this year’s event:

  • Phillip (AB ’06, ABJ ’06) and Eileen Blume – international award-winning, socially conscious photographers and owners of Blume Photography Studios, a 2016 Bulldog 100 business. The pair will be TEDxUGA’s first duo presenters.
  • Marc Gorlin (ABJ ’95) – owner of Kabbage, Inc. and the 2015 No. 1 Bulldog 100 business, Roadie.
  • Melaney Cook-Smith (BBA ’89) – founder of Books for Keeps, a grassroots effort to provide books to those children that might otherwise have none and a 2016 Bulldog 100 business.
  • Reese Hoffa (BSED ’02) – represents the United States as an Olympic shot putter in London, Athens, and Beijing. He won the bronze medal in 2012 and is currently training for the 2016 Olympics.

Registration opens tomorrow, February 11, at 8:00 a.m. to all UGA alumni, students, faculty and staff.

Alumnus Spotlight: Peter Conlon (BBA ’75)

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One of the biggest attractions to the Atlanta music scene is its annual music festival, Music Midtown. From mainstream pop artists to rising rock bands, Music Midtown offers the crowds that gather performances from a wide variety of artists. For Peter Conlon (BBA ’75), one of two founders of the festival and president of Peter Conlon Presents, this was the overall goal: to create an event fit for attendees of all music tastes and genres.

peter conlon

Conlon graduated from Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in international business in 1975. During his four years as an undergraduate student, he was a member of University Union where he first began booking rock concerts that featured artists such as Jethro Tull and the Allman Brothers. He attended law school for a short period of time after graduation, but then took a risk and dropped out to work as an intern for the Carter presidential campaign, a risk that ended up paying off through a victory.

Peter continued to work for Jimmy Carter throughout his presidential term. His position required that he help set up benefit concerts for the president. In 1982, Conlon partnered with Alex Cooley to begin his career in the music industry.

 

After working many years booking concerts, the pair founded Music Midtown in 1994, inspired by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. After having to pull the plug on the event in 2005 due to low sales, the festival was reintroduced in 2011 and now takes up several stages across Piedmont Park, hosts more than 30 different artists, and attracts attendees from all over the nation. Moreover, since the festival’s relaunch, it has generated $50 million for the local economy each year.

Congratulations to Peter and best wishes for the continued success of Music Midtown!

Alumna Spotlight: Devin Clower (BFA ’08)

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Anyone familiar with downtown Athens and its eclectic variety of shops is surely familiar with Frontier. Since opening nearly 20 years ago, the store has connected local artists with community members by providing a venue for them to showcase and sell their work.

UGA alumna Devin Clower (BFA ’08) took ownership of the store three years ago. Her background in interior design helped her with the introduction of custom framing and redesigning the store layout.

devin clower

The store’s motto, “All for the heart and home,” is reflected in the unique gifts that you can find at the store. Devin has worked hard to fulfill the motto, and through her leadership, the store has grown into a local favorite.

Congratulations on your hard work, Devin!

UGA awards the President’s Medal

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On January 27, the UGA President’s Medal was awarded to Francis “Abit” Massey (BBA ’49) and the late Jane Seddon Willson. This honor recognizes extraordinary support and contributions to individuals that have made a tremendous impact in the lives of students and staff. Through them, the university is able to continue to push forward to greater heights in the realm of academia.

Francis “Abit” Massey (BBA ’49)

Abit served as the president of the UGA Alumni Association’s Board of Directors from 1991-1993. Throughout his career, he served in the roles of head of the Georgia Department of Economic Development and executive director of the Georgia Poultry Federation. Currently, he is serving on the board of the UGA Real Estate Foundation, Georgia Research Foundation, and is an emeritus trustee of the UGA Foundation. Moreover, Abit has received numerous medals throughout his lifetime that include the 1986 UGA Alumni Merit Award and the Harold E. Ford Lifetime Achievement Award from the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association.

During her lifetime, Jane served as a member of on the Arts and Sciences Advisory Board, the Arts and Sciences Dean’s Council, the Franklin College Advisory Board, the UGA Research Foundation, the Honors Program and Advisory Board, the Georgia Museum of Art Board of Advisors, and she served as an emerita trustee of the UGA Research Foundation. In 2004, she endowed the William Harry Willson Distinguished Chair of Business in honor of her husband and later on, she created the Willson International Honors Scholars Program for students in the university’s Honors Program. Jane was honored with a Doctor of Laws degree in 2006, one of the highest accolades granted to any individual that is a part of the Bulldog community, and in 2008, she was inducted into the Crystal Arch Society in recognition of her passion for giving back to the university.

The late Jane Willson 

 “We are honored to recognize two great Georgians for helping to improve our state and strengthen the university,” said President Morehead. “Through their influential vision and tremendous generosity, both Abit Massey and the late Jane Willson have had a profound impact on UGA, and their contributions will continue to benefit the university for generations to come.”

UGA alumnus featured on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list

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Robert J. Gilliard (Ph D ’14) earned a spot on the Forbes’ 30 Under 30: Science list for his work in the field of scientific research. Robert is a post-doctoral research scientist at Case Western Reserve University where his research and expertise encompass the broad field of chemistry and include synthetic, organic, inorganic, and polymer chemistry.

