James March-April 2025 web - Flipbook - Page 33
33
PAUL SHAILENDRA
JEFF SPRECHER
PRESIDENT, SG PROPERTY SERVICES
CEO, INTERCONTINENTAL EXCHANGE
This prominent commercial real
estate executive does business
throughout the Southeast.
Shailendra is also a major Georgia
Tech alumnus and booster, serving on the
school’s board for the College of Civil &
Environmental Engineering. The avid
outdoorsman also serves on the board for the
Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
This Atlanta billionaire and former
James “Georgian of the Year” (along
with wife Kelly Loeffler) founded
ICE as an energy-trading start-up
in 2000. A series of acquisitions led to the
company acquiring the New York Stock
Exchange in 2013, where Sprecher has served
as chairman ever since.
MICHAEL “SULLY” SULLIVAN
SACHIN SHAILENDRA
PRESIDENT, SG CONTRACTING
For two productive years, ending in
January 2022, the well-connected
businessman effectively chaired
the University System Board of
Regents. He enjoys “building things,” and his
company’s record of projects reads like a
“Wall of Fame” among subcontractors,
architects and designers. He chairs the
Rowen Foundation, overseeing development
of a 2,000-acre Gwinnett County “knowledge
community” which is envisioned to be a
global research destination.
ALANA SHEPHERD
CO-FOUNDER, SHEPHERD CENTER
The world-renowned rehabilitation
center in Atlanta continues to grow
thanks to the able guidance and
vision of founder Alana Shepherd,
James’ 2023 “Georgian of the Year.” A
trailblazer in the Atlanta community for
decades, she has served as chair of the
Buckhead Coalition and on the boards of
companies like Genuine Parts and Wachovia
Bank of Georgia.
JAMIE SHEPHERD
PRESIDENT AND CEO, SHEPHERD CENTER
The newest generation of Shepherds to lead the Atlanta-based
rehabilitation hospital, Jamie is
ably following in his father’s and
grandparents’ footsteps. The Shepherd Center
continues to grow in both size and stature,
ranked a top 10 rehabilitation hospital in the
nation by U.S. News and World Report.
KIRBY SMART
HEAD FOOTBALL COACH, UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
The Bainbridge native took the
UGA football program back to the
promised land with back-to-back
national titles in 2021 and 2022
and remains at the pinnacle of his profession. College football is in a tumultuous
state between NIL and the wide-open
transfer portal but Bulldog fans would want
no one else leading their beloved program.
By the way, Smart is also the highest paid
football coach in the country.
PRESIDENT & CEO, AMERICAN COUNCIL OF
ENGINEERING COMPANIES OF GEORGIA
The former attorney has taken
ACEC Georgia to new heights as an
advocate for over 200 engineering
firms, one of the state’s hottest and
fastest-growing industries. He lends his
expertise to statewide and regional boards
including the Georgia Chamber, Georgia
Transportation Alliance, and Council for
Quality Growth.
ERIC TANENBLATT
PRINCIPAL, DENTONS
A former chief of staff to then-Gov.
Sonny Perdue, and well-connected
in Georgia’s political world,
Tanenblatt heads an impressive
public policy practice in the Dentons Atlanta
office. It is the world’s largest law firm with
an array of high-powered and effective
Georgia attorneys and lobbyists.
KEVIN TANNER
COMMISSIONER, GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
During his time in the Georgia
House of Representatives Tanner
was known as a tireless advocate
for mental health. That made him
the perfect choice for Gov. Brian Kemp as
commissioner of DBHDD, where he’s transformed the agency by reopening previously
offline crisis beds and enabling state hospitals to operate at nearly full capacity. Tanner
has also raised starting salaries for critical
clinical positions by nearly 20 percent,
helping to ease a staffing crisis.
BEN TARBUTTON, III
PRESIDENT, SANDERSVILLE RAILROAD COMPANY
Sandersville Railroad Company has
been a fixture in Washington
County for well over 100 years,
earning county seat Sandersville
the title of “Kaolin Capital of the World” after
the white clay used for a variety of commercial products and hauled by the short line
railroad. The eminently connected Tarbutton
is active on the local, state and even national
levels, previously serving as the chairman of
the state Board of Regents and currently on
the board of the Georgia Ports Authority.
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Tracy Brundage
Albany State University
Lawrence Drake (Interim)
Atlanta Metropolitan State College
Ingrid Thompson-Sellers
Augusta University
Russell Keen
Clayton State University
Georj Lewis
College of Coastal Georgia
Johnny Evans
Columbus State University
Stuart Rayfield
Dalton State College
John Fuchko
East Georgia State College
David Schecter
Fort Valley State University
Paul Jones
Georgia College
Cathy Cox
Georgia Gwinnett College
Jann Joseph
Georgia Highlands College
Mike Hobbs
Georgia Institute of Technology
Ángel Cabrera
Georgia Southern University
Kyle Marrero
Georgia Southwestern State University
Michelle Johnston
Georgia State University
Brian Blake
Gordon State College
Donald Green
Kennesaw State University
Kathy Schwaig
Middle Georgia State University
Christopher Blake
Savannah State University
Cynthia Robinson Alexander (Interim)
South Georgia State College
Gregory Tanner
University of Georgia
Jere Morehead
University of North Georgia
Michael Shannon
University of West Georgia
Ashwani Monga (Interim)
Valdosta State University
Richard Carvajal
