Georgia Tech College of Management recognized the vision, achievement, and leadership of its alumni Nov. 11 at the business school’s Awards Celebration, inducting three leaders into the Hall of Fame, Academy of Distinguished Alumni, and Council of Outstanding Young Alumni.

Numerous alumni and friends attended the event, which was held in the Thornton Atrium and LeCraw Auditorium of the Management building. "We are proud that these inductees are part of the College and delighted to publicly recognize their achievements," said College of Management Dean Steve Salbu.

Edward J. Brown III, IM 1970, was inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame. Brown became president and CEO of Hendrick Automotive Group in January 2011, where he oversees approximately 7,000 employees and more than 100 franchises that make up one of the nation's largest automotive retail operations. He joined the company as CFO in May 2010, assuming responsibility for the organization's financial strategy. Previously, Brown held a variety of positions within the corporate and investment banking industry. Dean Salbu accepted the award for Brown who was unable to attend.

Thomas A. Fanning, IM 1979 MS IM 1980, was inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Alumni. Fanning has spent his entire 31-year career at Southern Company. He became president in August 2010 and has been its chairman and CEO since December 2010. Fanning had served as its COO since 2008. Southern Company is the largest producer of electricity in the Southeast and owns four electric utilities in four states, including Georgia Power, and a growing wholesale power generation business as well as fiber optics and wireless communications.

Jeni Bogdan, MGT 1989, EMS-MOT 1996, was inducted into the Council of Outstanding Young Alumni. With 23 years of experience in the heavy industrial construction industry, Bogdan is the founder, owner and president of The Saxon Group. In addition, she is the CEO of Saxon Nuclear and the director of SPW Equipment. Saxon was named 17^th in a list of the top 50 fastest-growing companies in North America by Entrepreneur magazine in 2008 and 2009. In 2010, American Express and the Women Presidents' Organization recognized her as one of the Top 15 Women Entrepreneurs of the Year.

Joe Evans, IM 1973, the new College's new Advisory Board chairman who served as master of ceremonies, noted that this was the first Alumni Awards Celebration in three years. "We are thankful to our leadership here at Tech for steering the university and the College so ably through tough economic times," he said. "You have enabled us to resume this fine tradition of recognizing our outstanding alumni."