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Altera Investments named fastest-growing UGA business

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The University of Georgia Alumni Association recognized the fastest-growing companies owned or led by UGA alumni during the 15th annual Bulldog 100 Celebration Feb. 9 in the West End Zone of Sanford Stadium.  

The 2024 fastest-growing business, Altera Investments, was founded and is led by David Fershteyn, CEO, Carlos Alcala, CFO and Mitch Reiner, Board Member. Fershteyn, Alcala and Reiner all earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Terry College of Business – Fershteyn and Alcala received theirs in 2017, while Reiner received his degree in 2005.  

Altera Investments is based in Atlanta and is an alternative investment firm focused on the lower middle market. This is the company’s first time on the Bulldog 100 list, although Reiner has represented previous companies that have made the list.

Altera Investments - Bulldog 100

The 2024 No. 1 Bulldog business, Altera Investments, is led by David Fershteyn, CEO (pictured above in foreground), Carlos Alcala, CFO (pictured in background above), and Mitch Reiner, Board Member (not pictured).

Rounding out the Bulldog 100 top ten are: 

  1. Jetset World Travel, Atlanta, Georgia
  2. Ryals Brothers, LLC, Lula, Georgia
  3. Neighborly Software, Atlanta, Georgia
  4. Capital Real Estate Group, Atlanta, Georgia 
  5. SynerGrx, Chamblee, Georgia
  6. teXga Farms, Clarkesville, Georgia
  7. Eagle Christian Tours, Rome, Georgia
  8. Society 54, LLC, Charlotte, North Carolina
  9. Lighting Pros, Jefferson, Georgia

“It is our privilege to recognize this year’s honorees, who truly embody the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship that is found in every Bulldog,” said Lee Zell, president of the UGA Alumni Association. “Welcoming these Bulldogs back to campus was an honor, and we look forward to continuing to celebrate their impact on their communities and industries.” 

The Bulldog 100 companies were ranked solely based on their three-year compounded annual growth rates. The Atlanta office of Warren Averett CPAs and Advisors—a Bulldog 100 partner since the program began in 2009—verifies the information submitted by each company and determines the ranked list. On average, companies in the 2024 Bulldog 100 grew by 67 percent each year from 2020-2022, the highest growth rate in the 15-year history of the program.  

This year, businesses are headquartered in a total of 7 states, with 88 of the businesses located in the state of Georgia. In total, 139 alumni representing over a dozen industries, including health care, financial services, agriculture, and real estate are being recognized. 

The fifth annual Michael J. Bryan Award was presented during the Feb. 9 event. The award, named for the co-founder and managing partner of Vino Venue and Atlanta Wine School who passed away in 2017 from cancer, recognizes a returning Bulldog 100 honoree who demonstrates the entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to UGA that was Bryan’s hallmark. This year’s recipients are Jim Chasteen, Charlie Thompson, Kelly Chasteen, Justin Manglitz and Chad Ralston, the team behind ASW Distillery.

2024 Michael J. Bryan Award Winner: ASW Distillery

(L-R) Kelly Chasteen and Jim Chasteen of ASW Distillery, the 2024 Michael J. Bryan Award winner, with Michael’s wife Leila Bryan and UGA Alumni President Lee Zell.

The complete list of 2024 Bulldog 100 businesses can be viewed online at alumni.uga.edu/b100.  

Nominations for the 2025 Bulldog 100 will open in late Spring 2024.

University of Georgia reveals 2024 Bulldog 100 businesses

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The UGA Alumni Association has released the 2024 Bulldog 100, a list of the 100 fastest-growing businesses owned or led by UGA graduates.  

This year, businesses are headquartered in a total of 7 states, with 89 of the businesses located in the state of Georgia. In total, 139 alumni representing over a dozen industries, including health care, financial services, agriculture and real estate are being recognized as a part of this year’s list.  

