Georgia Historical Society's Dr. W. Todd Groce and Robert S. Jepson, Jr.
Named to Georgia Trend 100 Most Influential Georgians
Savannah, Ga., January 22, 2015 - Dr. W. Todd Groce, President and CEO of the Georgia Historical Society, and Robert S. Jepson, Jr., GHS Board of Curators Chairman, have been named by Georgia Trend Magazine as two of the 100 most influential Georgians. This is the fourth year for Dr. Groce and third for Mr. Jepson to make the annual listing of the state’s most powerful and influential citizens who affect the lives and livelihoods of all Georgians.
Dr. Groce, the 43rd President of the Georgia Historical Society, has overseen unprecedented growth for GHS and will celebrate his 20th anniversary at GHS in 2015. Under his leadership the institution’s operating budget has increased from less than $200,000 to nearly $2.5 million, its endowment has grown from $1 million to over $7 million, and its membership has tripled from 2,000 to 6,000, including nearly 200 local historical organizations in 80 counties.
Robert S. Jepson, Jr. is Chairman and CEO of Jepson and Associates and the Chairman of the Georgia Historical Society Board of Curators. Mr. Jepson is a businessman, philanthropist and former Chairman and CEO of the Jepson Corporation, a Fortune 500 diversified manufacturing conglomerate, which he founded in 1983. He is past chairman of the Georgia Ports Authority, founder of the Jepson School of Leadership Studies at the University of Richmond and was named the 2013 Most Respected Business Leader in Georgia by Georgia Trend.
The Georgia Historical Society’s growth and expansion in 2014 included the celebration of the 175th Anniversary of their charter by the Georgia General Assembly in 1839 and the opening of the Jepson House Education Center, named for Robert and Alice Jepson.
The annual selections of the 100 Most Influential Georgians are made through a year-round process by the editorial staff at Georgia Trend and are announced each January. The full excerpt of the Georgia Trend profiles for Dr. Groce and Mr. Jepson in the January 2015 issue of Georgia Trend can be found below.
Todd Groce
President and CEO
Georgia Historical Society
Savannah
Age: 52
“Groce has been described as one of the country’s leading public history executives. During his tenure, the operating budget has increased from $200,000 to $3 million, the endowment has grown from $1 million to $8 million, and membership tripled from 2,000 to 6,000. The society has also revived the Georgia Trustees, the highest honor the state can confer.
Robert S. Jepson, Jr.
Chairman and CEO
Jepson Associates Inc.
Age: 72
“Jepson completed his second term as chairman of the board of the Georgia Ports Authority in 2014, having guided the agency through the crucial proposed deepening of the Savannah port and phase one of construction. Savannah’s container traffic grew by 13 percent in the third quarter shortly after the deepening project was secured, making it the fastest-growing Atlantic Port.”
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