(Media release from Darlington School):
Darlington alumni Thomas G. Cousins (’48), John Izard Jr. (’77) and Larry K. Williams Jr. (’82), and Darlington trustee Gretchen Corbin were recently named to Georgia Trend’s 2022 list of 500 Most Influential Leaders.
Tom Cousins (’48) is a retired Atlanta real estate developer whose work largely shaped the city’s skyline, benefited the region’s economy and brought professional sports to the city. He was the recipient of Darlington’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1996 and is also a member of the J. J. Darlington Society.
Cousins’ entry reads: “Since its founding in 1958, Cousins Properties has grown into one of the nation’s largest equity Real Estate Investment Trusts, developing such Atlanta landmarks as the CNN Center, the Omni Coliseum, 191 Peachtree Tower and Bank of America Plaza. The company donated the land, provided the initial architectural drawins and guaranteed the construction cost for the first stage of Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center. The family foundations he established in 1963 and 1987, the Cousins Foundation and CF Foundation Inc., provide funding for numerous arts, education and faith-based organizations.”
John Izard (’77) is the executive director of real estate firm Cushman Wakefield in Atlanta. He started with the firm after graduating college with an English degree, when his Atlanta-area mentors recommend he look into working in commercial real estate before attending grad school. He served on the Darlington Board of Visitors in the 1990s and went on to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees for several years in the late 2000s. He is the father of Lucy Izard (’08).
Izard’s entry reads: “Forty years later, Izard continues to enjoy his work with the firm, and he’s most proud of the flexibility it’s offered him through the years so he can continue to work on civic and community work, specifically in the area of greenspace. ‘My objective was to preserve the natural beauty of our environment, while also promoting the healthy growth of our city and state,’ he says. ‘I’ve had the pleasure of working on many major projects in Atlanta and globally, and for a number of Atlanta’s premier corporations, law firms and organizations.'”
Larry Williams (’82) has served as the president and CEO of the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) since 2016. TAG is one of the country’s largest statewide technology associations, with 30,000 members. The association’s primary role is to promote the interest of the tech community both at the state and federal level, in order to maintain favorable conditions for company growth.
Williams’ entry reads: “Strengthening the ecosystem requires understanding leading trends, building a skilled workforce and forging professional networks among industry leaders, all while tackling cybersecurity regulations around data breach notification laws and privacy issues, among other industry topics. And that’s exactly what he’s doing. TAG is also focused on retooling its foundation, the Tag Education Collaborative, to better address workforce and professional development needs. TAG initiatives include a Pathways to Leadership program that brings young professionals to the table with technology leaders, and Bridge Builders, a social justice equity program.”
Gretchen Corbin has served as president and CEO of the Georgia Lottery since her appointment in 2018. Previously, she served as the commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia and the commissioner at the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Corbin joined Darlington’s Board of Trustees in May of 2020. She and her husband, David, are the parents of Savannah (’20) and Elsa Quay (’22).
Corbin’s entry reads: “Under Corbin’s leadership, the Georgia lottery set a new record in 2021, generating more than $1.5 billion for the state’s HOPE scholarship and Pre-K programs. This number breaks last year’s record-setting revenue of $1.24 billion. Corbin credits the sustained growth to increased online lottery options as well as large Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots. So far this year, the Lottery has raised $25 billion for education in the state. Corbin has also helped lead the growth of the state’s largest businesses, such as Porsche, Caterpillar, Gulfstream and Mohawk.”
Click here for the full list in Georgia Trend.