This year’s fastest-growing businesses, in alphabetical order, include:  

  • A Signature Welcome, Raleigh, NC 
  • Abound Wealth Management, LLC, Franklin, TN 
  • Agora Vintage, Athens, GA 
  • Alexander & Alexander Attorneys at Law, Barnwell, SC 
  • Altera Investments, Atlanta, GA 
  • Art of Floors, Cartersville, GA 
  • ASW Distillery, Atlanta, GA 
  • Atkinson Ferguson, LLC, Monroe, GA 
  • Ben Stout Construction, Fayetteville, NC 
  • BIOLYTE, Marietta, GA 
  • Biren Patel Engineering, Macon, GA 
  • Bitcoin Depot, Atlanta, GA 
  • Bitstream, Dawsonville, GA 
  • BlueBear Solutions, Inc., Atlanta, GA 
  • Builders Specialty Contractors, Boynton Beach, FL 
  • Capital Real Estate Group, Atlanta, GA 
  • Castleberry Veterinary Hospital, Cumming, GA 
  • Chad Weesner Insurance Agency, Vienna, GA 
  • Clark Drug Company, Waynesboro, GA 
  • Classic City Consulting, Snellville, GA 
  • Codesmith Development, Hurricane, UT 
  • Complexion, Nashville, TN 
  • Comprehensive Behavior Change, LLC, Duluth, GA 
  • Consume Media, Norcross, GA 
  • Corps Team, Marietta, GA 
  • Culinary Solution Centers, LLC, Zebulon, GA 
  • Dental Claim Support, Savannah, GA 
  • Detritus, LLC, Savannah, GA 
  • Dovetail Civil Design, Inc., Watkinsville, GA 
  • Eagle Christian Tours, Rome, GA 
  • Ellsworth Cleaning & Facility Services, Atlanta, GA 
  • enewton design, Atlanta, GA 
  • Erica Davis Lowcountry, Savannah, GA 
  • Express Vets, Jasper, GA  
  • FI Navigator Corporation, Atlanta, GA 
  • Freight Control, Inc., St. Simons Island, GA 
  • From Sir With Love, Marietta, GA 
  • Gibson, Johnson & Company Inc., Atlanta, GA 
  • Glass & Robson, LLC, Atlanta, GA 
  • Good Dog Veterinary Care, Marietta, GA 
  • Greater Athens Properties, Athens, GA 
  • Healthcare IT Leaders, Alpharetta, GA 
  • i9 Sports of North & Central Gwinnett County, Suwanee, GA 
  • Imperial Fence Supply, East Point, GA 
  • Ryan Brown Law, LLC, Newnan, GA
  • Jetset World Travel, Atlanta, GA 
  • Johnson & Alday, LLC, Marietta, GA 
  • KBH Industrial, Smyrna, GA 
  • Kempt, Athens, GA 
  • Kevin Patrick Law, Atlanta, GA 
  • King’s Hometown Pharmacy, Blairsville, GA 
  • KRG Fuel + Energy, Roswell, GA 
  • Lake City Chiropractic, Acworth, GA  
  • Lake Pine Animal Hospital, Apex, NC 
  • Lighting Pros, Jefferson, GA 
  • Macallan Real Estate, LLC, Marietta, GA 
  • Manly Shipley, LLP, Savannah, GA 
  • Marketwake, Atlanta, GA  
  • Mark Spain Real Estate, Alpharetta, GA 
  • Marlow Landscape Services, Cumming, GA 
  • Miller, Dawson, Sigal & Ward, LLC, North Charleston, SC 
  • Moore Civil Consulting, Inc., Perry, GA 
  • Morris Hardwood Distribution, Savannah, GA 
  • Neighborly Software, Atlanta, GA 
  • North Forsyth Animal Hospital, Cumming, GA 
  • Parker Executive Search, Atlanta, GA 
  • Pathwise CPA Group, Watkinsville, GA 
  • Pig Apple, Brooklyn, NY 
  • Pittman & Greer Engineering, Watkinsville, GA 
  • Powell Dentistry Group – The Georgia Smile Group, St. Simons Island, GA 
  • Prime Time Pediatrics, Watkinsville, GA 
  • Puppy Haven, Sandy Springs, GA 
  • Roam, Roswell, GA 
  • Roberts Civil Engineering, LLC, St. Simons Island, GA 
  • Ryals Brothers, LLC, Lula, GA 
  • Samet, Greensboro, NC 
  • Sapelo Skin Care, Savannah, GA 
  • Savannah Drywall Supply, Inc., Pooler, GA 
  • Scott Construction, LLC, Macon, GA 
  • Share the Magic Foundation, Atlanta, GA 
  • Shore Coaching Services, Athens, GA 
  • Siegel Construction & Design, LLC, Atlanta, GA 
  • SimplyTRUE Automotive Group, Norcross, GA 
  • Society 54, LLC, Charlotte, NC 
  • Southern Luxury Homes, Greensboro, GA 
  • Southern Reins Logistics, LLC, Alpharetta, GA 
  • Spark A Revolution, Roswell, GA 
  • SPG Planners + Engineers, Watkinsville, GA 
  • Stable Kernel, Atlanta, GA 
  • SynerGrx, Chamblee, GA
  • Telecom Innovations, LLC, Athens, GA 
  • teXga Farms, Clarkesville, GA 
  • The Baer Law Firm, Atlanta, GA 
  • The Grant Partners, Alpharetta, GA 
  • The Live Oak Agency, St. Simons Island, GA 
  • The Taco Stache, Pooler, GA 
  • Three Tree Coffee Roasters, Statesboro, GA 
  • Tier4 Group, Alpharetta, GA 
  • Whitemire Animal Hospital, Dawsonville, GA 
  • Yonder Yoga, Atlanta, GA 

