Alumni Pr<strong>of</strong>ile:Mike Hodges ’73During <strong>the</strong> annual Honors Day program in April, MichaelD. Hodges ‘73 was named <strong>the</strong> 2012 Alumni <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Year. <strong>The</strong> award recognizes an alumni <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>College</strong> whodemonstrates leadership and dedication in advocating for,and supporting, <strong>the</strong> <strong>College</strong>.Hodges graduated from Brunswick Junior <strong>College</strong>, now<strong>College</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Coastal</strong> <strong>Georgia</strong>, in 1973, earning an Associate<strong>of</strong> Science degree. He graduated from <strong>the</strong> University <strong>of</strong><strong>Georgia</strong> in 1975 with a BBA in banking and finance. But hehas been a banker since high school.As a senior, he needed a job, so he started working ata bank after school and during <strong>the</strong> summers. He recallsworking with his fa<strong>the</strong>r, an electrician, one Christmasholiday and his fa<strong>the</strong>r remarked, “As an electrician, you’llmake a good banker.”Working at a bank is how he paid for his classes atBrunswick Junior <strong>College</strong> during 1971-73: “I started schoolhere so I could go on to A<strong>the</strong>ns. I could afford to get startedby attending BJC. <strong>The</strong>re were no scholarships available <strong>the</strong>n– one reason I feel strongly about supporting scholarships26 <strong>College</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Coastal</strong> <strong>Georgia</strong> – <strong>the</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>
today. I continued to work in banking after enrolling at UGA.”Hodges worked for several banks, and in all aspectsin banking, but he considers <strong>the</strong> pinnacle <strong>of</strong> his careerachievement to be returning to coastal <strong>Georgia</strong> to helpfound <strong>the</strong> First Bank <strong>of</strong> Brunswick, now Ameris Bank. “Itwas an entrepreneurial leap – for myself, as a banker, butalso for helping o<strong>the</strong>r local businesses and entrepreneurs inour community get started and succeed.” Since 1989, he hasserved as president andCEO and continues todayas market president forAmeris Bank.<strong>The</strong> list <strong>of</strong> his serviceactivities and civic involvementis lengthy, spanningLeadership Glynn andLeadership <strong>Georgia</strong>, UnitedWay, <strong>the</strong> American RedCross, and both <strong>the</strong> local and state Chamber <strong>of</strong> Commerce. Inaddition to <strong>the</strong> <strong>College</strong> Foundation, he is also heavily involvedin <strong>the</strong> Sou<strong>the</strong>ast <strong>Georgia</strong> Health System and <strong>the</strong> Jekyll IslandAuthority. In 2011, Hodges was <strong>the</strong> recipient <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Brunswick-GoldenIsles Chamber <strong>of</strong> Commerce Shepherd CenterAward for development <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> community and promotion <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> area and its worthy causes.His role as chairman <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Brunswick-Golden IslesChamber <strong>of</strong> Commerce during 2004-2005 crystallizedhis understanding <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> need for a baccalaureate degreegrantinginstitution in sou<strong>the</strong>ast <strong>Georgia</strong>. In 2007, he beganco-chairing <strong>the</strong> Education Subcommittee <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Chamberwith a key goal <strong>of</strong> securing state college status for <strong>the</strong> <strong>College</strong>.“<strong>The</strong>re are certain institutions any community musthave to be successful: business, education, and a goodhealth system,” he explains. “<strong>The</strong> <strong>College</strong> is a big part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>community. I’m investing my heart at home.”When he began his service as a <strong>College</strong> Foundationtrustee during 2005-2006, he recognized unmet needsas well as <strong>the</strong> <strong>College</strong>’s importance to <strong>the</strong> community. Hecurrently serves as vice chair <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>College</strong> Foundation, butviews his work as chair <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Foundation’s Investment andReal Estate Committee as his most important to date. He ismost pleased with <strong>the</strong> planning and financing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> firston-campus student residential housing, which opened inAugust 2011.Former <strong>Georgia</strong> Governor Sonny Perdue appointedHodges to serve on <strong>the</strong> Jekyll Island Park Authority in“<strong>The</strong>re are certain institutions any communitymust have to be successful: business,education, and a good health system. <strong>The</strong><strong>College</strong> is a big part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> community. I’minvesting my heart at home.”2005. He was reappointed by Governor Nathan Deal andserves as secretary <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> JIA as well as chair <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> FinanceCommittee. Through a unique partnership with <strong>the</strong> JekyllIsland Authority, full-time <strong>Coastal</strong> <strong>Georgia</strong> studentsreceive special passes as a benefit <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir student activityfee. <strong>The</strong> decals provide unlimited access to <strong>the</strong> islandfor one year.“<strong>The</strong>re is nothing that can affect development <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> regionmore than proper redevelopment<strong>of</strong> Jekyll Island –which is owned by 9 million<strong>Georgia</strong>ns who should enjoyit,” he says. “And what o<strong>the</strong>rcollege in <strong>Georgia</strong> can <strong>of</strong>fera student pass to somewherelike Jekyll Island?”Since 2004 Hodges hasserved on <strong>the</strong> Glynn-BrunswickMemorial Hospital Authority, which governs Sou<strong>the</strong>ast<strong>Georgia</strong> Health System. <strong>The</strong> Hospital Authority and <strong>the</strong>Health System provides significant support to <strong>the</strong> <strong>College</strong>,including establishment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>College</strong>’s first named deanship:<strong>the</strong> Sou<strong>the</strong>ast <strong>Georgia</strong> Health System DistinguishedDean <strong>of</strong> Nursing and Health Sciences.<strong>The</strong> serendipitous relationships between <strong>the</strong> institutionshe serves are no accident. “Gary [Colberg, President andCEO <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Sou<strong>the</strong>ast <strong>Georgia</strong> Health System] says ‘workingtoge<strong>the</strong>r works’ – and it does!” Hodges laughs. “I lookforward to <strong>the</strong> day when a nursing student stepping outfrom home can turn one way to walk a couple <strong>of</strong> blocks toclass or turn <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r way to walk to work at <strong>the</strong> hospital.”In making <strong>the</strong> award presentation, Rev. Dr. Glenn ThomasCarson, President <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Alumni Association, noted, “Hehas served as a tireless advocate, fundraiser, supporter,and wise counsel on behalf <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>College</strong>’s administrationand Foundation.”“Mike Hodges is an accomplished businessman, activecivic leader, respected public servant, and a dedicatedalumnus <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>College</strong>,” <strong>College</strong> President Valerie Hepburnconcluded. “He represents <strong>the</strong> finest values and attributes towhich <strong>the</strong> <strong>College</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Coastal</strong> <strong>Georgia</strong> and its students aspire– educational access, scholarship, community service, civicengagement, and principled leadership.”Hodges’ vision is simple. He wants and works for <strong>the</strong><strong>College</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Coastal</strong> <strong>Georgia</strong> to reach full potential - to be all itcan possibly be for his community. u<strong>College</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Coastal</strong> <strong>Georgia</strong> – <strong>the</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> 27
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