{"687251":{"#nid":"687251","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Yellow Jackets Featured Among Most Influential Georgians ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor their leadership across various industries and positive contributions to their communities, 12 Georgia Tech alumni are among \u003Cem\u003EGeorgia Trend\u003C\/em\u003E\u2019s 100 Most Influential Georgians for 2026.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBrian Blake, EE 1994 \u2013 President, Georgia State University\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGuided by his BluePrint to 2033, Blake recently announced that 16 of the plan\u2019s 20 initiatives are underway, including work on the new Panther Quad and Campus Greenway expansion on the Atlanta campus. Georgia State recently received an $80 million donation from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation \u2014 the largest in the university\u2019s history.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u00c1ngel Cabrera, M.S. PSY 1993, Ph.D. PSY 1995 \u2013 President, Georgia Institute of Technology\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnder Cabrera\u2019s leadership, Georgia Tech has become the state\u0027s largest university. With record enrollment, campaign fundraising, and research expenditures, Tech is delivering on the president\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/news\/2025\/09\/04\/georgia-techs-big-bets-delivering-record-results\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EBig Bets strategy\u003C\/a\u003E. A $100 million bequest from alumnus John Durstine in September 2025 is the largest in Tech history and will transform the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELisa Cupid, ME 2000 \u2013 Chair, Cobb County Board of Supervisors\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFirst elected in 2020, the second-term chair of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners declared her \u201cunwavering commitment to forward motion\u201d in a 2025 address that highlighted economic growth, improving equity, and the expansion of critical resources in Cobb County. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAndre Dickens, ChE 1998 \u2013 Mayor, City of Atlanta\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EReelected to a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/news\/2025\/11\/04\/dickens-elected-second-term-atlanta-mayor\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Esecond term as Atlanta\u2019s mayor\u003C\/a\u003E, Dickens has led the city since 2021, establishing positive working relationships with state leadership, reducing violent crime rates, and building affordable housing. Under his leadership, the city achieved an AAA bond rating, the highest in the city\u2019s history. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERoderick McLean, M.S. EE 1993 \u2013 Vice President and General Manager, Air Mobility and Maritime Missions, Lockheed Martin\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMcLean is the vice president of Lockheed Martin\u2019s Air Mobility and Maritime Missions division and site general manager of the company\u2019s 5,000-employee Marietta facility. The C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, built at the facility, was named the winner of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce\u2019s inaugural \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gachamber.com\/news\/lockheed-martin-c-130j-super-hercules-wins-coolest-thing-made-in-georgia-competition\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECoolest Thing Made in Georgia competition\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJannine Miller, MBA 2013 \u2013 Executive Director, SRTA, GRTA, and Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince 2023, Miller has led the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority, and the State Road and Tollway Authority. Her team continues to work toward easing congestion around metro Atlanta, including 16 miles of planned express lanes on GA 400, expected to be completed in 2031.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EValerie Montgomery Rice, Chem 1983 \u2013 President and Dean, Morehouse School of Medicine\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERice has led the Morehouse School of Medicine since 2014, and under her leadership, the number of Morehouse\u0027s M.D. candidates has doubled. She has also worked to expand access to education with regional medical campuses in Albany and Columbus. In 2025, Rice was elected to the Georgia Power board of directors.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHonorary:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEd Bastian, HON Ph.D. 2024 \u2013 CEO, Delta Air Lines\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs the CEO of metro Atlanta\u2019s largest private employer, Bastian was named \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/tonyjannus.com\/awards\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ethe 2025 Tony Jannus Award recipient\u003C\/a\u003E by the Tony Jannus Distinguished Aviation Society.\u0026nbsp; The award is given annually to individuals who have made major and lasting contributions to the commercial aviation industry.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERaphael Bostic, HON Ph.D. 2022 \u2013 President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta since 2017, Bostic has beenresponsible for overseeing monetary policy, bank supervision, and payment services. He will retire at the end of his term in February. \u0026nbsp;He also serves on the Federal Open Market Committee, the monetary policymaking body of the Federal Reserve System.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJames Quincey, HON Ph.D. 2020 \u2013 Chair and CEO, The Coca-Cola Company\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter serving as Coca-Cola\u2019s CEO since 2017, Quincey announced his intention to step down in December. He will remain with the beverage giant as its executive chairman after reshaping the company\u2019s strategy and adding more than 10 billion-dollar brands during his tenure as CEO. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECarole Tom\u00e9\u003C\/strong\u003E, \u003Cstrong\u003EHON Ph.D. 2025 \u2013 CEO, UPS\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2025, Tom\u00e9 began leading the company through what she called the \u201cmost significant strategic shift in the company\u2019s history,\u201d while helping customers navigate the most\u201cprofound shift in trade policy in a century.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChris Womack, HON Ph.D. 2023 \u2013 President, CEO, and Chair, Southern Company\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWomack leads the energy provider that serves over 9 million customers. In 2025, he was awarded the title of Georgia Trustee by the Georgia Historical Society \u2014 the highest honor the state can confer.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Twelve Georgia Tech alumni are among \u0027Georgia Trend\u2019s\u0027 100 Most Influential Georgians for 2026.  "}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ETwelve Georgia Tech alumni are among \u003Cem\u003EGeorgia Trend\u2019s\u003C\/em\u003E 100 Most Influential Georgians for 2026. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Twelve Georgia Tech alumni are among \u0027Georgia Trend\u2019s\u0027 100 Most Influential Georgians for 2026.  "}],"uid":"36418","created_gmt":"2026-01-13 19:28:14","changed_gmt":"2026-01-13 19:32:14","author":"sgagliano3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-01-13T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-01-13T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678972":{"id":"678972","type":"image","title":"GA-Trend-2026-FINAL_0.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003ETop: Brian Blake, \u00c1ngel Cabrera, Lisa Cupid, Andre Dickens, Roderick McLean, Jannine Miller. Bottom: Valerie Montgomery Rice, Ed Bastian, Raphael Bostic, James Quincey, Carole Tom\u00e9, Chris Womack.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1768332211","gmt_created":"2026-01-13 19:23:31","changed":"1768332453","gmt_changed":"2026-01-13 19:27:33","alt":"2026 Georgia Trend Honorees","file":{"fid":"263077","name":"GA-Trend-2026-FINAL_0.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/13\/GA-Trend-2026-FINAL_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/13\/GA-Trend-2026-FINAL_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1217704,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/13\/GA-Trend-2026-FINAL_0.jpg?itok=LaHAQtEU"}}},"media_ids":["678972"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.georgiatrend.com\/2025\/12\/31\/2026-100-most-influential-georgians\/","title":"2026 100 Most Influential Georgians"}],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"132","name":"Institute Leadership"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"}],"keywords":[{"id":"11644","name":"Georgia Trend"},{"id":"190533","name":"state impact"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:steven.gagliano@gatech.edu\u0022\u003ESteven Gagliano\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013\u0026nbsp;Institute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}