New Alumni Association Staff Members

Bob Taylor ABJ '83 Associate Executive Director
of Communications
Robert K. (Bob) Taylor ABJ '83 has been named associate executive director of communications for the University of Georgia Alumni Association. Taylor joins the Association after having served 9 years in UGA's Office of Public Affairs as its open records manager.

Executive Director Deborah Dietzler is extremely excited about Taylor joining the Alumni Association. "Bob brings a wealth of public relations experience to the table. He will be very important in formulizing our future strategic plans," said Dietzler.

The Columbus, Georgia native received his ABJ from UGA's Grady College of Journalism in 1983. He was an anchor-reporter at the South Carolina Radio Network in Columbia, South Carolina 1988-1991 and served as SCN's news director 1991-1993. He was press secretary, spokesman and speech writer for the late U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond during the South Carolina Republican's last Senate campaign race in 1996. Taylor also has held other public and private sector PR positions.

Taylor has been married 18 years to his wife Nancy who is a teacher's aide at Malcom Bridge Elementary School in Oconee County. They have one son, Seth, who is a 13-year-old 7th grader at Malcom Bridge Middle School. The Taylors are members of Athens First United Methodist Church. Taylor is an associate board member and Ambassador for the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce.

Julie Cheney BA '99 Regional Programs Coordinator
Julie Cheney BA '99 graduated from the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences in 1999. Previously, Julie worked with the UGA Alumni Association as the Membership Assistant where she was instrumental in forming the Student Alumni Membership program and the 100 Days Event. Julie is also a past board member of the Association. After three years as a Community Manager with American Cancer Society serving Clarke County and UGA, she returns to the Association as the Coordinator of Regional Programs. You can email Julie at jcheney@uga.edu or call her at 706-542-4802.

Meredith Carr BSFCS '00, Atlanta Programs Coordinator
Meredith Gurley Carr BSFCS '00 is working as a Program Coordinator for the UGA Alumni Association Atlanta Alumni Center. Meredith has been with UGA's External Affairs Division since 1998, first working for the UGA Foundation, then as the Alumni Relations and Annual Giving Coordinator for the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. After moving to Atlanta in 2001, Meredith filled a new position in Atlanta as the Atlanta Programs Coordinator, a position she held for 3 years. After being a stay-at home mom for two years, she has joined the UGA Alumni Association to plan programs and events for Alumni in the Atlanta area, once again.

Brandon Patten '00, Director of Membership
A cum laude graduate of the Terry College of Business, he earned his MBA from Regis University in 2004. Brandon joins the UGA Alumni Association staff after 6 years with Liberty Mutual Insurance Company where he most recently was Senior Regional Marketing Analyst. Brandon will oversee the membership programs of the Association. You can email him at cbpatten@uga.edu or call him at 706-542-2251.

Chardina Choate '05, Atlanta Programs Coordinator
A graduate of the College of Family and Consumer Sciences with a degree in Consumer Economics, Chardina Choate '05 joins the staff as the new Atlanta Programs Coordinator. She will design, implement, and facilitate a wide variety of programs and events for the UGA alumni living in the Atlanta area. While at the University of Georgia she was actively involved in University Union as a Student Activities Coordinator where she planned and executed numerous events. If you have any questions about upcoming Atlanta events, please contact Chardina Choate '05 at cchoate@uga.edu or call 404-266-2622.

Ruth Long, Student Programs and Member Discounts Coordinator
Ruth received her bachelors of science and business administration from University of Phoenix, Bellevue, WA campus while working full-time for Bechtel as the Warranty Administrator for a nationwide telecommunications project. She is certified in Medical Records Transcribing and was on the Advisory Board of an International transcription company by the age of 23. Ruth joins the Alumni Association staff with experience in creating training programs and planning events. She will oversee the UGA Alumni Association Student Programs including its signature events like Ring Week, Dinner with 12 Strangers and the Spring Ring Ceremony. In addition she will work with area and national vendors in securing member discounts for Alumni Association members.

