COLLEGE ADVANCEMENT
College
Doug Baird
Advancement
New VP for
College Advancement
Staff Updates:
The college’s newest administrator
Byrd accepts Director of Development;
is no stranger to the Toombs-
Montgomery area.
Bull named Director of Alumni Relations
Doug Baird, a native of Houston,
Roger Byrd, the former director of alumni relations,
Texas, now a resident of Vidalia,
accepted the vacant position of Director of
was the owner of local internet
Development, and Shannon Hinely Bull, former
service provider, CyberSouth
assistant to the director of the college’s Fountain-New
Networks, before he sold it, and his
Library, has taken Byrd’s position in alumni relations.
other company, Swifttel
Communications, to Reignmaker Byrd, a former trustee and BPC graduate, enters his
Communications in March 2007.
new position with enthusiasm and confidence.
Baird started Swifttel Communications, a facilities-based competitive
local exchange carrier based in Vidalia, in 2004. He also worked as a
“I am looking forward to meeting new people and
staff member and high school algebra and chemistry teacher at the
telling them what new things Brewton-Parker is
Paul Anderson Youth Home of Vidalia for several years in the mid-
doing,” said Byrd. “We have many growth-related
nineties.
challenges; McAllister Hall, the Hildegard Stanley
Music Center, to name a couple. There are also many
other opportunities ‘on the drawing board’ that we need to move forward. These
Though a bit unfamiliar with the internal workings of Brewton-Parker,
challenges are good challenges – wait. That’s an opportunity.”
as having never been employed at the collegiate level, Baird is looking
forward to using his networking abilities throughout the southeast and
The former longtime state representative “knows the value of relationships” and
his enthusiasm for God’s glory together for one purpose at BPC.
wants to help Brewton-Parker strengthen its relationship with the surrounding
state and local community. Byrd served as a Georgia state representative from
“It’s very humbling to take such an important position,” said Baird. “I 1980-2002. He also served as chief of staff and House Messenger to then
don’t think in and of myself that I have the ability to do something like House Speaker Terry Coleman, who joined the college last year as Special
this but with God’s help I’ll be able to rise to the challenge and find
Assistant to the President for External Services.
good avenues for fundraising for the college and develop programs for
alumni to keep them involved and informed as to the direction of the
Byrd and his wife, April, have one daughter, Olivia, 11. They reside in Mount
college.”
Vernon.
Dr. David R. Smith, president of BPC, is proud to have Baird join the
Shannon Hinely Bull has been an active member of
BPC’s National Alumni Board since receiving a
college. His first day as vice president for college advancement was
bachelor’s degree from the college in 1997, and
Oct. 1.
another in 2000. She and husband Barry Bull (’98), a
reference librarian at BPC, were named Young Alumni
“A few years ago, when Brewton-Parker College first began to develop
of the Year during March’s Alumni Weekend 2007.
our internal computer network and to provide internet service to our
employees and students, I sought Doug Baird’s counsel,” said Dr. “I am most looking forward to being able to work with
Smith. “Since that time, I’ve watched him grow a truly impressive alumni, friends, faculty, staff, administration, trustees
business enterprise with representation throughout Georgia, and I and people in and around the community to continue
have seen his devotion to his community, family and church. Doug has
building an alumni society that Brewton-Parker College
the ability and the fervor to bring impressive fundraising production to
graduates and those affiliated with the college can be
the college. Combined with those characteristics, Doug Baird brings
proud of and want to be part of,” explained Bull. “I
integrity and discipline to this important task.”
would like to start by bringing (alumni) back to campus, getting them interested
and involved in what we are doing and have done here at Brewton-Parker
College and making sure they have fun – possibly even reconnecting with old
He and his wife, the former Maranda Thompson of Ailey, and their four
classmates and making new friends. What a blessing from God.”
children, ages 13 to 5, attend First Baptist Church of Vidalia. He holds
a bachelor of business administration with a concentration in
The Bulls welcomed their first child, Stephen Barrett, in September. They reside
accounting from Georgia Southern University. He also served several
in Mount Vernon.
years in the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Stewart, Ga., in the
early nineties.
THE LAMP FALL 2007 11
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