Executive Leadership Speaker Series
Major General Janet A. Hicks, Commanding General of U.S. Army Signal School and Fort Gordon, will deliver an executive lecture on Tuesday, April 12 from 4 to 5 p.m., titled "Leadership Tips, Generally Speaking"... her personal views of leadership as they have worked for her throughout her career and how they are applicable to everyday life. Major General Hicks assumed command of the United States Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon on August 7, 2002. Just prior she served as the Director, Command, Control, Communication and Computer Systems, U.S. Pacific Command. Hicks is one of the highest ranking women in U.S. military history. Only six other women currently hold the rank of Major General. She is just six rungs below the President in the military's chain of command. Her awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, and the Humanitarian Service award. The speech, which is open to the public, will take place in Room 171 Student Learning Center.

ILA To Host Maximum Impact: The Influential Leader
Maximum Impact: The Influential Leader is one of the largest events of its kind in the world, yet still personal enough to impact you and your management team in measurable ways. On April 29, 2005, The Influential Leader will be the premiere leadership development experience that allows you and your team to learn from leadership authorities. The speakers for the day will include:

• Coach Mark Richt, University of Georgia Head Football Coach
• Coach Mike Krzyzewski, Duke Head Men's Basketball Coach
• Coach Bobby Bowden, Florida State University Head Football Coach
• Marcus Buckingham, best-selling author
• Patrick Lencioni, Founder and President of The Table Group, Inc.
• Michael Gerber, Chairman of E-myth
• Jackie, Freiberg, author
• Dr. Gary Bradt, author
• General Charles C. Krulak, Chief Administrative Officer of MBNA America

Click here for more information.

Teaching Leadership Workshop
The Teaching Leadership Workshop conducted by ILA will be held May 16-18 at the Atlanta Executive Education Center, One Live Oak, 3475 Lenox Road, Atlanta, GA 30326. Faculty members who want to increase the leadership dimension within their management courses, who are or will be teaching courses in leadership, and who want to expand their knowledge of leadership should attend, along with administrators who are interested in designing student leadership programs and coursework. For registration and reservations contact the Office of Executive Programs at (706) 425-3051 or click here for more information.

ILA hosted senior executives from its seven corporate partners on Tuesday, Feb. 1, at the college's Atlanta Executive Education Center. The board members received a briefing on the college from Dean George Benson, as well as an update on their partner benefits, including student recruitment, information on the latest leadership trends and research, and upcoming events. The board also held a strategy session on plans for the ILA Corporate Partner Program. Future partner activities, leadership topics of interest, and recruitment of additional partners all were discussed. The board visit ended with a tour of the new facility. Those attending the meeting were: Paul McLaughlin, BB&T; Rocky Rief, The Coca-Cola Company; John Clary, Philip Morris, USA; Dona McConnell, Primerica; Dennis Donovan, The Home Depot; Christy Bell, The Home Depot; Steve Goodroe, dunnhumby, USA; and representatives from Terry College.

Waffle House has always been about people from humble beginnings working hard to be successful, the company's CEO, Joe Rogers Jr., told students at an ILA event in Sanford Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 16. Rogers explained to students in the Leonard Leadership Scholars program and the MBA program how he began his Waffle House career on Labor Day 1955 as "window washer" when the very first restaurant opened in the Atlanta suburb of Avondale Estates. He eventually worked his way up to dishwasher at age 14, making 30 cents an hour. Unfortunately, he got charged for every broken plate. "Some weeks I got my pay envelope and there was nothing in it," he recalled.

At a guest lecture Thursday, Feb. 17, at the Terry College, Equifax CEO Tom Chapman said he'd found "The Wizard of Oz" to be a most effective allegory for teaching about leadership. After all, he said, the qualities sought by the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodsman are the same qualities any leader needs to be a successful: courage, intellect and heart. "Leaders better have a strategy, they better know what brick road they're on, where it's going and who's leading them down that road," said Chapman, who is retiring at the end of this year after 17 years at Equifax -- the last 9 as CEO. Chapman's appearance at the ILA Executive Leadership Speaker Series was co-sponsored with UGA's Department of Housing and Consumer Economics.

Annual Report Available
The newest annual report is now available on the web. Please click here to see ILA's many activities and accomplishments for 2003-2004.

ILA Photo Gallery
Check out pictures from ILA events.

