Clayton State University will be well-represented at Atlanta’s international business event of the year, the upcoming annual Governor’s International Awards.
On Thursday, Oct. 4, the Atlanta Business Chronicle and the World Trade Center Atlanta (WTCA) will co-host the prestigious annual awards, marking the fourth year of their collaboration. The awards gala and dinner, which will run from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Georgia International Convention Center, like international business in Georgia generally, continue to attract growing participation.
“The simple fact that the Atlanta Business Chronicle and the WTCA, once again, have partnered to sponsor this year’s Governor’s International Awards is a reflection of the increasingly important role of international business in Georgia’s economy,” says John E. Parkerson, Jr., WTCA president and director of the Office of International Programs at Clayton State University.
Attending the Governor’s International Awards from Clayton State along with Parkerson will be Dr. Alphonso Ogbuehi, dean of the College of Business at Clayton State, Dr. Ali Dadpay, director of the MBA program at Clayton State, Cele Blair, assistant director of the Office of International Programs at Clayton State, and two Clayton State students.
As befitting the occasion, the students are Clayton State’s current exchange students, Zsuzsanna Hunyadi from University of Pannonia (Veszprem, Hungary) and Giorgi Vadachkoria from Georgian American University (Tbilisi, Georgia). Hunyadi and Vadachkoria will be in charge of the Hungary booth at the World Showcase that precedes the International Awards. Another one of Parkerson’s “hats” is that of the Honorary Consul for Hungary for the Southeastern United States.
Parkerson also notes that the awards categories for the program reflect Georgia’s expanding international presence; International Deal of the Year, International Trade, Individual of the Year, International Education Program, New Company of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement (Senator Johnny Isakson will receive this award.)