Taking Flight – December 2014 Edition
Message from the Dean
It’s been said, joy doesn’t make us grateful, rather gratitude makes us joyful. Well, as we come to the end of the year, I am feeling a great deal of both gratitude and joy.
We’ve had a good year in the College of Business. We’ve seen nearly a thousand students graduate. One of those graduates was my own daughter, but they all are now alumni, whose lives and successes will make a positive difference in the world and reflect well on the Georgia Southern brand. We offered a heartfelt farewell to retiring faculty and staff who invested their careers in this College, helping to make it what it is today. We hired new faculty whose talents and accomplishments are nothing short of exceptional. We’ve seen our Online MBA program ranked among the best in the nation, and we effectively merged our entrepreneurship, small business, and economic development programs to create the Business Innovation Group (BIG), a unique, one stop shop for innovation and economic growth. Indeed, it’s been a good year, and the future grows brighter with each passing day.
So, as this year draws to a close, I am very grateful for the opportunity to work with such a great team. I am grateful for Georgia Southern and its legacy, and I am especially grateful for our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends who continue to invest in us their time, talents, and treasure. If gratitude makes us joyful, then I come to the end of 2014 full of joy about the present and full of anticipation about the future.
Alumni Spotlight: Kim Hartsock
Kim Hartsock, CPA is a member of the Georgia Southern graduating class of 2001, where she received her B.B.A. and Master of Accounting and was a member of Beta Alpha Psi National Accounting Fraternity. Kim has excelled in her 13-year accounting career, while also making an impact on her profession, her community, and those around her.
Kim is a Partner in the Atlanta office of Warren Averett, one of the top national CPA and advisory firms in the U.S. Kim was named Partner at the age of 33, making her one of the youngest women in the Firm to attain this level. Kim has been with Warren Averett (formerly known as GH&I) for 11 years where she leads the Audit Division and is a member of the Firm’s Emerging Executive Group, Nonprofit Industry Group, as well as the Construction Industry Group. Her experience includes working with engineering firms, general contractors, subcontractors, and associated consulting companies. Kim also works with a variety of nonprofit clients.
Not only has Kim excelled within the Firm, she has also made many contributions to the accounting profession and women’s initiatives. Kim played a large role in founding the Leading Edge Alliance Young Professionals Special Interest Group. In 2004, she founded GH&I’s Young Leaders Group to create leadership opportunities for young professionals and helped launch the Firm’s annual community service day. She currently acts as a key leader in the Women of Warren Averett mentor program. This year, Kim was named one of the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Top 40 Under 40, as well as to the Georgia Southern Alumni Association Top 40 Under 40 Class of 2014. Kim is also a member of the Georgia Southern University College of Business Young Alumni Board, Georgia Southern University Eagle Executive Society, Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA), American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountant (GSCPA), and Atlanta Business League Bridge Program mentor.
In addition to her fast track career, Kim stays invested in philanthropic needs across her community, including 11 years of volunteering with Susan G. Komen of Greater Atlanta, serving as treasurer for 5 years and currently serving as the Board president. Kim also serves as a small group leader at Gwinnett Church in their UpStreet environment and has served on two international teams with GlobalX.
Kim lives in Duluth, GA with her husband, Steven, their 3 children, Caroline, Ben, and Sullivan, and their newest family member, Henry, a Golden Doodle. She can usually be found cheering on the kids at baseball, wrestling, and cheerleading.
Fall Commencement & Graduate Brunch
On Friday, December 12, Georgia Southern University held its 23rd Annual Fall Commencement in Hanner Fieldhouse. During the 9 AM graduation ceremony for the Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies, College of Education, College of Business Administration, and the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Rob Anderson, University System of Georgia vice chancellor for educational access and success provided the commencement address. Anderson’s focus is in the areas of student access and financial aid policy with a particular interest in merit aid programs and their impact on institutional and student outcomes. Two more commencement ceremonies were held at 11 AM and 1 PM. The commencement ceremonies were streamed live at GeorgiaSouthern.tv, and this fall’s social media handle was #GSGrad14.
Immediately following the College of Business Commencement ceremony, the College hosted a Graduate Brunch for its master level students at the Russell Union Ballroom. Graduate students and their families enjoyed food provided by Dining Services, while chatting with their classmates and professors.