Each year, Bulldog 100 applicants are measured by their business’ compounded annual growth rate during a three-year period. The Atlanta office of Warren Averett CPAs and Advisors, a Bulldog 100 partner since the program began in 2009, verified the information submitted by each company.

“We are proud to recognize our incredible alumni who are leaders and innovators in their industries,” said Lee Zell, president of the UGA Alumni Association. “These individuals embody the best of what UGA stands for and represent the value of a degree from our university. We’re excited to celebrate them and the work they are doing to build better communities.”

The university will host the annual Bulldog 100 Celebration in Athens Feb. 9, 2024, to celebrate these alumni business leaders and count down the ranked list to reveal the No. 1 fastest-growing business.

To view the alumni business leaders for each company and learn more about this program, see alumni.uga.edu/b100.

Offbeat Media Group named fastest-growing UGA business

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Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia Alumni Association recognized the fastest-growing companies owned or led by UGA alumni during the thirteenth annual Bulldog 100 Celebration on Feb. 5 in the West End Zone of Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia.

The 2022 fastest-growing business, Offbeat Media Group, boasts four UGA graduates at the helm: Shepherd Ogden (BBA ’18), CEO and co-founder, Bailey Grady (BBA ’19), COO and co-founder, Christopher Travers (BBA ’17), COO and co-founder and Kevin Planovsky (ABJ ’05), advisor.

Atlanta-based Offbeat Media Group is a leading digital influence and media company that owns, builds, and brokers the largest native social media network of publishers and virtual influencers. Now with over 1 billion followers, the concept was trailblazed by one of its co-founders when he was just a sophomore in high school. With investments from venture capitalists like Mark Cuban, this company’s clients sit at the intersection of lifestyle, culture and entertainment. Those clients include TikTok, McDonald’s, Twitch, Cameo, Netflix, Warner Music Group and more.

“We are the product of what young entrepreneurs can do here at UGA,” said Shepherd Ogden. “I expect we’ll see many more companies like ours started by students that are in school right now because of the resources being dedicated by the university. Our UGA mentors and programs like the New Media Institute and Innovation District have been incredibly helpful.”

Ogden continued, “If there’s something I can ask everyone to do, it’s to continue to help student entrepreneurs. That’s the reason we’re standing here today, because of the help we were given at UGA.”

Rounding out the Bulldog 100 top ten are:

    1. Rheos Nautical Eyewear, Charleston, South Carolina
    2. Roadie, Atlanta, Georgia
    3. Bitcoin Depot, Atlanta, Georgia
    4. BIOLYTE, Canton, Georgia
    5. YouthServ360 Inc. dba 7 Pillars Career Academy, Forest Park, Georgia
    6. Edwards & Hawkins LLC, Atlanta, Georgia
    7. Golden Isles Pharmacy, Brunswick, Georgia
    8. LeaseQuery, Atlanta, Georgia
    9. inBrain, Atlanta, Georgia

“The 2022 Bulldog 100 recognizes outstanding alumni achievements, broadens those business leaders’ networks and celebrates a spirit of innovation at UGA,” said Meredith Gurley Johnson, executive director of the UGA Alumni Association. “These alumni are leading the way in business, building better communities, and are committed to their ideas, their innovations and their employees. We are proud to celebrate their successes.”

