New SRTC President

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

GLASS NAMED SRTC PRESIDENT

James “Jim” Glass , provost at Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC), has been named president of the college , which encompasses several campuses including one in Tifton .

Georgia Technical College System Commissioner Matt Arthur made the appointment , which was announced late Tuesday afternoon after being approved by the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia in Atlanta .

“Jim has dedicated his career to advancing opportunity for students through education,” said Arthur. “Whether as a teacher early in his career at Dougherty High School in the 1980s or in his latest position as provost at S outhern Regional Technical College , Jim works every day to help students reach their full potential . He will be a great leader of the college to continue its legacy of developing a skilled workforce for the region.”

Glass has worked at SRTC for four years since merging with Moultrie Technical College in 2015 , where he had worked since 2003 . Glass began his postsecondary career as director of instruction for Albany Technical College in 1999 . Before his leadership roles at Georgia technical colleges, he spent 13 years in secondary education as a teacher, assistant principal and principal in Albany .

“I am honored to be chosen as Southern Regional Technical College ’s next president ,” Glass said.

“It is an exciting time to be in technical education , and I am committed to building a skilled workforce for business and industry while ensuring each and every person interested in pursuing postsecondary education at our college is given the opportunity to do so.”

Glass holds an associate of science degree from South Georgia College , a bachelor of arts degree in history from Augusta State University and a master of education degree from Georgia Southwestern State University . He will assume his new role July 1 .

SRTC has instructional sites in Colquitt, Decatur, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Thomas, Tift, Turner and Worth counties.

Being sworn in as GMA officers on Monday in Savannah are, from left, Third Vice President and Tifton Mayor Julie Smith, Second Vice President and LaGrange Mayor Jim Thornton, and First Vice President and Union City Mayor Vince Williams.

TIFTON MAYOR ELECTED

3rd VP OF GA CITIES GROUP

JULIE SMITH TO HELP LEAD GEORGIA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION

Tifton Mayor Julie Smith was elected third vice president of the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) during the association’s annual meeting earlier this week in Savannah .

Smith is now in line to become president in 2022 of the 500-plus member organization.

Smith , who co-founded Advantage Realty in 2007 , was elected as the first female mayor of Tifton in 2015 . Within GMA , she has served as a member of the Board of Directors since 2015 and a member of the Executive Committee . Along with earning more than 90 hours of training through the Howard Holtz Leadership Institute , she also serves on the GMA Training Board . In addition, she is a past member of the Member Services Advisory Council .

“ Mayor Smith is well respected by city officials around the state ,” said GMA Executive Director Larry Hanson . “She understands the issues cities face and the important role of GMA in supporting cities . We look forward to her continued leadership in this new role.”

Earlier this year, Tift County Commissioner Melissa Hughes was elected third vice president of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia . Both Hughes and Smith are now in line to become presidents of their respective county and city associations at the same time .

This year’s GMA president is Dublin Mayor Phil Best . The GMA first vice president is Union City Mayor Vince Williams , the second vice president is LaGrange Mayor Jim Thornton .

Mayor Smith , City Council members, City Manager Pete Pyrzenski and city staff along with city leaders from across Georgia met in Savannah for the 86th Annual GMA Convention, held from Friday, June 21, through Tuesday . The GMA 2019 Annual Convention’s theme was “Cities United: Lead to Succeed.” The event took place at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center .

Tifton officials at the GMA meeting in Savannah attended educational classes on such topics as finance, downtown development and service delivery . Both Smith and Pyrzenski led classes attended by officials from across the state .

Based in Atlanta , GMA is a voluntary, nonprofit organization that provides legislative advocacy, educational, employee benefit and technical assistance services to its 538 member cities .

Student Ellis Stone of Eighth Street Middle School placed first nationally at a competition in Orlando for future health professionals.

EIGHTH STREET MIDDLE STUDENT PLACES FIRST IN NATIONAL COMPETITION

Ellie Stone , an eighth-grade student at Eighth Street Middle School , won first place nationally in speaking skills at the HOSA (Future Health Professionals) International Leadership Conference last week in Orlando, Fla.

HOSA , which formerly was an acronym for Health Occupations Students of America , is a national student organization for health education and biomedical sciences providing opportunities to future health professionals .

Ellie had previously placed third in the Georgia state HOSA competition in Atlanta .

During the International Leadership Conference , held June 19-22 at Disney World's Coronado Springs Resort , a team from Eighth Street Middle School in Tifton also placed fourth nationally in health education competition .

TIFTON CHAMBER NAMES BUSINESSES OF MONTH

At last Thursday's Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce membership meeting , Conger LP Gas ( Dan Richardson and his crew are pictured above) was recognized with the Large Business of the Month award, while Plantation 59 Apparel Company (owner Kristen Hall is pictured below) received the Small Business of the Month award. Both businesses were selected by the Chamber's Business & Workforce Education committee after being nominated by Chamber members.

COLONY BANK CFO RETIRING

Colony Bank has announced that Terry L. Hester , executive vice president, chief financial officer and secretary of Colony Bankcorp Inc., plans to retire in December .

"We are grateful for Terry's 42 years of service to Colony . Terry played a significant development role in executing our strategic plan, and we look forward to his continued involvement as a member of the Board of Directors ," said Heath Fountain , president and chief executive officer.

Hester , a Fitzgerald native, graduated from Fitzgerald High and received a bachelor of business administration in accounting from Valdosta State College in 1976 . His banking career began in 1977 at The Bank of Fitzgerald . He went on to graduate from the Georgia Bankers Association Bank Operations School in 1980 .

Hester has been a volunteer coach in the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Department of Leisure Services Youth Recreational Programs for many years. He has coached the 15- and 16-year-old Fitzgerald Pioneers baseball teams and has been manager for the American Legion Post 99 baseball team.

He has been the "Voice of the 'Canes" and recently celebrated his 21st year providing play-by-play action of Fitzgerald High baseball games on the radio .