Navigating the Future

Young Professionals under 40 in Augusta Georgia

Young professionals between the ages of 25 and 35 are expected to have more influence on the future of economic roles and lifestyles than many generations that have come before them. Cities across the country are vying to retain and import a generation that is thought to be green, highly-educated and one that is radically transforming work environments and social networks. Most business development experts agree that cities that create a landscape and culture that cultivate young professionals will be at a competitive advantage in terms of business attraction and quality workforce.

The Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Augusta Magazine, is pleased to announce and showcase 10 of Augusta’s most outstanding young professionals. The young professionals who are featured in this article entered into a competitive nomination process in March and have emerged as this year’s most promising and rising stars. We salute the achievements of these outstanding individuals and we look forward to watching their dreams unfold.

This year’s recipients demonstrate what makes our community unique and full of promise. To recognize them for what they have achieved, each recipient will receive a submitted nomination to Georgia Trend’s 40 Under 40 competition for 2011 and will be honored at the Chamber’s Member Economic Luncheon on June 22. The luncheon will include a presentation and recognition by Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver, a former Georgia Trend 40 Under 40 Recipient.

_{—Sue Parr, president
Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce} 

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Christopher A. Cosper
Age: 32
Company: Hull Barrett, PC
Position: Partner

It’s no surprise that Chris Cosper has become the youngest partner in his law firm, Hull Barrett.  In the seven years since he graduated in the top five percent of his class and summa cum laude from University of Georgia School of Law, he has established a growing legal reputation and earned respect from community leaders.

  Recently honored by Georgia Super Lawyers magazine as a Rising Star, Cosper has handled numerous cases in mediation and arbitration settings. He has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in a wide range of litigation from small claims to multi-million dollar disputes.
His practice is focused in general civil litigation with emphasis in commercial and real estate litigation as well as class actions, medical malpractice and public housing law. Cosper strives to be an innovator by devising new methods to practice law,  improving client service and mentoring young associates. He intends to take a leadership role within the firm, continue to build his legal practice and support the local and regional community.

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Matt Driskell
Age: 33
Company: MCGHealth
Position: Director of Managed Care and Reimbursement

Matt Driskell has a proven record for identifying ways to reduce hospital expenses. During his time at MCGHealth, he has been responsible for significant financial improvements within the medical center. Highlights of Driskell’s achievements include recovering $4.7 million in Medicaid underpayments by reopening prior cost reports and renegotiating major managed care contracts for the hospital, resulting in significant reimbursement increases. In previous positions with other employers, Driskell had likewise recovered an additional $2 million in Medicare Disproportionate Share through the reopening of prior cost reports.

Having already achieved a remarkable record of experience and obtained his MBA, this young financial leader plans to pursue a position as vice president of finance and ultimately to become a chief financial officer within the healthcare industry.

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Brooke HIxon
Age: 28
Company:  MAU Workforce Solutions
Position:  Human Resources Benefit Specialist

Possessing positive energy and a can-do attitude, Brooke Hixon has become an effective human resources leader within her workplace.
In her position as human resources benefit specialist, Hixon is responsible for the benefits administration of more than 4,500 employees. Her regular duties include managing employee orientations, candidate screenings, insurance coverage and personnel transactions. Through this, she “maintains one of the highest levels of productivity in this capacity” that her manager has seen during her 22-year tenure with the company.

With a BBA in finance from Augusta State University, Hixon has successfully moved into human resource management positions and plans to be fully involved in the community and the future development of the CSRA.

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Chavone R. Hollimon
Age: 32
Company: Augusta Partnership for Children, Inc.
Position: Health Awareness/Communications Manager

Though her degree is in business administration and marketing, Chavone Hollimon is really an educator. As communications manager for Augusta Partnership for Children, her primary role is to increase community awareness of the mission of  the nonprofit organization and its various programs and services. Considered a role model for young people, Hollimon’s love of working with middle- and high-school students is evident as she teaches them about social marketing through APC’s youth programming.

In the near future, she plans to improve the quality and reach of her newest venture, an ongoing radio show, Augusta in Review. The show allows nonprofit personnel to be featured, thereby increasing community awareness of the organizations and their importance. Hollimon ultimately hopes to own her own business or become a consultant for total package event planning.

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Katrina Hollmann
Age: 33
Company: Augusta Convention and Visitors Bureau
Position:  Director of Marketing and Communications

With a skill set and education background that includes communications, marketing and an MBA, marketing director Katrina Hollmann has distinguished herself in not only her industry but also among many community organizations. In her role with Augusta’s Convention and Visitors Bureau, she manages numerous tasks including promoting Augusta to leisure and group visitors, developing and implementing various marketing strategies and monitoring public relations budgets.

