John B. Carter Jr., IE 69
Former President/COO, Georgia Tech Foundation
Spirit of Georgia Tech Award
John B. Carter Jr. has dedicated his career to Georgia Tech with more than 30 years of service to the Institute. Carter was president and chief operating officer of the Georgia Tech Foundation from 1999 until 2013, significantly growing the Foundation’s reputation and impact over the 15 years he oversaw operations. He served as the executive director of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association from 1985 until 1999. During his leadership, the Alumni Association received many recognitions, including the National Alumni Association of the Year Award (1989 and 1990) and Metropolitan Atlanta Community Foundation award for best managed nonprofit (1991). After graduating with a degree in industrial engineering from Georgia Tech, Carter served for six years in the Navy as a Naval Flight Officer.
Why I... chose Georgia Tech
Why not! It's the best of the best.
How has Georgia Tech made an impact on your life?
My experiences at Georgia Tech made me realize you can do whatever you set your mind to. One only had to experience drownproofing as a freshman to realize you can do what you thought was impossible. Jumping in 10 feet of water with your feet and hands tied behind your back while bobbing up and down, taking deep breaths trying to survive for 45 minutes certainly seemed impossible to me. But it can be successfully done. That drownproofing experience taught me that no matter how difficult the task, including passing ME 320, I could accomplish most anything I set my mind to do. Georgia Tech taught you to develop a plan, work the plan, and if you weren’t successful the first time around, “keep on keeping on.” Never give up! That attitude, along with a saying my father instilled in me at an early age, “Time, patience and perseverance will accomplish all things,” has enabled me to meet the challenges life brings head-on. There is no doubt in my mind that my almost five years at the affectionately known “North Avenue Trade School” impacted my life many times over. I owe Georgia Tech much more than I can ever repay, but I promise to continue to live the Georgia Tech spirit for years to come.
Leslie Sibert, EE 85
Retired Electric Utility Executive, Georgia Power/Southern Company
Dean Griffin Community Service Award
Leslie Sibert energizes those around her. Sibert has spent her career engineering better energy solutions for Georgians and giving back to her community through numerous organizations and boards. While an executive at Southern Company, Sibert initiated, developed, and led a multi-year project that created the Tech Square Microgrid, a state-of-the-art microgrid that opened in 2021 and that allows Tech researchers to pursue cutting-edge electrical utility research. Sibert is also a champion for women in STEM. She’s advocated for female engineers at Georgia Power, as well as through her involvement with nonprofits and Georgia Tech’s Women in Engineering. As the first female officer at Georgia Power/Southern Company to lead two critical units, Transmission and Distribution, Sibert is a pioneer for women in STEM and an inspiration for generations of Yellow Jackets.
Why I... get "energized" serving Georgia Tech
Through my 37-year-career in the energy industry, I’ve been fortunate to be involved with Tech professors who are doing cutting-edge research in electric generation, transmission, and distribution. I was able to provide endorsements and support for key research awards to Tech. It was always rewarding when a researcher’s project led to a product or technology that addressed challenges in the industry. I was also fortunate to live and work in the Atlanta area, which allowed me to serve on numerous advisory boards. All of these opportunities have been a way to stay connected and to give back to Georgia Tech where I could add value.
What does it mean to you to receive this award?
I am so honored to be recognized for the contributions I have made in my career and my service on campus and in the community. It is an affirmation that I am leaving the legacy I aspired to. Tech has been the catalyst for me to achieve the successes I have had. Tech inspired me to think and act strategically and to always be curious. I am proud to be a Yellow Jacket, and I will forever cherish this prestigious acknowledgment that bears the name of a true servant leader, Dean Griffin.