Bulldog 100 companies were ranked, regardless of size, by evaluating their three-year compounded annual growth rates. The Atlanta office of Warren Averett CPAs and Advisors—a Bulldog 100 partner since the program began in 2009—verifies the information submitted by each company and determines the ranked list. On average, companies in the 2022 Bulldog 100 grew by 44 percent each year from 2019-2021.

Nominations were accepted from February to July 2021. UGA received 367 nominations for the 2022 Bulldog 100. Each organization must have been in business since 2018, experienced revenues over $100,000 for the calendar year 2019, and be owned or operated by a former UGA student who owns at least half of the company or is the CEO, president or managing partner.

During the Feb. 5 event, the UGA Alumni Association presented the fifth annual Michael J. Bryan Award to 1973 UGA graduate Rodger Breda, CEO and founder of Breda Pest Management.

Bryan, the co-founder and managing partner of Vino Venue and Atlanta Wine School in Dunwoody, Georgia, passed away in 2017 after a long battle with cancer. The award recognizes a returning Bulldog 100 honoree whose business has not only sustained growth, but also demonstrates the entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to UGA that was Bryan’s hallmark.

To view the complete list of 2022 Bulldog 100 businesses, visit alumni.uga.edu/b100.

Nominations for the 2023 Bulldog 100 are now open.

Black alumni-owned Bulldog businesses bring pride to UGA

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“Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.”

As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous voice rang out these words, he might have been speaking directly to the stellar UGA Black alumni who appear on this year’s Bulldog 100 list. Their businesses are among the top 100 fastest-growing enterprises owned or operated by UGA graduates.

Entrepreneurs. Risk-takers. Leaders. Movers and shakers. Culture-shapers. These business owners each earned a place of pride—first as students of intelligence, character and commitment to UGA and its values… and now they’ve extended that commitment as professionals to their communities and the people they serve there. Together, these UGA alumni bear witness to the value of a degree from the birthplace of public higher education in America.

We’re tremendously proud of these business leaders and their successful leadership within their communities, industries and organizations.

The Barnes Law Office

Latasha Barnes (AB ’05, AB ’05)

Latasha Barnes hung out the shingle for her law firm in 2015 to serve metro Atlanta in criminal, family and personal injury law. She’s earned a reputation as an effective litigator and skilled negotiator in dozens of trials and thousands of criminal cases. In 2016, Barnes was named Top 40 under 40 in Criminal Defense by the National Trial Lawyers. For the past four years, she has been named a Rising Star on the Georgia Super Lawyers listing, a distinction only received by 2.5 percent of attorneys in the state. As a student, Barnes served as president of the UGA Chapter of the NAACP from 2003-2004.

 

The Brogdon Firm LLC

Gino Brogdon Jr. (JD ’11)

Gino Brogdon launched The Brogdon Firm in 2014, and it didn’t take long for his reputation to spread. Brogdon has earned selection as a Super Lawyer Rising Star each year since 2017, and he was recently featured as an Attorney to Watch in Atlanta Attorney and Law Magazine. His firm specializes in cases of catastrophic injury, personal injury and wrongful death. Brogdon is also making his mark as a legal innovator, co-founding FourthParty with his wife, Melissa. The web-based application gives lawyers remote access to legal information. In 2021, Google For Startups awarded FourthParty $100,000 as a high-potential legal-tech startup.

 

Edwards & Hawkins LLC

Cameron Hawkins (JD ’08)  

Cameron Hawkins became a partner with Donald Edwards at Edwards & Hawkins in 2019, bringing an outstanding track record in personal injury, commercial litigation and immigration law to a venerable five-decade-old firm. Recognized in 2017 as a University of Georgia School of Law Young Alumni of Excellence, Hawkins’s other accolades include a Thompson Reuters selection as a 2021 Super Lawyer, a 2021 Super Lawyers designation and selection to the national Top 40 Under 40 Black Lawyers. Hawkins holds a passion for community service, serving as a program director for the Fulton County Youth Leadership Academy, among other roles supporting the development of youth and young professionals. He’s a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

 

LeaseQuery

George Azih (BBA ’03) 

