Jan 3 - PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

Last Updated on Wednesday, 04 January 2012 12:58 Written by Lou Phelps Tuesday, 03 January 2012 12:28

Week of Jan. 3, 2012 – PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) announced this week that Donald W. Bailey, well known to Georgia media executives and employees, has been named president and publisher of The Times in Shreveport, LA. Bailey was formerly president of Morris Communication’s The Augusta Chronicle (GA) and its portfolio which included 13 independent business units in Georgia and South Carolina, including The Savannah Morning News, a position he held since 2004. Bailey most recently served as Vice-President and President Elect of the Georgia Press Association until his recent departure from Morris.

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Armstrong Atlantic State University has announced the hiring of Veronikha Salazar as the university’s new Hispanic Outreach and Retention Program Coordinator, responsible for providing academic support for first-year and second-year Latino students and supporting the Enrollment Services Office and the HOLA Program in facilitating community development and outreach. Before joining Armstrong, Salazar served as the Associate Director of the Multicultural Center at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark.

Originally from Chiclayo, Peru, Salazar earned an Ed.D. in Adult Education with emphasis in Multicultural Education and Instructional Technology and an M.Ed. in Adult Education from the University of Arkansas. She also attended the Latino Higher Education Leadership Institute in San Diego, Calif. She recently relocated to Savannah. Salazar is a member of the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education, American Association of University Women, Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society, Association of International Educators, National Council of La Raza and Phi Beta Delta Honor Society of International Scholars.

Her position at AASU is funded by a grant from The Goizueta Foundation, an Atlanta-based non-profit dedicated to assisting various organizations that empower others and enrich lives through educational opportunities.

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Dr. W. Todd Groce, President and CEO of the Georgia Historical Society, has been named by Georgia Trend Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians for 2012. The statewide business magazine recognizes leaders in business, government, education, the arts and nonprofits for the impact they have on the lives of all Georgians. This is the 14th year Georgia Trend has published its listing. Dr. Groce has lead the Georgia Historical Society, the independent, statewide institution responsible for collecting, examining, and teaching Georgia history, for the past 17 years. In 1995 he assumed the duties of executive director and in 2006 he was elected the institution's 43rd president. Dr. Groce was educated at the University of Memphis, and at the University of Tennessee, where he earned an M.A. and Ph.D. in history. Before coming to Georgia, he taught history for three years at the University of Tennessee and then served five years as executive director of the East Tennessee Historical Society.

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Sterne Agee Group, Inc., one of the largest privately-owned investment banking firms in the U.S., has announced the transfer of Hardy Andrews, an investment advisor, from its headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama, to The Landings office in Savannah. The company’s The Landings office is led by Rus Harden.

Andrews began his career at Sterne Agee’s headquarters in Birmingham after graduating from Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC where he earned a degree in trust and wealth management. He is a native of Washington, North Carolina.

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The Savannah Airport Commission held a special ceremony this week on Weds, Jan. 4 to honor Bernard Wright, Director of Operations, for his 33 years of service. A ceremony and luncheon was held at the Airport Operations Center, 640 Gulfstream Road at 12:00 p.m. Executive Director, Patrick Graham was on hand to speak with local media about Mr. Wright's career.