Kelly Barrett, IM 86
Retired Senior Vice President-Home Services, The Home Depot
Joseph Mayo Pettit Distinguished Service Award
Kelly Barrett is a leader who knows how to lay the groundwork for the success of those who come after her. During her tenure at The Home Depot, Barrett helped craft a leadership program that prepared seven of her associates to become officers within the company. Barrett says she is proud of the people she has coached during her career and is thrilled to follow their successes. Before The Home Depot, she served for more than 10 years in senior management and ultimately as senior vice president and chief financial officer at Cousins Properties, a publicly traded real estate investment trust. Barrett sits on the boards of The Aaron’s Company, Americold Realty, Evertec, and Piedmont Office Realty Trust. She has served as a trustee of the Georgia Tech Foundation Board since 2015 and the Scheller College of Business Advisory Board since 2009, on which she served as chair. A firm believer in giving back to the community, Barrett has served on multiple nonprofit boards, including the YMCA, the Girl Scouts, and the Atlanta Rotary Club.
Why I... am proud to be a Yellow Jacket
Georgia Tech is always associated with excellence and integrity. You have instant credibility and respect with a degree from Georgia Tech.
What does it mean to you to receive this award?
It is impossible to describe how much this means to me. I give my time, talent, and treasures to Georgia Tech because I want others to have the opportunity to achieve the same level of success in their lives that I have. This recognition is like the “cherry on top” of what Georgia Tech has done for me. It is incredibly humbling to be included in the list of very accomplished and esteemed Yellow Jacket leaders who have also won this award.
Greg Owens, IM 82
CEO & Co-Founder, IGAM
Why I... give back
I feel very strongly that Georgia Tech prepared me for my career. It taught me to break down problems into manageable bites and solve them. In school, that may have been math equations; in business, it was barriers that needed to be solved to improve customer service and speed to market, and to create more efficient costs and better profitability. Georgia Tech was instrumental in providing me with the necessary background, and I feel an obligation to give back and help others receive that same opportunity.
How had Georgia Tech made an impact on your life?
Georgia Tech has had a profound impact on my life, both personally and professionally. I have a Georgia Tech family and some of my close friends are on the Georgia Tech Foundation Board. These are friend-ships that were built through Tech but are now a part of my social life. I have learned from many of them, and hopefully I have provided some insights as well.
Tom Noonan, ME 83
Chairman, Ten Holdings, LLC
Over the course of his expansive career, Tom Noonan has founded 10 successful businesses. In addition to incredible passion and vision, Noonan has brought his distinct management style to each venture. He has been widely recognized by industry-leading publications likeWhy I... honor the Old Gold & White
Georgia Tech has been in my blood since childhood. When I was young, our family home was on Cherry Street directly across from Rose Bowl Field. We watched Coach Dodd and the team practice from our front porch, and I attended all the football and basketball games with my dad. Honoring the Old Gold and White and the tradition of excellence it stands for is gratifying. Despite many changes over the years, Tech has stayed true to our traditions. Our positive impact has been amplified many times around the world and that makes me proud, and it is why I’m always “Up with the White and Gold.”
How had Georgia Tech made an impact on your life?
Almost every aspect of my life would be different had I not attended Tech. Eventually you leave Georgia Tech, but Georgia Tech never leaves you. My wife of 35 years was my freshman chemistry lab partner. The businesses I built over the years have all been built with Tech engineers, colleagues, fraternity brothers, and classmates. My calendar is comprised of events, activities, and travel with various groups of Tech friends. An important part of our family’s philanthropic mission is directed toward Tech. While I cannot even imagine what my life would be like today without the Institute, I seriously doubt it could be any better. While Tech has impacted me personally in many ways, more importantly, it has positively impacted our city, our state, our nation, and the world. Georgia Tech’s impact is felt in so many ways that benefit society through economic development, technological innovation, in the K-12 mission, job growth, and scientific research and innovation.
Bob Stargel, EE 83
Principal, Stargel Consulting Inc.
