Alumnus Jerry S. Wilson received the University System of Georgia Regents’ Hall of Fame Alumni Award as part of the Regent’s Salute to Education on March 22 at the World of Coca-Cola. Wilson was one of three winners nominated from alumni across the USG’s 31 institutions.        

Wilson graduated from DeKalb College, now Georgia Perimeter College, in 1974 with an associate’s degree in Liberal Arts. He went on to earn a B.A. in economics  from the University of Georgia and an MBA from Mercer University. 

Wilson had a successful career in the automotive industry until 1988 when he left Volkswagen to take a job at his dream company, Coca-Cola. He started his 24-year career at Coca-Cola as an account executive and retired in 2012 as the senior vice president and chief customer and commercial officer. During his tenure, Wilson represented Coca-Cola and served 1.8 billion consumers and 20 million customers in 204 countries worldwide.

His true passion, however, is mentoring and developing talent in young people.  

In that role, Wilson has visited GPC regularly over the past five years to speak with student groups and talk to business majors. He also was a personal mentor to dozens of Coca-Cola employees who are now leaders in the company.

In other roles at his alma mater, Wilson served as an advisor to Georgia Perimeter’s Institutional Advancement leadership, sharing his expertise on messaging, managing people and the importance of commitment—topics that are also the subject of his best-selling book, “Managing Brand You.”

Wilson also volunteered to chair the feasibility study for GPC’s comprehensive fundraising campaign in 2010. His most recent volunteer involvement was giving the keynote address at GPC’s 2013 commencement.

Wilson is the second consecutive GPC alumnus to win the Regent’s Hall of Fame Award. Alumna Allison Batson (2009) was honored at the 2013 gala.

Georgia Perimeter College's Office of Alumni Relations serves all alumni who have earned at least one credit hour at DeKalb College, DeKalb Community College or Georgia Perimeter College. You can become involved by joining the GPC Alumni Association today.