Hector Padilla - Tetley Distinguished Leader Lecture Series
Georgia Aquarium President Shares Personal Journey Joe Handy, president and chief operating officer of The Georgia Aquarium as well as an alumnus of the Coles College EMBA program, was the College’s Fall 2019 executive in residence. In September, he visited campus to share valuable advice to students encouraging them to let their passions guide their careers. Growing up, Handy always saw himself becoming a defense attorney. However, a summer job developing tours at the American Museum of Natural History revealed a passion for helping guests make the most out of their museum experiences, which eventually led him to the Georgia Aquarium. “Life happens,” he said. “You can still make a straight line out of a crooked stick. Legendary Music Business Exec Talk’s Industry’s Tech Future Legendary music business executive and entrepreneur Charles Goldstuck spoke to students in the Music and Entertainment Business program about technology’s role in the industry, including how the rise of streaming services and online videos are driving growth. Goldstuck is the former president of internet-enabled jukebox operator TouchTunes. He is also the former president and chief operating officer of Sony Music Entertainment’s BMG music labels, where he worked with popular artists like Usher, Alicia Keys, Dave Matthews Band, and Foo Fighters. Goldstruck told students that technology has created several avenues into the music business that never existed before.
Social Engineering Symposium Explores How to Hack People Cybersecurity experts Jenny Radcliffe and Joe Gray headlined the Department of Information Systems’ Symposium on Social Engineering. The event focused on the threat of social engineering, or the ability to manipulate people into sending money or providing access to sensitive information. Radcliffe is the founder and social engineering director of Human Factor Security, and host of the award-winning The Human Factor Podcast. Gray was a submarine navigation electronics technician for the U.S. Navy before founding information security blog and podcast Advanced Persistent Security. The two discussed how cybersecurity professionals can defend against attacks like phishing, vishing, and email compromise, which exploit people – not technology – to access data..
Engaging with Industry Professionals Introducing students to new ideas and perspectives helps themmake important connections between the work they do in the classroom and how professionals and other leaders tackle challenges in the real world. Prior to on- campus events ending in the spring, the College hosted visits from corporate executives, successful alumni, and even experts on social engineering. Tetley Distinguished Leader Lecture Series Started in 1990 with an endowment from Tetley Tea CEO Hank McInerney, the Tetley Distinguished Leader Lecture Series brings exceptional Atlanta-area business leaders to campus each semester to inspire students. Speakers this academic year included:
HECTOR PADILLA, SOUTHERN DIVISION PRESIDENT, THE HOME DEPOT Coles College students learned what it takes to turn a job into a career when Hector Padilla, president of Home Depot’s southern division, headlined the October 2019 Tetley event. Padilla emigrated from the Dominican Republic in 1994 at the age of 19 and got a job making $6 an hour at The Home Depot’s store in Hialeah, Fla. He held a series of leadership positions at the department, store, and district levels, before joining Home Depot’s corporate offices. He told students that the keys to his success have been being intentional in his actions, investing in relationships, and prioritizing self- development
BRIAN PENDLEY, PARTNER, ERNST & YOUNG
School of Accountancy alumnus Brian Pendley was the November 2019 Tetley speaker, where he outlined his personalized leadership strategy focused on building up others. Pendley graduated in 1994, and has been an active friend to the Coles College for years. He is a member of the School of Accountancy’s advisory board – recently ending a term as chairman – and is the campus coordinating partner between Kennesaw State and EY, where he works as a partner in the company’s assurance practice. In 2018, Pendley was honored by the University with the Outstanding Alumni Award.
Joe Handy - Executive in Residence
Brian Pendley - Tetley Distinguished Leader Lecture Series
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