Issue 39 • February 20, 2026 • Athens, GA
Director's Letter
When Mother Nature decided to turn Athens into a giant snow cone not once, but twice in early 2026, the Georgia Center swooped in like a caped crusader for the University of Georgia's Office of Emergency Preparedness, Facilities Management Division and other campus partners. We became the ultimate fortress, housing around 100 fearless warriors who dodged icicles and snowdrifts to keep the campus from turning into a frozen tundra. These road-clearing, power-restoring, building-maintenance champs counted on our prime location to launch their missions faster than you can say "slippery slope." Kudos to our entire crew for morphing into the new designation as the UGA OEP command center—talk about turning a frosty fiasco into flawless coordination where we emerged as shining stars of public service. Our guest services squad deserves a standing ovation (or at least a warm blanket) for transforming the Georgia Center into a cozy retreat for these storm-battling pros. From speedy check-ins, they had rooms prepped and pampered despite the avalanche of arrivals. And let's give a massive high-five to housekeeping, who battled tracked-in slush like ninjas, keeping everything spotless 24/7 with on-demand. Their hustle cranked up the good vibes, letting our guests recharge without a single worry. Bravo, team—you didn't just clean up; you boosted spirits! To top it off, our food and beverage heroes fueled the frontlines with meals that could thaw even the grumpiest snowman. Adapting on the fly to the wintry chaos, we dished out meals and hot drinks in our welcoming commons, making sure no one faced the freeze on an empty stomach. Hats off to everyone involved; your all-in efforts didn't just sustain the squads—they supercharged UGA's return to normalcy. We're bursting with pride over how the Georgia Center turned icy adversity into a warm win for our campus partners!
Leta Salazar, Sharing Insights to Inspire the Next Generation
Leta Salazar recently served as a guest panelist for the Athens-Clarke County School District’s Career Academy Professionalism Day. During the event, she joined local professionals in speaking with high‑school students about building strong workplace habits and preparing for future career success. Leta shared insights from her experience in employee engagement and hospitality management, addressing questions about overcoming early career challenges, advocating for oneself, staying motivated during stressful times, and handling conflict with maturity and professionalism. Her contribution offered students practical guidance, real‑world examples, and encouragement as they begin shaping their own career paths.
National History Day 2026: Amazing Team Effort
Hosting the 2026 Northeast Georgia National History Day Regional Contest on Feb. 14 was a team effort, and it showed. Students, teachers and judges from across the region filled our halls to compete in documentary, exhibit, paper, performance and website categories. School representation included Clarke Middle, Hilsman Middle, Putnam County Middle, Cedar Shoals High, Jasper County High and North Oconee High, among many others. None of this would have come together without the hard work of our staff, who helped make the day run smoothly from start to finish. On the competition side, Clarke Middle swept the junior documentary, exhibit and paper categories, Hilsman Middle claimed top honors in junior performance and website, and Cedar Shoals High, Jasper County High and North Oconee High each earned senior category wins. First-place finishers now move on to the statewide competition at LaGrange College on April 18. A great event made possible by great people.
Fidah Arifin, Public Areas Attendant
A cart piled high with cleaning supplies glides up the ramp toward conference registration, and tucked just behind it, nearly hidden, a small quiet figure navigates the seemingly endless incline. That's Fidah, bumping cheerfully off one side of the ramp, then the other, pressing forward without complaint. "A tiny but dedicated hard worker," says her supervisor, Rachael Romine, and she's right. Behind Fidah's soft-spoken first impression is a bubbly, warmhearted personality always looking for ways to help those around her. While working at the Georgia Center, Fidah has been improving her English and picking up some Spanish, courtesy of Enrique, her fellow Public Areas Attendant. She is also pursuing a degree in Accounting remotely in her native Indonesia. When she clocks out, she goes home to a household that matches her own drive: her husband and daughter are both deep in their studies too. In Fidah's household, learning never really stops.
Welcome to the Team!
We're so excited to welcome two new faces to the Georgia Center! Kyle Riesinger joins us as our new Night Auditor. He comes to us from the Atlanta F&B scene and outside of work keeps busy producing electronic music, DJing, and wrangling his rescue dog Coda and four cats. He's already claimed Food for the Soul as his favorite Athens spot, so clearly his priorities are in order.
Amanda Short has joined our Event Services team after two years working with Gordon Ramsay in Los Angeles. She loves gardening, spending time with family, and spoiling her dog Bodhi. In a wonderful full-circle moment, her grandfather worked here at the GC in Maintenance, making her something of a legacy hire. We love to see it! Please join us in giving them both a warm welcome!
Wellness Corner
This month, focus on creating space — starting with your physical environment. Clutter can quietly add stress and distraction to our day. Taking time to clear, organize, or simplify even one small area can improve focus and create a sense of calm. Choose one space this week — your desk, a drawer, your car, or a corner at home — and reset it. Let go of what you no longer need and create room for what supports your daily routine. Sometimes wellness starts with simply making space to breathe.
Credits:
Images by Adobe Stock, GC Marcom, Chamberlain Smith, and individual GC contributing employees.