Think like Erk.
That’s the mantra Georgia Southern University alumnus Sriravong Sriratanakoul (‘04, ‘06) has used since his days in Statesboro.
He’s a production control and material control specialist for the new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) plant in Bryan County, Georgia. As a leader for a growing team, he’s playing an active role in building the culture of his environment.
While doing so, he’s often reminded of the GATA spirit that Georgia Southern’s legendary football coach Erk Russell instilled in his players, who won three national championships. GATA is deeply ingrained in Southern’s athletics culture.
Sriratanakoul uses that spirit to this day.
“HMGMA is a true startup,” he said. “I’m able to dive right in with no fear like Coach Russell and Georgia Southern football. I have the GATA mantra.”
He credits Georgia Southern’s emphasis on people and culture for shaping his leadership style. Outside of the influence of Russell, he recalled his mentors at Campus Recreation while he was a graduate student. His campus recreation leadership team invested personally in students and helped foster a welcoming environment, which served as the foundation during his early days with HMGMA.
“There are a lot of projects that we’re doing that a lot of manufacturing companies aren’t doing,” he said. “There are some challenges along the way, but having the support of my leadership is the biggest thing.”
While he builds his GATA team in the shop, he’s also building his GATA team at home.
For Sriravong, Georgia Southern wasn’t just where he earned his degrees. It’s where he found his future. He met Katie (Lamothe) Sriratanakoul (‘04, ‘06), now his wife, during their senior year as criminal justice majors. At the time, Katie was also the captain of the Southern Pride color guard, which matched Sriravong’s passion for Eagle football.
Their connection to each other and to the University grew quickly. Both chose to stay at Georgia Southern for graduate school, as Sriravong pursued a master’s in public administration and Katie studied information technology.
Meanwhile, they both found their first post-graduation jobs on the Statesboro Campus. Sriravong served in the Office of Student Activities and Katie in the Henderson Library.
By then, their lives were intertwined with the University. When it came time to make their lifelong commitment to each other official, there was no question about using a Georgia Southern backdrop to tie the knot.
They were married in 2008 at the Botanic Garden in Statesboro surrounded by the very place that brought them together. They had a number of options around campus they were considering to be wed, but the Botanic Garden was always their number one choice.
“Every time we go out of town to visit her parents, we go to the botanical gardens up there and we take walks,” he said. “Our Botanic Garden was just a place that was very special to us.”
Since then, the young couple has stayed local and have been building careers in the Coastal Empire. Katie is working as librarian for Carver Elementary School in Richmond Hill, Georgia, continuing her legacy from when she was a student working in the Henderson Library.
After spending over a decade working at Georgia Ports, he’s Soaring Beyond in his new role in logistics and supply chain management.
On top of that, his home in Richmond Hill has four Georgia Southern University diplomas hanging on the wall and two kids preparing to continue their family legacy at Georgia Southern.