The University of Georgia Foundation Board of Trustees has approved new leadership and board appointments, including the election of E. Howard Young as chair for a two-year term through June 30, 2027. The board also named Natalie Schweers Coghill (J.D.’98) as executive vice-chair, Vernon E. “Trey” Googe III (J.D.’94) as secretary, and John M. Turner Jr. as treasurer.
Three new trustees—Deep Shah, J. Hardman Knox, and Carol Barranco Yancey—were elected to join the 47-member board. Steve C. Jones (J.D.’87) was named emeritus chair by the board, becoming only the second person to hold this title in university history.
Emeritus status was granted to five trustees: Michael J. Boudens, Christopher W. Brown, John R. Parker Jr., former UGA Foundation Chair Neal J. Quirk Sr. (J.D.’87), and Elisha W. Finney.
Four advisory trustees—Richard J. Arroll II, William Craig Barrs, Kimber L. Houlne, and Lewis Abit Massey—will support foundation committees in reaching strategic objectives.
John J. Neely IV and James D. Lemons will join Rebecca Mayo as associate trustees on the board.
Corey Dortch has succeeded C. Lee Zell as president of the UGA Alumni Association and will serve as an ex-officio voting trustee.
Details about individuals with new positions or status within the UGA Foundation are as follows:
E. Howard Young of Atlanta is president of General Wholesale Beer Co., serving on the foundation’s board since 2019 and holding a bachelor’s degree in marketing from UGA earned in 1982.
Natalie Schweers Coghill of Augusta is senior vice president at Synovus Securities Inc., with service on the foundation’s board since 2020; she holds both a bachelor’s degree in public relations (1995) and a Juris Doctor (1998) from UGA.
Vernon E. Googe III (“Trey”) of Atlanta is chairman and CEO at Yancey Bros Co., serving on the foundation’s board since 2020; he holds a bachelor’s degree in finance (1991) and a Juris Doctor (1994), both from UGA.
John M. Turner Jr., based in Birmingham, Alabama, is chairman, president and CEO at Regions Financial Corp.; he has served on the foundation’s board since 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in economics from UGA obtained in 1989.
The three newly elected trustees include J. Hardman Knox of Atlanta, principal at Hight Knox Properties LLC with a finance degree from UGA (1998); Deep Shah of Duluth, chief operating officer and owner of Gwinnett Clinic who graduated from UGA in international affairs and biology in 2008; and Carol Barranco Yancey of Atlanta, retired executive vice president and CFO at Genuine Parts Co., who received her accounting degree from UGA in 1985.
Steve C. Jones serves as senior United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia; he has been active on several foundation committees including Development, Nominating & Trusteeship, Costa Rica, Executive Committee—as secretary and strategic vice chair—and has been an emeritus trustee since 2022 after previously serving as Alumni Association president from 2011-2013.
Michael J. Boudens is retired vice-chairman for Wellington Management Co., having served on multiple committees since joining the board in 2017; Christopher W. Brown founded Brown | Miller Wealth Management LLC; Elisha W. Finney is retired executive vice president/CFO at Varian Medical Systems Inc.; John R. Parker Jr., retired SVP/general counsel for Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc.; Neal J Quirk Sr., member/partner at Quirk & Quirk LLC—all have held significant committee roles during their tenures with educational backgrounds tied to UGA.
Advisory trustees Richard J Arroll II (Major & Arroll LLC), William Craig Barrs (retired EVP Georgia Power Co.), Kimber L Houlne (CEO Working Solutions LLC), Lewis Abit Massey (Impact Public Affairs/former Georgia Secretary of State) all bring varied professional experience alongside degrees earned at UGA between 1980-1988.
Ex-officio voting trustee Corey McArthur Dortch works for CarterBaldwin Executive Search Firm with three degrees from UGA completed between 2003-2011.
Associate members include James D Lemon (chair—UGA University Council Executive Committee), John J Neely IV (president—UGA Student Government Association), Rebecca J Mayo (president—UGA Staff Council).
The full list can be found online at https://give.uga.edu/uga-foundation/trustees-and-committees/.
The University of Georgia Foundation was established in 1937 to manage donor funds for long-term benefit to the university through stewardship practices that have resulted in over $1 billion invested assets totaling about $1.3 billion overall; it provides more than $70 million annually to support teaching, research and public service missions (source). The Board oversees fundraising activities along with financial management duties for enhancement of university programs.