Photos of the Collge of Business Graduate Brunch
Augusta Eagle Executive Exchange
Save the Date for the upcoming Augusta Eagle Executive Exchange—Connecting the Eagle Executive Network—for Thursday, January 15 from 5:30 – 7:30 PM at Savannah Rapids Pavilion. Sponsored by Georgia Bank & Trust.
BIG Maker Day
by Suzanne Hallman, BIG Business Advisor
Another great Global Entrepreneurship Week is in the books. The week started off with the mayor’s proclamation, read by Councilman Boyum. The proclamation gave a brief summary of Global Entrepreneurship Week as an initiative aimed at young people all over the world to connect, inspire, mentor, and engage the next generation of entrepreneurs.
This proclamation is just one of the many ways that the City of Statesboro continues to show support for the efforts of the Business Innovation Group (BIG) at City Campus. The Georgia Southern City Campus is thankful to have the City of Statesboro as a partner.
The week continued with lectures from area experts. Ron Kirby gave a motivational talk on Wednesday evening about leadership and guiding a team after which an intimate networking event at Eagle Creek Brewery was enjoyed. The City Campus entrepreneur speakers finished up on Thursday morning with the first webcast, ProBid procurement session, featuring Gulfstream.
The highlight of the week definitely came at the end with the first ever BIG Maker Day on Saturday. This was the first attempt at a maker fair type of event. The purpose was to build excitement and intrigue of what’s to come with the area’s first Digital Fabrication Laboratory (FabLab). BIG Maker Day landed on the heels of the OneGeorgia grant award which will help fund the equipment for the FabLab.
Regular Farmer’s Market grazers wandered over to see what the excitement was all about. Spectators were amazed by sample products, provided by Technical Training Aids, made by a 3D printer similar to what will be available when the FabLab opens. Kids also enjoyed constructing Build and Grow kits provided by Lowe’s.
Spectators and attendees alike were especially captivated by the BIG Cornhole Catapult Workshop and Competition. Eight teams arrived at 9 AM Saturday morning to begin constructing catapults. The Maven Makers of Savannah, Ty Donaldson and Tim Cone, brought lumber and other materials, giving each team the same “kit” to make the catapults. It was especially intriguing to watch as teams got creative and made modifications in hope of increasing their chances of winning.
Teams ranged from middle school-aged kids to hobbyists and professionals. BIG thanks all the team members who participated: M Squared, The Bright Knights, Statesboro High School, The Lobbits, Boro Take Out, Spencer and the Red Beards, Trubert, and Team Brodie.
M Squared seemed to have a pretty accurate catapult during first adjustments. Team members experimented by adding more weight to gain distance but had a devastating malfunction when the load became too much for the bucket to hold. They recovered well and had a good showing in the three rounds of general competition.
The other teams had a few hits here and there landing a bag or two on the boards. They all had their fair share of misses as well. Spencer and the Red Beards, led by Councilman Boyum, placed third. Their catapult seemed deadly accurate, but a little too much arc resulted in bags hitting and bouncing off the board.
Trubert and Team Brodie found themselves in a sudden death fourth round match. Both teams tied with five points each at the end of round three. Trubert, consisting of Robert Faller and True West, landed one more bag in sudden death; however, it was Team Brodie that went home with the bounty by landing two bags. Congratulations to Cleve, Lori, and Bryce Kinard and Austin Lasota for taking home the first place chalice.
BIG thanks everyone who participated, especially Sea Island Bank for providing tailgate chairs and Robert Faller for making a beautiful set of custom cornhole boards for the winners. Most of all, City Campus thanks our outstanding volunteers and staff, along with the Maven Makers for creating custom chalices for the winners and moderating such an enjoyable event in Downtown Statesboro. City Campus appreciates all of the support and looks forward to building upon this momentum to cultivate the creative culture in our region.
GEICO Associates, Macon Representing the Eagle Nation
A group of GEICO claims associates, who work in the Southeast Claims Center in Macon got together for a photo. All are College of Business Eagles.
Get Social with the College of Business
At the College of Business, we love interacting with our Eagle Executive family through social media. Social media sites, such as Facebook (facebook.com/gasouthernbusiness), Twitter (@AllenAmason), Google+ (Georgia Southern University College of Business), and LinkedIn (Georgia Southern University- College of Business Administration), allow us to give our alumni, parents, students, potential students, and many others an inside look at our great College of Business and all we have to offer.
Happy Holidays!
From the Georgia Southern University College of Business Administration
Last updated: 3/11/2022
