President of Sales and Marketing, BiYork USA
Class of ’06 | Board Position: Member
Q: What is your career and how did Georgia Southern help you prepare for it?
A: I’m in the floor covering industry. I went to Georgia Southern back in 2006. I was the first attendee to go to the National Collegiate Competition, and I believe that’s still held in Kennesaw. Dr. Mullen had asked me to go and I went. That’s the best career fair that I have been a part of. There was a sales competition that was associated with it, but that was secondary to what? The job they’re offering. That was where I cut my teeth and found out more about the industry. It was an industry that I didn’t know anything about it going into, but it really brought a lot of exposure to life after college.
Q: What was your favorite part about being a Georgia Southern student and how has that impacted your engagement with the University through the Alumni Association?
A: My favorite part about being a student was the fact that Southern was still a small school with a good reputation. Academics were solid, and we had good athletics as well, but it was small so you got to know people. I think that helped because it was different from the people you grew up with. You had to cultivate relationships with new people, which from a business standpoint, is still what business is all about– creating relationships.
Q: What does it mean to you to be a part of Georgia Southern’s Alumni Association?
A: Being a part of the Alumni Association means a lot. To have the ability to be able to give back and see what the future holds, and to learn about where we’re headed as a university and how we can help to get us there. To me, it’s a way to give back financially, which we do, but there is also the ability to give back through other means. It has been very rewarding.
Q: What made you want to join Georgia Southern’s Alumni Board?
A: I wanted to join the Alumni Board because it’s being part of a bigger cause, and because it’s for the University, it’s always a special place to me. Growing up, I was the first of my entire family to go to college. That was a big shock. To see that and then have the ability to try to help other people achieve that as well. I have seen what it’s done for my life, and for my family’s life.
Q: How do you hope to grow the University during your term as a board member?
A: We want to grow it by making sure we are diverse and inclusive. I also want to grow things academically and figure out some of the challenges. One of the challenges is the fact that in 2008, there was a sharp drop off in the number of couples having kids. That is starting to affect universities in that they are struggling with enrollment. How do we think outside the box to get people to come to Georgia Southern to make sure that we can continue? What are the opportunities there to think outside of the box and have a way to draw people in? What are the forms of education as it changes to more of a virtual atmosphere? The professional workplace is changing as well, so we want to help guide that and watch it grow. I think it’s good because it’s a two fold deal. You take things that we do here in the business world and take them over to the education side of things. For me, it’s really just watching both sides grow, and using the opportunities to make sure we are leaving better than we found it.
Q: How can alumni get involved with the Alumni Association and why would you encourage them to do so?
A: It’s pretty simple. You can start by giving back from a monetary standpoint, but even if you don’t have the funds, you can get involved by being engaged with what is happening at the school, and promoting the school when you get the chance. If it has changed your life and if there is something beneficial to you from going there, telling people about it can go a long way. Giving is one way, but there are many other ways you can give without a financial contribution if you are not in the position for the resources.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to add about the Alumni Association, your time as a GS student, or the benefits to participating in alumni activities?
A: This is my first year on the board, and we have only had one board meeting so far. I learned a lot, I met a lot of interesting people who do a really good job of putting people on the board from all areas. There are people from the military, there’s doctors, there’s lawyers, there’s nonprofit. There are so many networking abilities. Everyone comes in, and we’re all here for the greater good: trying to promote the University, and figure out how we can continue to be successful and move it in the right direction. On top of that, I think when it’s over, there will be newfound relationships that you will continue to contact outside of the board. I am excited to meet new people, and to know that when we are working for this organization on the board, we are working toward one goal. We are one team moving in one direction.