George Azih launched his software company, LeaseQuery, in 2011 with his roommate, Chris Ramsey (BS ’05), while still working as a full-time accountant. The promise of the startup, which uses innovated software to help accountants and financial professionals reduce lease accounting errors, lured him into full-time entrepreneurship in 2014. Azih hasn’t looked back. From 2018 to 2019, LeaseQuery’s client base doubled from 500 to more than 1,000, and it’s grown since to more than 2,000 clients in 93 countries. The dynamic expansion landed Azih as a finalist for the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® 2020 Southeast Award. In 2020 and 2021, LeaseQuery was named the No. 1 fastest-growing Bulldog 100 business, making it the first company to receive that title two years in a row. On Azih’s LinkedIn profile, he describes himself as “Founder & CEO of LeaseQuery. Proud father. UGA Bulldog.”

 

OSC Edge

Tiffany Bailey (AB ’02)  

Tiffany Bailey has parlayed an English degree from UGA into a notable entrepreneurial career. After a post-college position with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, she founded OSC Edge in 2010. Her vision? Providing expert solutions in IT to government and businesses. As CEO and president, Bailey’s visionary management of day-to-day operations has led to contracts with IT clients and the Department of Defense. OSC Edge employs staff across the U.S. and in Puerto Rico. Bailey is an alumna of Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses Program, a member of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association, and the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce.

 

YouthServ360 Inc.

Christina Guillen (AB ’04, AB ’04)
Hilary Carruthers (AB ’04, BSW ’04, MSW ’06, DRPH ’21)
Jazmin Briggs (AB ’05)

Christina Guillen graduated from UGA and went immediately into the classroom at age 20 with Teach For America. That influential experience led her back to Clayton County, Georgia where she was determined to transform local education. In 2008, she created YouthServ360 to help young people experience travel and community service, the gifts that transformed her own life. Students in YouthServ360 programs have now performed 100,000 community service hours, taken 40 college tours and attended 200 life skills workshops. With colleagues and fellow UGA alumnae, Hilary Carruthers and Jazmin Briggs, Guillen and YouthServ360 also launched 7 Pillars Career Academy, the first charter school in Georgia to allow students to set their own pace in curriculum and place of engagement.

 

Written by Charles McNair

10 tips for getting your house ready for the spring market

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With spring just around the corner, the real estate experts from Bulldog 100 have generously offered some advice if you’re looking to put your house up for sale after the long winter season. From inspections to pricing, here are 10 tips for successfully springing into the housing market.

1. Get a pre-inspection done

Check the attic and crawl space for any issues with water intrusion or rodent activity. If you don’t want to do this yourself, we have home inspector partners who can do a quick four-point inspection of your home just to check for major issues like this.

— Joe Cozart (BSED ’03, MED ’06, PHD ’11 ), Cozart Realty

In this process, they will point out many of the same items a potential buyer’s inspector would discover that might possibly scare off an otherwise great buyer.

— Bob Allen (BBA ’81), Greater Athens Properties


2. Take care of any repairs

Take care of the minor repairs before going to market. If you know something needs to be fixed, get it done before any buyers enter your home. If repairs aren’t addressed in the initial offers, they will still come up during the inspection.

— Scott Talley (AB ’04), 5Market Realty

If you want top dollar, make sure your home does not look like a renovation project to a homebuyer. Check your home for rotten wood on the exterior.

— Blake Underwood (BBA ’04), Athens Real Estate Group

Have a handyman do a lap around the outside of the home to replace any rotten boards. This includes rotten soffit, facia or window trim.

— Joe Cozart


3. Have a purposeful design

Make sure every room in your home has a purpose. Turn a bonus room into a playroom or office space. Defining a use for all parts of your home can help buyers see more value.

— Scott Talley


4. Clean and declutter

Move your boxes to the garage or a pod in the yard. Empty those closets and storage areas to the bare minimum items needed to live a normal, comfortable lifestyle. You probably have not opened some boxes in years, so eliminate them so your space looks larger and inviting.

— Bob Allen

Declutter your home and then get the smaller spaces well-organized. Closets, bathrooms and laundry rooms show much better and appear larger when they are efficiently organized.

— Scott Talley

Deep clean the entire house so that it smells fresh and tidy as potentially buyers tour the property… Too much clutter makes the home feel smaller than it really is.

