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02.29.2012

Caterpillar Comes to Athens!

Thousands of jobs will soon be coming to the Classic City. Caterpillar Inc., primarily known for manufacturing and selling heavy machinery around the world, is building a $200 million dollar manufacturing plant on the Orkin land tract between Clarke and Oconee counties. The mega-sized facility will occupy over a million square-feet of land. Caterpillar’s plant will employ around 1,500 residents by 2020, and the overall project will bring 4,200 jobs to Athens. The region is expected to gain $2.4 billion dollars in revenue. Wages for employment in the plant will be at or above the median incomes for both Clarke and Oconee counties. Workers will be trained at Athens Tech, and most jobs will require either a high school diploma or a college degree.

The Caterpillar plant will likely be a game changer in the region.  Many local leaders, according to a recent article in Flagpole, had previously deemed Athens-Clarke County “business-unfriendly.” Senior executives within Caterpillar Inc., however, have stated that Athens is an inviting environment with a high quality of life. I think all of my fellow Bulldogs would certainly agree with that! When Caterpillar Inc. opens its facility in 2013, the new plant will be a welcome addition to our city. I can’t wait to see the positive impact it will surely have on our community!

You can read the full Athens Banner-Herald article here.

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06.18.2013

UGA alumnus receives 2013 Honorary State Degree from Florida FFA

Despite UGA’s longstanding rivalry with the University of Florida, UGA graduates are living south of the Georgia border and making great contributions to the Sunshine State.

This month, Ralph Garrison (BBA ‘75) was honored with the 2013 Honorary State Degree by Florida’s Future Farmers of America.

Deb Barry, a high school agriculture teacher in Florida, nominated Garrison because of his commitment to educating students in Florida’s Manatee County about agriculture.

According to the Bradenton Herald, the Honorary State Degree is the highest honorary award presented by the Florida FFA. It recognizes individuals who contribute to the advancement of agricultural education and provide outstanding service to the FFA program.

Garrison is a member of the Manatee County Farm Bureau board, where he has served as president for 12 years. He and his wife, Sandy, own and operate Suncoast Nursery in Bradenton, Fla., and take great pride in working with plants.

Congratulations on behalf of the UGA Alumni Association, Ralph. Best of luck in your future endeavors!

This blog post was sourced from the Bradenton Herald.

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06.17.2013

Forrest Griffin (AB ’03) retires from UFC

Forrest Griffin (AB ‘03) is hanging up his gloves as an Ultimate Fighting Challenge competitor. The alumnus has been a UFC fighter for eight years and played a major role in the company’s success.

Griffin was cast in the first season of The Ultimate Fighter, which he won after the live finale that has since been deemed one of UFC’s hallmark fights. During his career, Griffin went 19-7 in MMA fights and 10-5 in UFC fights. Adam (BSBE ’98, MS ’07) and Rory (BSBE ’99) Singer, owners of Bulldog 100 business Athens Fitness & MMA, played an integral role in launching Griffin’s career.

Griffin cites his health as the main reason for going into retirement. Despite his great MMA and UFC success, he has suffered a number of injuries during fights. He is expected to take on a position with UFC in the near future.

Congratulations on a successful career, Forrest – you are one tough Bulldog! I look forward to seeing what this next step on your UFC journey has in store for you.

This article was sourced from USA Today.

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06.14.2013

UGA young alumni to gather at SweetWater Brewing Company tonight

Each summer, hundreds of young alumni descend upon SweetWater Brewing Company in Atlanta for an evening of networking and socializing. This year’s gathering will be held tonight from 9 p.m. to midnight – and it’s not too late for you to join in the fun!

Online registration has closed, but the Alumni Association invites you to still attend – attendees can register at the door for $30 per person.

This admission price includes a SweetWater pint glass for each attendee, beer tastings, and appetizers from the new Barberitos locations in Buckhead and Sandy Springs. In addition, the UGA Music Business Certificate Program helped coordinate the band for tonight’s evening, Universal Sigh out of Athens.

I hope you are able to make it tonight – the Young Alumni SweetWater Gathering is one of our most spirited events of the year and you won’t want to miss it!

To register for tonight’s event, please click here.

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