University of Georgia Business College: 2024 Terry Trailblazers

ATHENS, Georgia, Jan. 20 -- The University of Georgia's Terry College of Business issued the following news:

From crisis management to commercial real estate to providing the financial backbone for medical professionals and facilities, Terry graduates are shaping the business world of tomorrow.

This year the Terry College recognizes four alumni committed to mentoring and developing leaders in their companies and communities.

They will share insights on service and success at the 2024 Terry Trailblazers panel discussion on Feb. 7 at 1 p.m. in the Stelling Family Study. Following the roundtable, students can sign up for flash mentoring sessions with the Trailblazers.

This year's class of Terry Trailblazers are:

Chris Allen (BBA '92)

Chris Allen is the chief financial officer of Keck Medicine of University of Southern California -- a leading academic medical center in Los Angeles. He oversees Keck Medicine's strategic financial plans, financial and governmental reporting, budgeting, funds flow, revenue cycle and materials management. He also leads the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of the health system's financial programs.

He was recognized by multiple professional organizations, including being named Rising Star CFO of the Year by the Los Angeles Business Journal in 2022. Before moving to Keck, Allen served as CFO for Adventist Health Glendale Medical Center and interim CFO for the University of California Irvine Medical Center.

Allen holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and finance from the University of Georgia and a certificate in direct costing and contribution reporting from the University of Wisconsin School of Business.

Tonya Davies (BBA '95)

Tonya Davies is the chief operating officer of Professional Risk Management Services (PRMS) and vice president of Fair American Insurance and Reinsurance Company (FAIRCO), subsidiaries of New York-based TransRe. She oversees business operations for PRMS, a leading carrier of medical professional liability insurance for psychiatrists.

Previously, Davies was a senior vice president with TransRe, where she was responsible for managing a portfolio of companies specializing in medical professional liability insurance. Before joining TransRe in 2000, Davies held underwriting positions as a healthcare underwriter with Zurich North America and AIG.

At TransRe, Davies chairs the diversity committee and is a committee member of Women in Reinsurance (WiRe) employee resource group, which strives to create equal gender representation at all levels within the organization.

She received her bachelor's degree in risk management and insurance from the University of Georgia. She is a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), an Associate in Reinsurance (ARe), holds property and casualty producer licenses, and was named a 2022 Woman to Watch by Business Insurance magazine.

Laura Picott (BBA '11, AB '11)

Laura Picott is a business and legal strategist with more than a decade of experience as a trusted crisis management and legal affairs advisor for C-level executives at small to large corporations.

She serves as a business professional at UPS, where she works within several business units and divisions. Picott's legal experience also includes working on cybersecurity and privacy issues at The Coca-Cola Company and at the Tractor Supply Co., where she developed company-wide legal training for non-legal business professionals and drafted commercial and licensing agreements.

A proud Double Dawg, Picott obtained a bachelor's degree in economics from the Terry College and a bachelor's degree in political science from the School of Public and International Affairs. She also holds a law degree from Mercer University School of Law.

KB Yabuku (MBA '10)

KB Yabuku serves as vice president of brokerage for Colliers International focusing on office, industrial and retail properties throughout the Southeast. He transitioned to the role from Colliers' occupier services group, where he was responsible for driving business growth as a senior-level consultant and sales executive.

Before joining Colliers, Yabuku worked for Ackerman & Co., where he served as vice president of the investment sales team. He has also served as Southeast managing director for Hart Lyman Cos., associate director for Stan Johnson Company, and worked in the commercial banking arena for BB&T (now Truist). He began his career with Jones Lang LaSalle/Staubach Co. as an office and industrial tenant representation broker.

Yabuku earned a bachelor's degree in real estate from Georgia State University and an MBA from the University of Georgia. He has served on the Terry College Young Alumni Board, is a graduate of the Urban Land Institute's Center for Leadership program, and is involved with various professional institutions, including the Real Estate Group of Atlanta, Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors, International Council of Shopping Centers and CoreNet.

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Original text here: https://www.terry.uga.edu/terry-trailblazers-return-to-campus/