Summer Grants Awarded
This year the Leadership Research Consortium will sponsor several research projects from throughout Terry College. Summer support and/or expense grants have been awarded to the following faculty:

Allen C. Amason, Associate Professor of Management, "Are They Really Worth the Money? A Study of CEO Salaries"

Mark C. Dawkins, Associate Professor of Accounting, "Management Turnover and Pre/Post Bankruptcy Performance"

Melenie J. Lankau, Assistant Professor of Management, "Executive Coaching: Exploring Antecedents and Outcomes"

James C. Linck, Assistant Professor of Finance, "Corporate Governance and Firm Survival"

Ronald Warren, Associate Professor of Economics, "Policies, Institutions, and the Comparative Performance of American and European Labor Markets"

Spring Semester Welcome Back Social
The L.E.A.D. officers hosted a welcome back social on February 10 at Taco Mac. Door prizes were given out for leadership quotes brought by the students. Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to get to know each other a little better.

Community Service Projects
New York Family - During the course of last semester, five L.E.A.D. students went out of their way to ensure that one particular family in New York received a well deserved Christmas. The Thompson family lived in substandard conditions with little to no money to spend on clothes, much less purchase Christmas presents for their five children. Eric Gilmore (Journalism), Romanda Jones (Accounting), Preston Martin (Furnishings), Joey Pella (Marketing), and Priti Taparia (International Business) made up the team of "Helping Hands" that helped this family in their hour of need by collecting money and donations from local businesses to fulfill the Christmas wishes of all of the Thompson.

Food Bank - On February 23, the L.E.A.D. students volunteered their time and effort at the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia. Over twenty students helped sort and fill over 80 boxes of food and other supplies such as toiletries, medicine, and home care items that will be distributed out into the community. Jennifer Geller (International Business/Finance), Vice President of Community Relations for the L.E.A.D. program, commented that "at least four supervisors came over while we were there and commended our hard work. I think overall we did a great job, and we look forward to more good turnouts to community service projects like the Food Bank." The L.E.A.D. program will be hosting another community service event at the Soup Kitchen of Athens on March 22 for all that would like to attend.

L.E.A.D. Student Spotlight - Leigh Foisy
As president , Leigh Foisy (Public Relations) has been instrumental in effective changes being made in the L.E.A.D. Certificate program. Click here to read more about her thoughts and vision for the future.

Scholars Visit The Coca-Cola Company
Earl Leonard and a handful of Coca-Cola's finest welcomed the scholars to the beautiful worldwide headquarters of The Coca-Cola Company on February 2. The day included lunch with Earl Leonard, Scott Williamson, Director of Communications for Coca-Cola North America Division and Jeff Foote, Director of Water Resources and Environment. The rest of the agenda included a tour of the facilities and a panel discussion with some Coca-Cola employees that shared personal experiences with the group and then fielded questions. Read the full story here.

Scholars Give Back To Women's Community
Five seniors Scholars completed their capstone community service project by successfully kicking off a free monthly women's health program on February 1st entitled "Healthy Hour". Mai-Lise Nguyen (Marketing), Emily Magill (Finance), Tim Price (Finance), Nipul Patel (Finance) and Justin Golshir (Finance) have been collaborating with Athens Regional Medical Center since September and have created a program for all women to learn the latest health developments from leading health practitioners. There were over 150 community members in attendance at the kick-off event at the Foundry Spa and it was hailed a great success. Director of Corporate Communications for Athens Regional, Elaine Cook said, "The students have been truly inspirational. They have taken this project to the next level, and it is so reassuring to see that the best and brightest know they can do well by doing good."

Scholars Speak Out
Tim Price Speaks At Leadership Summit - Seventy-five students from the Gilmer High School Youth Council attended Leadership Summit 2004, at picturesque Camp Cohutta near Chatsworth back in October. Tim Price (Finance), 2005 Scholar, gave a speech that focused upon the cultivation of good leadership skills and qualities. There was a great deal of interaction between the youth group and Price throughout the day, which led to a very successful presentation. "A carefully defined purpose is what creates a successful leader," said Price. He concluded by asking the students to look for that leadership potential and, once it is recognized, to step forward and seize the opportunity!

Scholars Speak at University Optimist Club - Lindsey Giffin (International Business) and Ilya Gokman (Accounting) spoke to a meeting of the University Optimist Club. Lindsey and Ilya introduced the Leadership Scholars program and more broadly, the Institute for Leadership Advancement, to the members of the club. They shared their commitment to community service and servant leadership as well as a shared interest in the READY Project at Clarke Central High school.

Scholars Honored
Women's Hoops - Dean George Benson was on hand Sunday afternoon, February 27, to help honor members of the Georgia women's basketball team on Senior Day. Katie Neece(Economics), a Student Team Manager and Scholar, was honored in a pre-game ceremony at Stegeman Coliseum. Dean Benson was on court for the ceremony to present Katie with a Terry College gift bag.

Rotary Scholarship Awarded - Sonia Dowla (Accounting) was awarded a Rotary scholarship to study in Oslo this summer at the International Summer School at the University of Oslo.