On the Road with State of GA Leadership

How very important it is for me to attempt to keep in touch with our local legislative delegation along with key leadership in the Georgia House and Senate. Advocating for Columbus State University is key along with the challenge of conveying our brand and message. How we differentiate our great university from all others in the University System of Georgia is an ongoing challenge and bringing our message to state leadership represents an equally daunting effort. I traveled from Columbus to Americus to visit with the true "Dean of the Georgia Senate", Senator George Hooks. Senator Hooks has a wealth of experience and insights about the legislative process, great observations about decision-making under the gold dome and his downtown Americus business provided a great setting for a visit. Following my visit with Senator Hooks, I had the wonderful opportunity of visiting with Rep. Mike Cheokas and his wife Gaynor in Americus. Mike and I had the pleasure of attending high school together and it was a treat visiting with him in Americus. Mike is an entrepreneur and business owner and has great insights on the needs of small and emerging businesses in Georgia. The next day, I hit the road and met in Reidsville with State Senator Jack Hill. Sen. Hill is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and also serves on the Ethics, Natural Resources and the Environment, Regulated Industries and Utilities and Rules committees as well as exofficio for the Committee on Assignments and Finance Committees. Past chairmanships include: K12 Education, Ethics and Higher Education. We had a terrific visit and I learned a great deal about the appropriations process and the current budget challenges. I left Sen. Hill and made the short drive to Lyons and visited with Senator Tommie Williams. Senator Williams, a Republican, was first elected to the State Senate for Georgia’s 19th District in 1998. Sen. Williams represents Appling, Jeff Davis, Long, Montgomery, Toombs, Wayne and Wheeler counties and portions of Liberty and Tattnall counties. Sen. Williams serves as Senate President Pro Tempore, Georgia Senate Majority Leader. I visited with Senator Williams at his office and we discussed business, international affairs, art and the university system. From there I drove cross state to visit with Representative Jerry Keen in St. Simons the House Majority Leader. Rep. Keen currently serves on the Rules, Appropriations, Ethics, Insurance, and Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications committees. We had a very informative and interesting visit. I did so appreciate the time that Representative Keen and his colleagues spent with me. It was a great post-graduate learning experience and I look forward to more sessions in the future. I followed this visit with a call on my long-time friend Jack Dinos. Jack has one of the great entrepreneurial stories to tell and at one time had the nation's largest private label tea company. He has been a great friend and counselor and it was a treat to catch up with him. From St. Simons I drove to Atlanta to prepare for a University System of Georgia presidents meeting the next day.