Columbus - TROY News Center

Columbus Technical College president to address TROY graduates

Posted on Thursday, 16 May 2013 in Trojan News

PHENIX CITY—The president of Columbus Technical College, J. Robert Jones, will deliver the keynote address to Troy University graduates on Friday, May 24, during a joint spring commencement ceremony for the Phenix City Campus and the Columbus/Ft. Benning site.

The ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. EST inside the Columbus Civic Center. About 314 students will receive degrees this spring from the Phenix City Campus and the Columbus/Ft. Benning site.

Jones has been president of Columbus Technical College since 1999. His tenure has seen a threefold growth in enrollment, an expanded campus and a host of new degrees and programs in high growth areas.

Prior to becoming president of Columbus Technical College, Jones served in the Department of Technical and Adult Education’s Atlanta office as Director of North Georgia Project Operations for Georgia’s acclaimed Quick Start Program.

Jones received his B.S. degree from Georgia Southern College and his M.Ed. and Ed. S. degrees from the University of Georgia. He is a native of Columbus, and has been married to his wife Pat for 46 years and they have a son, Steve of Williamsburg, Va., a daughter, Allison Ehouse of Columbus, and three grandchildren.

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Carmike Cinemas CEO encourages TROY graduates to pursue success

Posted on Tuesday, 22 January 2013 in Trojan News

COLUMBUS, Ga.—The CEO of Carmike Cinemas, S. David Passman III, told Troy University graduates Friday night that people from all walks of life can achieve success through persistence and hard work.

Passman delivered the keynote address during a joint fall commencement ceremony for the Phenix City Campus and the Columbus/Ft. Benning Site on Friday, Jan. 18, at the Columbus Civic Center. About 100 students were presented undergraduate and graduate degrees during the event.

Passman, reflecting on his own struggles working his way through college, told graduates that no matter what obstacles they faced on the way to earning a degree, great things are possible.

"You could end up a senior officer in our armed forces, a famous actor, writer, painter, or an executive at a Fortune 500 company," Passman said. "Even if you had to work your way through school, even if you didn't go to an Ivy League school, even if you didn't get your degree at 22."

Passman said the commencement ceremony marked the start of a new journey. He urged graduates to pursue their goals with persistence.

"Extraordinary things happen to ordinary people who dare to persist,” Passman said.

Passman has served as the head of Carmike Cinemas since June 2009. He is also currently the chairman for the National Association of Theatre Owners. Before coming to Carmike, Passman served as President and CEO of IBS-STL, Inc., a book publishing and distribution company, from June 2005 until January 2009.

S. David Passman III, president and CEO of Carmike Cinemas, delivers the keynote address to graduates during a joint commencement ceremony for the Phenix City Campus and the Columbus/Ft. Benning Site on Friday, Jan. 18, in Columbus, Ga.

Carmike Cinemas CEO to address Troy University graduates

Posted on Friday, 11 January 2013 in Trojan News

PHENIX CITY—S. David Passman III, president and CEO of Carmike Cinemas, will deliver the keynote address to Troy University graduates during a joint fall commencement ceremony for the Phenix City Campus and the Columbus/Ft. Benning site on Friday, Jan. 18.

The ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. at the Columbus Civic Center, with approximately 100 students set to receive graduate and undergraduate degrees.

Passman has served as the head of Carmike Cinemas since June 2009. He is also currently the chairman for the National Association of Theatre Owners. Before coming to Carmike, Passman served as President and CEO of IBS-STL, Inc., a book publishing and distribution company, from June 2005 until January 2009.

He also served as President of the Harland Printed Products and Harland Checks divisions of John H. Harland Company, a provider of printed products and software and related services to the financial institution market, from 1999 to 2003, and also served as its CFO from 1996 to 1999.

Passman is a former partner of Deloitte & Touché LLP, a public accounting firm, where he served as the Managing Partner of the Atlanta office from 1993 to 1996.