Throughout Bob Stargel's career, he’s driven the development of innovative solutions in the consumer product arena as well as helped develop state-of-the-art manufacturing sites and machines for mass-producing products. In 2016, he cofounded Stargel Consulting Inc., a leading consumer products consulting firm. Prior to starting his company, he had a distinguished 33-year career at Kimberly-Clark Corporation, where he held multiple leadership positions across several divisions, including Engineering, Research, Manufacturing, and Marketing. In addition to his professional achievements, he served on several Georgia Tech boards, including the College of Engineering Board and the Women in Engineering Board. He served as the chair of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association from 2014 to 2015.Why I... pay it forward
I give back because of the tremendous experience and education I received at Tech. Having been the recipient of financial aid to attend Tech and formally recruited by a local alum, I realize that I stood on those before me and that I should pay it forward with my time and service as well as financially.
How has Georgia Tech made an impact on your life?
It has had a more positive impact on me than any other experience. Georgia Tech taught me how to solve complex problems with the help of others. I established so many great personal relationships while a student, after graduation, and even today with the new friends I meet at various Tech boards and functions. And Tech brought me my wife, Jocelyn Stargel! We began dating our freshman year and got married when she graduated in 1982. She is truly the best thing that has happened to me and is my soulmate.
Jacky Cheng, IE 17
Senior Associate, Finance, Bridge Logistics Properties
Jacky Cheng is a proud Asian American alumnus who champions diversity, equity, and inclusion across all areas of his life. Though only five years into his career, Cheng has taken great strides to amplify voices in his community. He served as the vice president of corporate relations for the National Association of Asian American Professionals, where he raised over $300,000 for the larger Asian American community. Cheng has found a passion for service, volunteering for a variety of causes, and building robust corporate and community partnerships across the metro Atlanta area focused on Asian American and Pacific Islander initiatives. And because of his community leadership and professional growth, he has been chosen for the LEAD Atlanta 2023 cohort, an intensive leadership development program organized by Leadership Atlanta. He also serves as president of the Georgia Tech GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) Advisory Council.Why I... believe in our motto
Georgia Tech’s motto of Progress and Service has stuck with me since graduating. Rooted in the desire to continually grow and evolve, progress can be unconventional and non-linear, but Yellow Jackets never cease to amaze me by how much they lead by example as a catalyst for positive change. When times are challenging, focusing on progress keeps me anchored and resilient. On top of that, service was ingrained in me as a student and those experiences helped shape my core values.
How has Georgia Tech made an impact in your life?
I could go on and on about how graduating with a degree from Georgia Tech has equipped me to be a better leader and problem solver, but above all, the single most valuable impact has been the people. From the lifelong friends to the talented professors, students, and alumni that I have come to know, I truly believe that Tech opened countless doors for me and allowed me to build meaningful relationships. It’s the reason why I continue to serve as a mentor and give back as an alumnus. Graduation might look like the finish line, but it’s just the beginning.
Pat Wichmann
Chief Administrative Officer, Georgia Tech Foundation
For nearly 25 years, Pat Wichmann has been one of Georgia Tech’s most loyal champions, serving as an ambassador of the Institute to countless alumni and friends of Tech. As chief administrative officer at the Georgia Tech Foundation, Wichmann is responsible for day-to-day operations. Over the years, she’s cultivated meaningful relationships with donors and helped alumni give back to the Institute. Prior to joining the Foundation in 2000, Wichmann was assistant executive director at the Georgia Tech Alumni Association. When she’s not volunteering at events or helping shape alumni experiences, Wichmann is proudly cheering on the White and Gold.Why I... love Georgia Tech
As I reflect on this amazing honor and the many Tech experiences I’ve had, I can’t help thinking about why I came to Tech. Of course, there are a “Buzzillion” reasons, but there’s no better reason than love. Every person in the Tech community has influenced that feeling and grown my love for Tech—God, family, friends, and colleagues. This is a shared honor with all.
How has Georgia Tech impacted your life?
When I moved to Atlanta, I was deciding between other opportunities and the Georgia Tech Alumni Association. John Carter told me that Tech would change my life and provide endless opportunities. He was right! Education has been a hallmark of my life, and to have had the opportunity to work at Georgia Tech has provided me a platform for continued learning. I am grateful for the relationships that extend beyond Tech. Being named an honorary alumna is the exclamation point on my career.