The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center recognized 2023 award winners and sponsors during their annual conference on March 11, 2024.
“The recipients of these awards excel in their work with the business community, program development and representation of the UGA SBDC program,” said Allan Adams, state director. “We’re grateful for their contributions to our organization and are proud to recognize them for their efforts.”
Rick McMurtrey, area director at the UGA SBDC in Augusta, received the 2023 Consultant of the Year award. The award is given based on outstanding accomplishments during the year, including work with the business community, program development, research, publications, presentations, professional development activities, involvement in business-related organizations/projects/programs, and basic consulting and continuing education activities.
Macy Thomas, marketing manager at the UGA SBDC State Office, was selected as the 2023 Support Staff of the Year. The award is given based on outstanding performance in a support staff role.
The Consultant of the Year and the Support Staff of the Year awards were funded through a $25,000 endowment to UGA. Eric Bonaparte and his sister Carole created the endowment to establish the Eric Stanley Bonaparte Award Endowment Fund. The fund provides ongoing financial support for the UGA SBDC’s annual awards.
The Golden Bulldog Award was given to Regions Bank. This award is the UGA SBDC’s highest honor for sponsors of the UGA SBDC program. It is given to an organization that has cumulatively given more than $250,000 to the UGA SBDC.
Since 2019, Regions Bank has given $400,000 to the UGA SBDC. Regions Bank has supported educational small businesses classes across the state, including The Regions Bank Entrepreneurial Success Series, Starting a Business, Writing a Dynamic Business Plan, GrowSmart and programs geared toward International Trade and Agribusiness Financing.
In addition to the UGA SBDC, the impact of Regions Bank can be seen across campus and the state of Georgia. Regions Bank’s gifts have also supported community service-learning projects in the Institute for Leadership Advancement in the Terry College of Business and to endow a needs-based scholarship for deserving students from Georgia.
Pictured left to right:
Brandon Sherman
Vice President and Community Development Manager for Georgia and South Carolina Markets
James (Jim) Jones
Regions Bank
Senior Vice President, Market Executive
Bill Linginfelter
Regions Bank
District Director for Georgia/Carolinas, Market Executive Atlanta
Stacy Stanford
UGA Foundation
Senior Director for Business Engagement and Strategy
J.D. Mealor
Regions Bank
Senior Vice President
North Georgia Market Executive
The Innovation of the Year award was given to the Digital Marketing Bootcamp Team for their work in educating small business owners in rural Georgia how to grow their business through digital marketing. The team taught 18 bootcamp classes around the state in 2023, reaching 852 attendees.
The Innovation of the Year award is given to one or more faculty or staff member for developing an outstanding continuing education program, creation of process manuals, new or improved methodologies for office operations or consulting practices, new tool development, or other creation or modification of a program or service that results in a significant impact on the operations or services of the UGA SBDC.
Pictured:
Molly Knight Pettitt
Continuing Education Specialist
UGA SBDC State Office
Drew Tonsmeire
Area Director
UGA SBDC at Kennesaw State University
Robbie Parks
Business Consultant
UGA SBDC in Gainesville
Kyle Hensel
Director of Continuing Education
UGA SBDC State Office
Not Pictured:
Nadia Osman
Business Consultant
UGA SBDC in Savannah
The Director’s Award was given to the UGA SBDC in Macon for their work on the 2023 Women of Business event. The event secured $12,500 in private sponsorship dollars and $1,075 from the Lowry Harden Gillespie and Helen Barnett Gilliespie Fund. The event reached 48 attendees. Because of its success, Women in Business programs are expanding at UGA SBDC offices across the state.
The Director’s Award is given for a project or activity by a person, or UGA SDBDC office, that embodies the work of the UGA SBDC and makes a positive difference in their local community.
Pictured:
Allan Adams
State Director
Luis Mendez
Business Advisor
UGA SBDC in Macon
Lisa Rackley
Area Director
UGA SBDC in Macon
Trudy Lawrence
Program Coordinator
UGA SBDC in Macon
David Canady
Business and Leadership Advisor
UGA SBDC
Peter Williams
Senior Business Consultant
UGA SBDC in Macon
Not Pictured:
Jessica White
Business Consultant
UGA SBDC in Macon
Lisa Rackley is the recipient of the Robert T. Dixon Professionalism award. This award, given in memory and honor of Robert T. Dixon, recognizes a UGA SBDC faculty or staff who demonstrates Robert’s dedication and enthusiasm for the UGA SBDC and the organization’s values of authenticity, value, passion and impact.
Pictured:
Allan Adams
State Director
UGA SBDC
Lisa Rackley
Area Director
UGA SBDC
For the past 5 years, Bank OZK has partnered with the UGA SBDC on many different programs. Previously, they have sponsored the UGA SBDC GrowSmart program in the Gwinnett, Dekalb, Macon and Savannah markets. They are currently sponsoring four different Women’s Business Summits in the Dekalb, Rome, Macon and Athens Markets.
Pictured:
Cathy Bethune
Bank OZK
Community Development Manager
David Price
Bank OZK
President, Commercial Banking West Georgia
Wendy Frost
Bank OZK
Vice President, Commercial Banker
Matthew Oleson, business consultant at the UGA SBDC in Columbus, received the Rookie of the Year award. The Rookie of the Year is granted to a new consultant who has shown outstanding progress in building their consulting practice.
Throughout the year, there are many consultants that go above and beyond “the call of duty,” to ensure that their clients are taken care of and succeed. Each year the UGA SBDC names these deserving consultants Flewellen Award Winners.
This recognition is named for Dr. William Flewellen, who is considered to be the founding father of the national SBDC program, in addition to being the first State Director of the UGA SBDC over 30 years ago.
2023 Award Winners, pictured left to right, include:
Troy Vollenweider
Business Consultant,
UGA SBDC at University of West Georgia
Peter Williams
Senior Business Consultant
UGA SBDC in Macon
Todd Anduze
Area Director
UGA SBDC at University of West Georgia
Alyssa Foskey
Area Directory
UGA SBDC at Valdosta State University
Thomas Credle
Business Consultant
UGA SBDC in Columbus
Daniel McCoy
Senior Business Consultant
UGA SBDC at Kennesaw State University
For More Information: University of Georgia SBDC | (706) 542-2762
All programs of the UGA SBDC are open to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance.
Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The University of Georgia
Small Business Development Center
382 East Broad Street
Athens, GA 30602-5412
P: (706) 542-2762
