Chronicles Winter 2022

Dan Cathy (’75), chairman of the Chick-fil-A board, will be inducted as a Georgia Trustee by the Georgia Historical Society and Gov. Brian Kemp at a spring gala in Savannah. The honor recognizes Georgians whose accomplishments and community service reflect the highest ideals of the founding body of the Georgia Trustees. It is the highest honor the state of Georgia can confer.

Dave German (’85) has been appointed vice president and general manager for KMTV, a CBS affiliate in Omaha, Nebraska. The Savannah native began his 36-year broadcasting career in the engineering department.

Lt. Gen. Leslie Smith (’85) retired after 38 years of distinguished service in the U.S. Army. He served in several command and staff positions during his long military career. He deployed to the Middle East for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He last served as the 66th Inspector General of the Army. Upon completion of his military service, Smith was named to the W.E. Carter Chair in Leadership and Business in the Georgia Southern University Parker College of Business. The endowed position was created to support a faculty member of extraordinary accomplishment and ability, and with a strong commitment to teaching, lifelong learning, regional and economic development, and to positively impact the region served by Georgia Southern University.

Jason Leonard (’95) has been promoted to executive vice president for Performance Foodservice – Atlanta. He recently participated in an executive development program at Darden School of Business in Virginia.

Benjamin (Ben) Sides (’95) has been named by CAREERS and the disABLED magazine a 2021 Employee of the Year for his professional and advocacy efforts on behalf of people with disabilities in the workplace and the community. The Diplomatic Security Service Supervisory Special Agent became disabled after losing his right leg above the knee after being struck by a truck in Madagascar in 2003. After hospitalizations, rehabilitation and months of physical therapy with a prosthetic leg, he continued as a special agent and was able to maintain his career and resume special agent duties. Sides’ most recent assignment was with the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Brian Johnston (’95) has been promoted to Special Agent in Charge of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit. In his new role, Johnston is responsible for the supervision of the staff assigned to the statewide unit that conducts investigations involving child exploitation, which includes child pornography, child sex trafficking and the forensic examination of electronic devices.

Audrey Gregory (’99,’01) has been named president/CEO for AdventHealth in Flagler, Lake and Volusia counties in Florida. Most recently, Gregory served as the group chief executive officer for Detroit Medical Center.

Scott Scheidt (’03) has joined Savannah-based Seimitsu Corporation as the chief security officer. He is responsible for promoting positive security behaviors and work practices in risk management and mitigation, physical security, and cybersecurity for the company that specializes in IT services and high-speed broadband fiber.

Hayley Connor (’15) is a two-time Emmy-winning television news producer. She won her second Emmy with KPIX in San Francisco for her work producing coverage on the Vacaville wildfires in the category “Outstanding Newscast Daytime- Large Market.”

Brandon O’Ree (’20) has joined the Terraces at Peachtree Hills Place as executive director for assisted living and memory care. O’Ree is responsible for daily operations, including management, staffing and regulatory compliance of the 85-home Atlanta retirement community that encompasses four levels of person-centered care.