— Blake Underwood


5. Paint … and repaint

If you need some cosmetic upgrades inside or outside, please consider making the changes needed. If the paint is showing signs of wear and tear, have it painted; maybe it is just the trim outside or old wallpaper that dates the home on the inside. You do not have to completely renovate your home. You just need to make it show as move-in ready for most consumers.

— Bob Allen

Get a fresh coat of paint.  This could be inside or out, especially if it has been more than seven years.

— Joe Cozart

Spend the extra time and money to make sure your home is SHOW READY. Pressure wash, fresh pine straw, declutter closets / garage, clean gutters and please paint that wild color in the dining room to a more neutral color.

— Bonneau Ansley (BBA ’99), Ansley Real Estate


6. Make sure there’s curb appeal

Give your home an exterior face lift. Take a look at your home from the street and examine what could be done to brighten up the front of your house. Landscaping, flowers, mulch, pressure washing or just painting the front door can go a long way.

— Scott Talley

Be sure to dress up the landscaping with fresh pine straw or mulch, trim the shrubs and keep the grass cut.

— Blake Underwood

Curb appeal is very important. The home needs to look its best from the road. If you have to hire a landscaper to get the front of the home looking its best, now is the time to invest in the yard.

— Bob Allen


7. Figure out the best timing

I like to list on a Wednesday night and call for highest and best offers by Sunday evening.

— Bonneau Ansley


8. Price accordingly

Make sure you price the home correctly — use an appraisal or a pricing evaluation.

— Bonneau Ansley

Be sure to price your property at market value. If you price your home correctly, you will see maximum exposure and possibly multiple offers. On the other hand, if you price it too high, the home could sit on the market and ultimately cost you more money.

— Scott Talley


9. Check over your buyer

Make sure you choose a buyer who is pre-qualified to purchase your home.

— Bonneau Ansley


10. Talk to a realtor

Hire an agent that you are comfortable with and is an expert in your market.

— Bonneau Ansley

Call your favorite realtor — or several — to walk through and give opinions on things to do to help the sale and suggested pricing. Realtors do this every day and know the local market better than any website like Zillow.

— Bob Allen

 

The annual Bulldog 100 Celebration takes place on February 5. There, the UGA Alumni Association will reveal the No. 1 fasting-growing business for 2022.

2022 is YOUR year.

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These Bulldog 100 businesses are here to support your 2022 New Year’s Resolutions.

girl working out at home

GET IN SHAPE

It’s the most popular new year’s resolution time after time. You know the one. Good news in 2022: SculptHouse has you covered! Whether you’re looking to make some healthy physical changes, or just look good trying, be sure to check out SculptHouse’s fitness classes and activewear.

SculptHouse is a fitness studio, activewear and lifestyle boutique with physical locations in Atlanta and Dallas and a robust online presence. It focuses on helping clients lead healthy, happy and confident lives through fitness and fashion.

Backyard patio

UPDATE YOUR HOME + YARD

Maybe your resolution was to finally turn that spare room into an office or a playroom. Or was it to transform your backyard into a space you can enjoy year-round?  Let Maggie Griffin Design, Root Design Studio, Cindy Lynn Dunnaway Interiors, Hager Design International and Backyard Escapes help you accomplish your home interior and exterior goals!

Maggie Griffin Design is a full-scale interior design studio creating homes evoking Southern hospitality, comfort, elegance and stylish living. The company manages every aspect of a project to create beauty and highly satisfied clients.

Root Design Studio is a boutique landscape architecture firm located in Atlanta, serving a diverse clientele in both the public and private sectors. Providing a full range of services from master planning through construction administration, Root Design has the expertise to deliver high-quality site development solutions.

CLD Interiors is a full-service interior design firm specializing in updated traditional interiors. Based in Atlanta, they help clients across the Southeast create beautiful and perfectly livable spaces for their families.

Hager Design International Inc. (HDI) specializes in hospitality, retail and senior living projects. There are over 1,100 projects in HDI’s portfolio, including award-winning renovations of historic properties in the United States and Canada. 

Backyard Escape is a full-service custom design-build company with a specialization in pools, unique garden landscapes, designer stone patios with (or without) pergolas, home barbecue centers and more.

Girl volunteering

SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY

Whenever communities are looking for stronger leaders and the world cries out for better solutions, Bulldogs answer the call to service. If your resolution is to jump in and serve your community this year, consider Bulldog-led organizations such as Extra Special People Inc., Nuçi’s Space and Light from Light.

