Middle Georgia Technical College

BB & T City President Jack Lester Named Businessperson of the Year

Warner Robins - Jack Lester, city president of Branch Bank and Trust (BB & T) in Warner Robins, was recently named Businessperson of the Year by the Georgia Chapter of Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) after being nominated for the award by the Xi Alpha Nu chapter of Phi Beta Lambda at Middle Georgia Technical College (MGTC). Lester was presented with a plaque by MGTC President Ivan Allen for his achievement at the MGTC Awards Day Ceremony for Spring Quarter.

The MGTC PBL Chapter nominated Lester for this award because of his outstanding dedication and support of the club and MGTC. As a college supporter, Lester is a member of the Accounting and Business Office Technology advisory committee and lends his time speaking to business classes at the college about banking and finance. In addition, Lester has invited members of the PBL club to visit him at his bank to offer a look at the inner-workings of the banking industry.

Lester was born and raised in the middle Georgia Area and was a member of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) during all four years of high school. FBLA is the secondary equivalent of the PBL organization. At Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, Lester was a business major, as well as a four-year player on the basketball team and an Academic All-American.

Lester began his banking career right out of college and has been with BB & T since 2000. Since then, he has been an integral part of the Middle Georgia Technical College and Xi Alpha Nu family.

Lester takes time out his schedule, quarterly, to serve on business panels at the college and acts as a springboard for valuable information about the outside work world to MGTC business students. His keen insight and receptiveness to students' questions makes him an extremely valuable member of this panel.

In addition to his service to the college, Lester has also made financial donations to the PBL club. He was a corporate sponsor during 2008, supporting the Job Interview, Financial Services, and Business Ethics competitive events. He also has become a Professional Division Member of PBL and served as a competitive event judge for the FBLA Region V conference and for the PBL South District conference earlier this year.

&qout;Jack's support is invaluable to our student organization,&qout; said Sam Lester, Business Office Technology instructor and PBL club advisor. &qout;The students really appreciate all of the time that he dedicates to this organization. It is because of people like him that our students can excel and be successful.&qout;

This year has been a banner year for the PBL chapter at MGTC. Not only did the club receive Chapter of the Year designation from the state organization, members set club records at both the district and state competitions for awards earned. In addition, the MGTC club was the only chapter in the state to receive the Floy McGarity Silver Seal of Service award recognizing the club's work with campus blood drives and other community service projects. Also, the National PBL/FBLA organization designated Xi Alpha Nu as an Outstanding Chapter for 2007-2008. MGTC's chapter was the only Georgia chapter to receive this distinction.

Phi Beta Lambda is a student business organization with the mission of bringing business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs. Throughout the year, students perform various community service acts, including raising money for the March of Dimes, the state project for Georgia PBL. Xi Alpha Nu is open to all students at Middle Georgia Technical College.

To find out more about Middle Georgia Technical College, call 478.988.6800 or log on to www.middlegatech.edu. Apply now for Summer Quarter. Classes begin July 8.

Dr. Ivan Allen, MGTC President, and Jack Lester, Businessperson of the Year

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