UGA Alumni Association: Executive Director's Blog

Georgia’s Power List: 24 UGA Alumni Named Among 100 Most Influential Georgians

Georgia Trend magazine recently released its “Top 100 Most Influential Georgians” list for 2013. These Georgians are exerting their influence in our state’s business dealings, philanthropic endeavors and politics. As Georgia Trend puts it, they “impact how we live, how we vote, how we buy and how we give.”

This year’s list includes 24 UGA alumni:

· Dan Amos (BBA ’73) Chairman & CEO Aflac

· John D. Barge (EDD ’04) State School Superintendent

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

· Jason Carter (JD ’04) State Senator

· Saxby Chambliss (BBA ’66) U.S. Senator

· Chris Cummiskey (BBA ’96) Commissioner: Georgia Department of Economic Development

· Rob Gibson (AB ’81) Executive & Artistic Director: Savannah Music Festival

· Hank M. Huckaby (matriculate ’06) Chancellor, Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia

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

· Reynold Jennings (BSPH ’69) President & CEO WellStar Health Systems

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

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

· Jack Kingston (AB ’78) U.S. Congressman

· Timothy Mescon (PHD ’79) President: Columbus State University

· Charlotte Nash (BBA ’75) Chairman: Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners

· Dink NeSmith (ABJ ’70) President/Co-owner, Community Newspapers, Inc.
Chairman, Board of Regents

· Alec Poitevint (AB ’02) Chairman & President: Southeastern Minerals Inc.

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

· Lynn Smith (BSED ’68) State Representative

· Kessel D. Stelling Jr. (BBA ’78) Chairman & CEO: Synovus

· Natasha Trethewey (AB ’89) United States Poet Laureate

· T. Rogers Wade (matriculate ’63) Chairman: Georgia Public Policy Foundation

· Yvonne D. Williams (ABJ ’78) President: Perimeter Community Improvement Districts

· Sally Quillian Yates (ABJ ’82, JD 1986) U.S. Attorney: Northern District of Georgia

I am pleased to see so many alumni of UGA on this list, in addition to University of Georgia President Michael F. Adams, and the imprint they are leaving on our state. My congratulations to them all.

See the complete list of influential Georgia, please click here.

Recent Entries

06.17.2013

Forrest Griffin (AB ’03) retires from UFC

Forrest Griffin (AB ‘03) is hanging up his gloves as an Ultimate Fighting Challenge competitor. The alumnus has been a UFC fighter for eight years and played a major role in the company’s success.

Griffin was cast in the first season of The Ultimate Fighter, which he won after the live finale that has since been deemed one of UFC’s hallmark fights. During his career, Griffin went 19-7 in MMA fights and 10-5 in UFC fights. Adam (BSBE ’98, MS ’07) and Rory (BSBE ’99) Singer, owners of Bulldog 100 business Athens Fitness & MMA, played an integral role in launching Griffin’s career.

Griffin cites his health as the main reason for going into retirement. Despite his great MMA and UFC success, he has suffered a number of injuries during fights. He is expected to take on a position with UFC in the near future.

Congratulations on a successful career, Forrest – you are one tough Bulldog! I look forward to seeing what this next step on your UFC journey has in store for you.

This article was sourced from USA Today.

06.14.2013

UGA young alumni to gather at SweetWater Brewing Company tonight

Each summer, hundreds of young alumni descend upon SweetWater Brewing Company in Atlanta for an evening of networking and socializing. This year’s gathering will be held tonight from 9 p.m. to midnight – and it’s not too late for you to join in the fun!

Online registration has closed, but the Alumni Association invites you to still attend – attendees can register at the door for $30 per person.

This admission price includes a SweetWater pint glass for each attendee, beer tastings, and appetizers from the new Barberitos locations in Buckhead and Sandy Springs. In addition, the UGA Music Business Certificate Program helped coordinate the band for tonight’s evening, Universal Sigh out of Athens.

I hope you are able to make it tonight – the Young Alumni SweetWater Gathering is one of our most spirited events of the year and you won’t want to miss it!

To register for tonight’s event, please click here.

06.13.2013

William “Bill” Jenkins Stembler (JD ’71) + Georgia Theatre Company open new movie theatre in Athens

Tomorrow marks the opening of a new movie theatre in the Athens area – and a successful University of Georgia graduate is behind the business development.

William “Bill” Jenkins Stembler (JD ’71), the chairman and CEO of Georgia Theatre Company, oversees the operation of 326 auditoriums in 32 cities in Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and Virginia. He is the third generation to run the family-owned business headquartered on St. Simons Island.

Stembler currently serves on the board of visitors for the UGA School of Law. He is also on the executive committee and the board of directorsfor the Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Georgia.

The new University 16 Cinemas, a multi-million dollar complex with a full-service restaurant that serves beer and wine, is located in the new Epps Bridge Centre near the intersection of GA 316 and Loop 10. It also houses a party room for special events for up to 75 people. The grand opening will take place tomorrow, June 14.

However, locals can visit the new theatre tonight for just $2.50 per ticket. Proceeds from the ticket sales will go to Variety – The Children’s Charity of Georgia and the Oconee Food for Kids program.

Congratulations to Bill and Georgia Theatre Company on this new endeavor in Athens. Thank you for representing the University of Georgia so well!