Extra Special People Inc. (ESP) exists to create transformative experiences for people with disabilities and their families, changing communities for the better. ESP is a growing nonprofit with 35 years of experience in serving people of all abilities. ESP carries out its mission in three ways: 360, Java Joy and Hooray.

Nuçi’s Space is focused on ending the epidemic of suicide and inspiring a culture free of the stigma attached to brain illnesses and its sufferers by supporting a community-wide effort that focuses on education, prevention and access to appropriate treatment. Their mission is to prevent suicide. With a focus on musicians, Nuçi’s Space advocates for and helps to alleviate the suffering for those living with a brain illness and fights to end the stigma of mental illness.

Light from Light is a Georgia-based nonprofit organization that provides funding, training and expertise to the Lespwa Timoun (“Hope for Children”) medical clinic in Croix des Bouquets, Haiti. The mission at Light from Light is to support lasting change in Haiti by empowering local leaders. The clinic is staffed by more than 53 Haitian leaders who provide care for more than 1,000 patients on a monthly basis, onsite and in remote villages. The pillars of Light from Light’s work include care of the malnourished and access to healthcare for the most marginalized (via mobile medicine).

RV in mountains

TRAVEL MORE

If you’re ready to dust off your suitcase and scratch that travel itch in 2022, Cabo Luxury, Lightin RV Rentals and Double Fun Watersports are here to help you plan, relax and enjoy!

Cabo Luxury is the top provider of villa rentals and concierge services in all of Los Cabos, Mexico. Their 360-degree services make a villa rental a five-star resort experience. The company offers every service a customer desires in a luxury getaway and delivers them with Southern hospitality and white-glove service. The local staff knows Cabo inside and out and provides superior service for vacationers from arrival to departure. 

Offering some of the finest recreational vehicles (RVs) on the market, Lightnin RV Rentals owns its entire fleet and continuously refreshes inventory with new models. Their luxury-loaded, top-quality motorhomes, travel trailers and pop-up campers are ideal for everything from family vacations and tailgate parties to corporate events and emergency housing.

Double Fun Watersports maintains and rents a fleet of 35 double-decker pontoon boats across six locations along Florida’s beautiful Emerald Coast. The boats have been a huge hit since day one with their upper deck, dual waterslides and room for large groups. Double Fun largely introduced double-decker pontoon boats to the Destin / FWB area and has significantly helped shape the Gulf Coast’s pontoon rental industry in recent years.

The No. 1 business of the 2022 Bulldog 100 will be announced on February 5. Whatever your 2022 goals, go get after it, Bulldogs.

Dawg-gone good gifts: Biolyte

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For the health-conscious people in your life—or the ones who struggle to kick those holiday hangovers—fuel their fun with Biolyte, the IV in a bottle. 

Biolyte’s electrolytes match that of a 500mL IV, plus additional vitamins and minerals. It was formulated by Dr. Luther “Trey” Rollins, a board-certified anesthesiologist and pain specialist in Atlanta, GA. One bottle of Biolyte offers the fuel of 6.5 sports drinks to fight dehydration, fatigue, stomach illness, cramps or overindulgence.  

CEO and UGA alumna Jesslyn Rollins (BA ’15) partnered with Dr. Rollins, her father, to bring his product to the masses. After selling Biolyte out of the back of her car, she advanced to director of sales, chief sales and marketing officer and then CEO. Under her guidance, Biolyte has grown into a multimillion-dollar business. It’s no surprise that the 2022 Bulldog 100 recognized Biolyte as one of the fastest-growing organizations owned or operated by UGA Alumni.

Biolyte offers three flavors—berry, citrus and tropical—to help your friends and family quench their thirst, snap out of a funk or reenergize.  

You can purchase Biolyte at select retail locations or on Amazon.  

The holidays have arrived! As you finish up your holiday shopping, we’re featuring UGA alumni-owned businesses that we can’t stop barking about. Give uniquely and support a Bulldog this holiday season with a Dawg-gone good gift.     

Want more Dawg-gone good gift ideas?

Dawg-gone good gifts: Svaha

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For the genius in your life who wants to share their passion with everyone they meet, give a gift from Svaha.

Svaha USA is a one-stop-shop online retailer specializing in STEAM-themed apparel. 

