TLSS Archives
W. Craig Barrs
Executive Vice President for External Affairs, Georgia Power
September 24, 2010
Audio Podcast
Craig Barrs (BBA ’80) has served as Georgia Power’s executive vice president of external affairs since January 2009. He is responsible for leading and directing the policies and activities of Community and Economic Development, Land, Diversity, Corporate Communication, and Governmental and Regulatory Affairs. Barrs joined Georgia Power in 1981 and has held a number of leadership positions, including area manager, manager of regulatory affairs, assistant to the president and CEO, and vice president of community and economic development. In 2005, he became a region vice president after leading the transition of Savannah Electric becoming part of Georgia Power. In 2008, he returned to Atlanta as vice president of governmental and regulatory affairs. Barrs serves on the Terry College Alumni Board and the Nature Conservancy’s board of trustees in Georgia. He is a graduate of Leadership Georgia and Leadership Athens.
Elisha Finney
Chief Financial Officer, Varian Medical Systems
October 8, 2010
Audio Podcast
Elisha Finney (BBA ’83) was named vice president for finance and chief financial officer of Varian Medical Systems in 1999. Today, she is responsible for directing corporate accounting, corporate communications and investor relations, internal audit, regulatory affairs, risk management, tax and treasury, business development, and corporate information systems. Varian Medical, of Palo Alto, Calif., is the world’s leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer with radiation. The company’s 2009 revenues totaled $2.2 billion. Finney was named Terry’s Risk Management and Insurance Alumna of the Year in 2005 and was named to the Terry Dean’s Advisory Council this past year. She has served on the board of Thoratec since 2007. She is a volunteer co-chair for the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation and serves on the Community Advisory Board of El Camino Women’s Hospital.
Dan T. Cathy
President and Chief Operating Officer, Chick-fil-A, Inc.
March 4, 2011
Audio Podcast
Video Webcast
As president of one of the nation’s largest family-owned businesses, Chick-fil-A’s Dan Cathy represents the next generation of leadership for the quick-service chicken restaurant chain founded by his father, S. Truett Cathy. Eager to incorporate his own skills and talents into the business, Dan has taken an unconventional, yet personally and professionally rewarding approach to Chick-fil-A leadership. He has challenged himself with upholding Chick-fil-A’s efforts to provide genuine, heartfelt hospitality and "second-mile" service, exceeding even the highest expectations of a typical fast food restaurant. Rather than leading from the corporate office in Atlanta, Cathy chooses to spend the majority of his time traveling to the chain’s growing family of about 1,500 restaurants and interacting directly with Chick-fil-A’s restaurant operators and team members. In 2008, BusinessWeek named Chick-fil-A among the top 25 "Customer Service Champs," and was one of only two restaurant concepts.
Jerry S. Wilson
Senior Vice President, Chief Customer and Commercial Officer, The Coca-Cola Company
March 25, 2011
Audio Podcast
Video Webcast
Jerry Wilson is a senior vice president at the Coca-Cola Company, where he serves as chief customer and commercial officer. In this role, he leads a global organization that is responsible for crafting and executing the company’s customer and commercial leadership strategy and agenda. He and his team lead the company’s global system in building mutually beneficial customer relationships, with a focus on best-in-class innovation, retail execution, consumer and shopper marketing, and revenue growth management. Wilson previously served as president of the Coca-Cola’s Global McDonald’s Division, where he was responsible for growing this important business alliance in 118 countries. Wilson started with Coca-Cola 21 years ago as an area account executive and, rising through the company, has distinguished himself as an inclusive leader who is committed to developing people, enhancing strategic alliances and driving innovative growth.
Contact Information
University of Georgia
301 Brooks Hall
