Shorter University’s Robert H. Ledbetter College of Business celebrated the achievements of two outstanding alumni during the spring awards ceremony hosted by the college’s dean, Dr. Melissa Hickman. Michael Tothe, a 1995 graduate of Shorter who serves as director of the Crowne Plaza Invitational Tournament at Colonial, was named the Ledbetter College’s Alumnus of the Year. Georgia State Rep. Trey Kelley, a 2008 graduate of Shorter, received the Young Alumnus of the Year Award.
“We are very proud of Michael and Trey,” Dr. Hickman said. “They represent Shorter University and the Ledbetter College of Business well, and we look forward to hearing of their continued success in their chosen fields.”
Named in 2012 by the Fort Worth Business Press as one of its 40 under 40, Tothe is a rising personality in the world of golf. After serving for four years as the director of sales for the famed Crown Plaza Invitational Tournament, Michael was named its director in 2011. The Shorter graduate is in charge of 64 years of history and one of the top tournaments on the PGA tour. The Crowne Plaza Invitational Tournament at Colonial has been the site of majestic moments in golf. Legends such as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Lee Trevino all won there, and the great Ben Hogan called the course home and won the championship five times.
Before his rise through the ranks of the American Junior Golf Association, Tothe was a high school golfer in Canada simply looking for a college home. “I thought ‘why not see if there is a place to play in the United States,’” he said. “I wrote to several hundred small universities and took it upon myself to send them my resume and golf accomplishments. Then, my mom and I hopped in a car and set out to visit a few of them. We got to Shorter and drove up on the hill. You know, it was unique. I think I just knew the decision to go to Shorter was right for me,” he says.
As an aspiring student athlete at Shorter, Tothe found open doors to a tremendous career. After playing in a few tournaments with the American Junior Golf Association, he was offered a summer internship. Then, before the end of his senior year, he was offered a full- time position. He would be working 80 to 90 hours a week for very little pay. However, as he recalls his reaction, “It was December. I had not even graduated and I had a full-time job. It was amazing!”
As a PGA tournament director, Tothe describes the uniqueness of his position, “I guess there are only 45 of me – tournament directors. It’s a privilege to be in this role, and I don’t take it lightly. Every day is different. We deal with 132 players, 200 to 300 sponsors, and 1,500 different volunteers. I’m passionate about golf, and I love being around the game. But, if I could peg it, it’s really about the people.”
Tothe resides in Fort Worth, Texas, with his wife, Holly, and two children.
At the age of 26, Kelley is serving his first term in the Georgia House of Representatives. He has proven himself to be an effective conservative leader for his constituents in the 16th District and at the State Capitol. He has consistently promoted the ideas of limited government and lower taxes to put forth legislation aimed at driving growth in the private sector. In the Georgia State House, Kelley is a member of the Banks and Banking, Code Revision, and Judiciary Committees, while also serving in a leadership position on the Higher Education Committee.
Kelley said his education at Shorter prepared him well for continuing his education in the legal field as well as serving in the Georgia House of Representatives. He added, “What I learned in the classroom has helped me succeed in business, but what I value most are the many great experiences I had interacting with teachers and fellow classmates outside the classroom.”
The Cedartown, Ga., native earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Shorter University in 2008. He was first elected to the Georgia House of Representatives for the District 16 in 2012. Kelley will graduate with his Juris Doctorate degree from Georgia State University College of Law in May. He is employed with Parker & Lundy Law Firm in Cedartown. In addition to his work in the field of law, Kelley handles special projects and marketing for W.C. Brooks Co.
Staying active in the community, Kelley has held multiple leadership roles such as president of the Cedartown Exchange Club, board member for the Murphy-Harpst Children’s Centers, Polk County chairman of Gov. Nathan Deal’s 2010 gubernatorial campaign, and chairman of the Polk County Republican Party. Kelley is married to the former Amy Marvin, of Powder Springs, Ga., whom he met while they were both students at Shorter University. The couple resides in Cedartown, where they are members of First Baptist Church.
Founded in 1873, Shorter University is a Christian university committed to excellence in education. The Princeton Review annually includes Shorter on its list of best Southeastern Colleges. Shorter University is a member of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). Shorter offers traditional bachelor’s degree program in 48 areas of study, online courses and degree programs, undergraduate programs for working adults, and four master’s programs. Shorter is online at www.shorter.edu.
###