Described as professional, conscientious and possessing “an amazing work ethic,” Hollmann plans to continue to work in an administrative capacity with nonprofit or socially responsible organizations. She intends to one day be in a senior management position with a nonprofit organization, where she can lead a cause for which she has a great passion and commitment. 

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Shizuo Z Kuwahara
Age: 34
Company: Symphony Orchestra Augusta
Position: Conductor

Symphony Orchestra Augusta music director and conductor Shizuo Z Kuwahara, known to everyone as Z, has a prestigious and award-winning history that promises exceptional things yet to come.

Born in Tokyo, Z spent much of his childhood in the states and came to Augusta in 2009 from a position as an assistant conductor in Japan. Prior to that, the maestro had a bounty of professional appointments, including that of conducting fellow with the celebrated Philadelphia Orchestra, associate conductor with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra and assistant professor of music at the College of William and Mary and American University.

Z, who also possesses a masters of music degree from the renowned Yale University, believes the purpose of music extends far beyond mere entertainment. With his passionate and dynamic direction, Z seeks to heal, inspire and bring hope to people around the world.

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Kyle Masters
Age: 25
Company: R.J. Griffin & Company
Position:  Assistant Project Manager

Just three years after graduating from Clemson University, Kyle Masters has already worked on an award-winning cancer center and been promoted to a management position.

As an assistant project manager for R.J. Griffin & Company, the 25-year-old has helped managed $37 million in construction projects, including company clients such as Georgia Power, Georgia Health Sciences University and MCGHealth.

With a double-degree in architecture and construction science, Masters is ideally suited to see a project through from design to completion, including handling all daily operations on his projects. Masters’s strong desire to promote and maintain a leading edge in sustainable design and construction and its related benefits puts him on the right track for the future.

In the years ahead, the young leader’s goal is to continue to build successful community projects and eventually become a Group Manager, able to lead other professionals and project teams.

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Erin Moseley
Age: 29
Company: Dickinson Architects
Position: Licensed Architect

As a licensed architect, Erin Moseley has exhibited a passion for more than just the structure of a building. Her overarching interests are in the built environment, the physical community and the potential improvements.

Having earned both a bachelor of science and master of architecture from Georgia Institute of Technology, Moseley has firmly laid a foundation to become a partner with her firm, Dickinson Architects. Ultimately, she would like to become a principal architect where she would be responsible for the direction and quality of the architecture produced. Recognizing that one’s space impacts one’s mood, Moseley hopes to affect people positively by improving living and work areas both aesthetically and environmentally.

Moseley holds the distinction of being one of the first local architects to be granted a LEED accreditation in 2007 for environmentally responsible building construction and management.

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Chris Newsome
Age: 31
Company: Newsome Electrical Construction
Position: Owner

Pursuing his vision to start his own business, Chris Newsome has established his reputation as a trusted contractor whose company is recognized for producing reliable and quality work.

It was only two years ago, at the age of 29, that Newsome took the first steps toward his long-held dream of having his own company.  In 2009, with 12 years of experience in the field of electrical construction, he obtained his license as an electrical contractor and formed an official corporation. Within 10 months, his company grew from one to 14 employees with benefits.

Newsome approaches his business management with an eye toward minimal overhead. To keep expenses down, he serves as his own business administrator and carries out all executive duties himself. The result is lower prices for customers and fair wages and benefits for employees. 

As a young entrepreneur, Newsome aspires to become the standard for other industrial contractors. By modeling the highest professional service in the areas of skill, customer satisfaction and safety, Newsome looks forward to the continued growth of his new company. 

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Lindsay Thetford
Age: 28
Company: The Augusta Chronicle
Position: Community Relations Manager

Lindsay Thetford works at creating opportunities for connections. Whether promoting one of the more than 150 events sponsored by The Augusta Chronicle, serving on a community board or evaluating social media, Thetford strives for high-impact communication. Thetford graduated just three years ago from Augusta State University with a bachelor of arts degree in communications, but she has wasted no time in putting her knowledge to valuable use.

Formerly the marketing project manager at the newspaper, the 28-year-old was on the ground floor of using social media   at Morris Communications, in an effort to reach younger audiences and keep current with communication technology.  As she evaluates the steady flow of  information in public forums, Thetford plans to keep her finger on the pulse of it and intends to be in forefront of connecting broad sectors of the community in the most innovative ways.