Issue 40 • March 6, 2026 • Athens, GA
Director's Letter
Here at the Georgia Center, our annual performance reviews are upon us once again—like a conference group that shows up early, overbooks the ballroom, and still expects complimentary Strawberry Ice-cream Pie. Food and beverage staff dazzled reviewers with their ability to plate a perfect salad while simultaneously dodging the eternal question, “Is this gluten-free?” (spoiler: everything is gluten-free if you believe hard enough). Hotel team members earned high marks for turning “I requested a king bed” into a masterclass in polite deflection, all while keeping the complaints about a down elevator mysteriously vanishing. Meanwhile, our conference coordinators proved they can herd 300 attendees into breakout sessions faster than a barista can misspell a name on a latte cup, and continuing education folks somehow managed to make “lifelong learning” sound exciting even when the projector decided to stage its own retirement party mid-lecture. In the end, though, these reviews aren’t just about surviving another year of banquet spills, last-minute room changes, or that one participant who insists on “networking” at 2 a.m. They’re a golden opportunity to celebrate the chaos we tame daily, laugh at the absurdity of it all, and remind ourselves why we keep coming back. The real win? An annual review that leaves everyone walking away with clear goals, a well-deserved pat on the back (or at least a free cookie from F&B), and the smug satisfaction of knowing they’ve earned their spot in the Georgia Center family—where even the toughest feedback comes with a side of Southern hospitality and zero actual grudges. Here’s to another year of keeping the GC humming!
Making the 50th GMP a Success
This week, the Georgia Center was proud to host the 50th Annual International GMP Conference, hosted by the UGA College of Pharmacy. This long-standing, internationally recognized program brings together professionals from across the pharmaceutical and regulatory industries and has become a valued annual partnership for the Georgia Center. Events like this truly highlight how every department across the Georgia Center works together to deliver an exceptional conference experience.
Katie Gentry partners with the client each year to secure and contract the event, while Brandie Dorminey, who has worked with the group for multiple years, leads the detailed planning and coordination and has built a strong relationship with the client along the way. Laura Raiford from Continuing Education supports the program by managing the virtual conference component, helping extend the event's reach beyond in-person attendees.
A highlight of this year’s conference was an offsite event at the West End Zone, where the Georgia Center’s Food & Beverage team delivered an outstanding experience, with both culinary and banquet teams executing the event seamlessly. SEM interns were also on-site, assisting with guest welcome and event execution. From sales and coordination to culinary, banquets, continuing education, and student interns, this conference is a great example of how the collective efforts of Georgia Center team members come together to create a truly successful event.
GC Students Shine at Savannah's Tourism Awards Dinner
The Georgia Center is proud to celebrate two outstanding Hospitality and Food Industry Management (HFIM) students, Will Trotman and Paisley Matthews, who were honored with 2026 scholarships by the Tourism Leadership Council (TLC) at its annual Tourism Awards and Scholarship Dinner on Thursday, March 5, in Savannah. Both Will and Paisley have gained valuable hands-on experience working at the UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel, and their dedication to the hospitality industry has clearly made an impression beyond campus. The TLC, which has awarded more than $150,000 in scholarships to aspiring hospitality and tourism professionals since its founding in 1998, recognized these two Bulldogs among a select group of recipients from across the Savannah region.
On hand to cheer them on from the Georgia Center were Dr. Fulbright (Interim Director), Jake Grant (Hotel General Manager), and Leta Salazar (Employee Engagement Manager), along with faculty from the HFIM program. Their presence at the celebration reflects the deep commitment our leadership has to supporting student success and nurturing the next generation of hospitality professionals. Please join us in congratulating Will and Paisley on this well-deserved recognition. We are proud of everything they have accomplished and look forward to watching their careers flourish!
Rodrigo Medina, Business Manager
Rodrigo joined the Georgia Center in 2018 as a Laundry Attendant and was soon promoted to Housekeeping Lead. In 2020, he transitioned to the Front Desk as Night Auditor, a role he held while completing his associate degree in Accounting. He joined the Business & Finance team in 2021 as Senior Accounting Technician and was promoted to Accountant in 2023. In 2024, Rodrigo briefly expanded his experience as Senior Accountant at the Owens Institute for Behavioral Research before returning to the Georgia Center following Jennifer Young’s retirement, where he now serves as Accounts Receivable Business Manager. He is currently completing his bachelor’s degree in Technology Management at the University of North Georgia. Outside of work, Rodrigo enjoys spending time with his wife, Jenni, and their four-year-old daughter, Gabby. When Rodrigo was a Housekeeping Lead, he often walked past an office that was then just a supply closet and thought to himself, “Wouldn’t it be cool if that were my office one day?” A few years later, that very space is now his office, and he is proudly serving in a leadership role on the Business & Finance team - a true testament to his growth and dedication.
If Life Gives You Lemons...
When funding for the Georgia Junior Science and Humanities Symposium was cut in late October 2025, Laura Brewer didn't simply accept the loss; she saw a call to action. Embodying the spirit of Public Service and Outreach, she reimagined the program entirely, transforming what had been a three-day in-person event at the Georgia Center into the Georgia Junior STEM Symposium: a dynamic, day-long virtual competition. Open to Georgia students in grades 9–12, the symposium invites young researchers to submit and present original work in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. From a field of more than 150 applicants, 50 students earned a spot in the competition, where volunteer faculty and industry experts from across Georgia (pictured) engaged with their research and offered feedback firsthand.
Wellness Corner
As we begin March, it’s a great time to focus on rest and wellness. March is National Sleep Awareness Month, and with Daylight Saving Time beginning this weekend, many of us will be adjusting to longer days and losing an hour of sleep. To help your body transition, consider a few simple habits: start going to bed 15–20 minutes earlier a few days before the time change, get natural sunlight early in the day to help reset your internal clock, limit caffeine later in the afternoon, and maintain a consistent sleep routine. Small adjustments can make the shift smoother and help you stay energized as we move into the longer days of spring.
Credits:
Images by Adobe Stock, GC Marcom, and individual GC contributing employees.