John Finley '78, Associate Executive Director for Operations
Finley will oversee the Customer Service, Communications and Business functions of the Association. In addition to his UGA degree, John holds a Master of Arts degree in international relations from Boston College and is a graduate of the Defense Language Institute, the FBI National Academy and the US Army Command and General Staff College. In 1999, he retired as a lieutenant colonel from the US Army. An Alumni Association member, his outstanding leadership, organizational experience and skills will contribute greatly to the Association’s progress.

Diane F. Johnson, ’82, Associate Director of Membership and the Atlanta Alumni Center
Johnson is a 1982 Magna Cum Laude graduate of the University of Georgia School of Business and brings over 20 years of corporate sales management and marketing experience to the Alumni Association. A native of Atlanta, she has lived in the Athens area for over 14 years. She is a Life Member of the UGA Alumni Association and is a past board member of the Association.

Tami Gardner, Director of Regional Programs and Tours
Gardner has been in the field of Institutional Advancement since 1986. She started as the Assistant Director and later the Director of the Annual Fund at her alma mater, St. Andrews Presbyterian College in NC. After that she returned to her hometown of Brevard, NC and was employed by Brevard College as the Director of the Annual Fund. In 1993 she decided to switch sides and work in alumni relations at East Carolina University for four years and then Radford University for five years where her department received the CASE Award of Excellence for RU’s 2001 Homecoming program. In 2002 Gardner took the position of Director of Alumni Programs for the Alumni Association of the College of William & Mary in VA. Under her direction William & Mary’s Homecoming program received the CASE Award of Excellence for 2003.

Throughout her 19-year career she has also been the advisor for student organizations affiliated with either the Development Office or the Alumni Association. As a volunteer, Gardner has served on the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education’s (CASE) District Board as the Association of Student Advancement Program (ASAP) liaison. She co-chaired the CASE professional conference in 2003.

Amber Mangle ’03, Assistant Director of Communications
Mangle has worked for the University since 2002, most recently in the Department of University Housing. Amber has a degree in Agricultural Communications with a Public Relations and Environmental Sciences emphasis and was the Assistant to the Director of Public Relations for the Southeast United Dairy Association's "Got Milk" campaign in the summer of 2003. Amber will be assisting Director of Communications Emily Givens with various communications initiatives including the Association's monthly e-newsletter, daily Web updates, and project management of print and design jobs.

Randy Groomes ’92, Director of Multicultural Programming

Groomes will focus on networking with alumni and developing programming targeted to under-represented groups and build relationships with several constituent groups to encourage increased involvement with UGA Alumni Association and University activities. More

A graduate of the Terry College of Business, Randy has returned to the University of Georgia after working in several corporate positions and serving on the UGA Alumni Association’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee. “It is a wonderful privilege to be back at UGA working with the current students and alumni,” said Groomes.

Building on the work started by CASE Fellow, Jamie Johnson, Groomes plans to provide venues for alumni to network better among themselves. “There are thousands of UGA grads providing goods and services that other alums will use; we’ve just got to get them connected so they will know about them,” said Groomes. “We want to plan events that are fun and allow alumni to enjoy the camaraderie of old UGA friends in an environment that is conducive to alums with or without children.”

Under Groomes’ direction the program will utilize alumni to help the University recruit students of diversity.

Randy lives in Lawrenceville with his wife Tonya and two daughters. Alums who would like to volunteer with Multicultural Programs may contact Randy at rgroomes@uga.edu or (706) 542-8158.

Elizabeth (Beth) Crovatt ’02, Event Coordinator for the UGA Atlanta Alumni Center
Crovatt will coordinate reservations for events and meetings held at the UGA Atlanta Alumni Center. Beth has a degree in Public Relations from The Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. While in Athens Beth interned with Lee Epting Catering. A native of Savannah, she previously worked for The Hyatt Regency Savannah Catering Department. For more information on reserving space for a meeting or event at the UGA Atlanta Alumni Center please contact Beth Crovatt at bcro@uga.edu or (404) 495-1955.