Svaha’s mission is to shatter the gender stereotypes in the apparel industry and encourage STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) education for both girls and boys, and women and men. Svaha carries clothing for adults and children as well as a variety of accessories. 

Jaya Iyer (MS ’03) is an expert in the fashion industry. She teaches fashion buying and authored a widely-used textbook on fashion in emerging markets. When she couldn’t find space-themed clothing for her astronaut-aspiring daughter in 2015, she discovered an unmet need in the fashion industry. Svaha was born. The 2021 Bulldog 100 recognized Svaha as one of the fastest-growing organizations owned or operated by UGA alumni. 

For gifts that are out of this world, explore Svaha’s gift boxes, curated by topic. Svaha also offers matching family sets and puzzles celebrating biodiversity and women’s impact on history.   

Svaha’s curated marine biology box

You can find all that Svaha has to offer and shop by interest on Svaha’s online store.  

The holidays have arrived! As you finish up your holiday shopping, we’re featuring UGA alumni-owned businesses that we can’t stop barking about. Give uniquely and support a Bulldog this holiday season with a Dawg-gone good gift.     

Want more Dawg-gone good gift ideas?

Dawg-gone good gifts: Onward Reserve

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For the people on your gift list who love the outdoors, college football and the South, look to one of Athens’ own: Onward Reserve. 

Onward Reserve is a specialty men’s apparel and lifestyle brand headquartered in Atlanta. The Onward Reserve experience mixes laid-back southern hospitality with a world-class retail atmosphere. Collections include men’s classic clothing, watches, shoes, sportswear and accessories. 

UGA alumni TJ Callaway (BBA’07) established Onward Reserve with the motto, “Live authentically.” During a hunting trip in Onward, Mississippi, Callaway crafted a vision for a brand that is laid-back, unwavering in quality and supportive of authentic experiences. Each season, Callaway carefully selects the collection of other brands with that vision in mind. The 2019 Bulldog 100 recognized Onward Reserve as one of the fastest-growing organizations owned or operated by UGA alumni. 

For the Dawg fan, give the gift of Red and Black with a Bulldog-printed polo ($115), a UGA needlepoint flask ($65) or a “Run the Damn Ball” hat ($34.95). For the outdoorsman, equip adventure with a new cooler or a pair of shades. For the well-dressed, browse the Thomasville collection.  

Give a fellow Bulldog some red and black with a UGA needlepoint flask from Onward Reserve ($65).

To explore Onward Reserve, you can shop online or visit one of Onward Reserve’s 12 locations throughout Georgia and the South.  

The holidays have arrived! As you finish up your holiday shopping, we’re featuring UGA alumni-owned businesses that we can’t stop barking about. Give uniquely and support a Bulldog this holiday season with a Dawg-gone good gift.     

Want more Dawg-gone good gift ideas?

Dawg-gone good gifts: SculptHouse

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For the people on your gift list who live in athleisure attire, check out SculptHouse. 

SculptHouse is a fitness studio, activewear and lifestyle boutique with physical locations in Atlanta and Dallas and a robust online presence. It focuses on helping clients lead healthy, happy and confident lives through fitness and fashion. 

Founder and CEO Katherine Mason’s (ABJ ’12) built SculptHouse from her experience in New York City’s fitness industry. Mason launched SculptHouse to fill a void for effective, efficient workouts while also offering an extensive activewear line. SculptHouse Buckhead, its first location, opened in 2016, and a Dallas, Texas, location followed in 2019. This year’s 2022 Bulldog 100 recognizes SculptHouse as one of the fastest-growing organizations owned or operated by UGA alumni. 

SculptHouse sells everything you can think of when it comes to activewear: crop tops, leggings, lounge sets and more. SculptHouse also partners with Esseutesse to sell fringed-out, fun sneakers that ensure you’re putting your best foot forward.  

SculptHouse partners with Esseutesse to sell fringed-out, fun sneakers that ensure you’re putting your best foot forward.

 Browse SculptHouse gifts through the online store, or purchase a boutique gift card if you just can’t decide what to give. 

The holidays have arrived! As you finish up your holiday shopping, we’re featuring UGA alumni-owned businesses that we can’t stop barking about. Give uniquely and support a Bulldog this holiday season with a Dawg-gone good gift.     

Want more Dawg-gone good gift ideas?