While at UGA, he specialized in organometallic chemistry and his research with Professor Greg Robinson consisted of the stabilization of highly reactive organoberyllium complexes. As a student, Robert was chosen to represent our nation at the Nobel Laureate meeting inLindau, Germany, a global forum that showcases the world’s best and brightest.

Congratulations on all of your success, Robert!

25 Alumni Named to Georgia Trend’s ‘100 Most Influential Georgians’

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Georgia Trend magazine’s annual list of the state’s most powerful and influential citizens who affect the lives and livelihoods of all Georgians has been released. The final list reflects one hundred citizens who reflect leadership, power, and influence in Georgia. This year, twenty five University of Georgia graduates have been recognized for their achievements.

Congratulations to the following alumni on this impressive accomplishment:

Dan Amos (BBA ’73), Chairman and CEO, Aflac Inc, 2011 Bulldog 100 Honoree

Charlie Bethel (BBA ’98, JD ’01), State Senator, District 54, 2013 40 Under 40 Honoree, University of Georgia Blue Key Honor Society’s Young Alumnus Award

Gary W. Black (BSA ’80), Commissioner, Georgia Department of Agriculture

Chris Carr (BBA ’95, JD ’99), Commissioner, Georgia Department of Economic Development, 2011 40 Under 40 Honoree

Nancy Denson (BBA ’90), Mayor, Athens-Clarke County, UGA Alumni Association Big Dawg Award, UGA Arch Award

Jennifer Frum (PHD ’09), Vice President for Public Service and Outreach, University of Georgia

Steve Henson (AB ’81), Minority Leader, State Senate

Henry “Hank” M. Huckaby (PHD ’06), Chancellor, University System of Georgia

Johnny Isakson (BBA ’66), U.S. Senator

Jan Jones (ABJ ’80), Speaker Pro Tempore,Georgia House of Representatives

Brian Kemp (BSA ’87), Secretary of State, State of Georgia

Hala Moddelmog (MA ’81), President and CEO, Metro Atlanta Chamber, 2015 Bulldog 100 Honoree, 2015 Alumni of Distinction

Jere W.  Morehead (JD ’80), President, University of Georgia

Charlotte Nash (BBA ’75), Chair, Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners, President of the ACCG

Jay Powell (JD ’77), State Representative, District 171

David Ralston (JD ’80), Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives

Robert Reichert (BSA ’78), Mayor, Macon-Bibb County

Earl V. Rogers (BBA ’76), President and CEO, Georgia Hospital Association

David Shafer (AB ’88), President Pro Tempore, Georgia Senate

Lynn Smith (BSED ’68), State Representative, District 70, Instrumental in the development of the Legislative Environmental Policy Academy at the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government

Kessel D. Stelling Jr. (BBA ’78), Chairman and CEO, Synovus, University of Georgia Blue Key Honor Society Award

Lee Thomas (ABJ ’87), Deputy Commissioner, Georgia Film, Music and Digital Entertainment Office

Trip Tollison (AB ’95), President and CEO, Savannah Economic Development Authority

Judson Turner (AB ’77), Director, Georgia Environmental Protection Division, 2011 40 Under 40 Honoree

J. Alvin Wilbanks (BSED ’64, MED ’68), CEO and Superintendent, Gwinnett County Public Schools

For more information about the honorees, click here.

UGA alumnus featured on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list

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Each year, Forbes Magazine recognizes young individuals in a variety of categories who are changing the face of their industries. This year, UGA alumnus Chad Mumm (ABJ ’08) made the30 Under 30: Media list for his impressive work at Vox Media Inc. Chad also co-founded The Verge.

Chad is the creative director of Vox Media and founder of Vox Entertainment, the company’s original production and programming group based in Los Angeles. His work focuses on bridging the gap between digital media, publishing, technology platforms and TV programming through each of Vox’s eight individual media brands.

Congratulations on this impressive accomplishment, Chad!

Alumnus Spotlight: Drew Cronic (BSED ’97)

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Drew Cronic (BSED ’97) was recently honored as the American Football Coaches Association’s NAIA Region 1 Coach of the Year. Cronic has been a member of Reinhardt University’s football program since 2012, and was named head coach in 2015. In the span of a few months, he has led Reinhardt into its best season record yet, with nine wins and just two losses.

Drew Cronic

For Cronic, this passion for athletic achievement is nothing new. While at UGA, he was a member of the football team where he earned varsity letters and Southeastern Conference All-Academic honors in 1996 and 1997. After graduation, Drew continued to pursue his passion as a graduate assistant coach at the University of West Georgia, and continued to develop at other programs, such as Furman, James Madison, and Central High School in Carrolton, Georgia.

Reinhardt Director of Athletics Bill Popp said, “I’m so proud of the accomplishments of our football program, and this is one of those ‘icing on the cake’ moments for Coach Cronic. I could not be more proud of him and the young men on that team for the job they did this year. This is a very well-deserved honor for Drew Cronic.”

On the other hand, Cronic believes that the team won this award, and is looking forward to the future of coaching this young football program.

“Head coaches win awards because assistant coaches and players do an amazing job,” Cronic said. “Really, I consider this a team award. This was the year we were really able to put Reinhardt on the map and start turning some heads around the country.”