Good Afternoon,

Happy Friday! I hope it has been a good week for you and you are celebrating National Employee Appreciation Day. This is an opportunity for everyone ­– not just supervisors – to celebrate Georgia Tech employees and make them feel valued. Workplace recognition motivates, provides a sense of accomplishment, and makes employees feel valued for their work. Recognition not only boosts individual employee engagement but also has been found to increase productivity and loyalty to an organization which can lead to higher employment retention. Georgia Tech Human Resources has created a resource page with creative and customizable ways to show appreciation for one another. While today is officially National Employee Appreciation Day, I encourage you to use these resources throughout the year to celebrate our Georgia Tech employees!

And speaking of celebrations, I hope you plan to attend the dedication of the Reck Garage at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 7, at 347 Fest Drive (Exhibition Hall is the rain location). Made possible by the generous donation from the Wallis family in memory of W. Barry Wallis, ME 1968, the Reck Garage will house and display the Ramblin’ Wreck ­– our beloved mascot – in a nearly all-glass building featuring showroom-quality lighting, a state-of-the-art security system, and a rooftop solar array. The garage houses a tool bench, vehicle turntable, and hydraulic lift for students to service the automobile. Located near the Campus Center and the Campanile Plaza, the garage will allow the Reck Club to host community building events, especially before Tech football games, and will be a sought-after social and study space for students. Please join me for this very special dedication.

Next week is also Sustainable Development Goals Action and Awareness Week and the campus community is invited to participate in a variety of events that increase awareness of and encourage actions that advance the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals work to address the world’s most monumental challenges, including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, and peace and justice. The SDGs tie into the Institute’s strategic plan and will work to guide our teaching, research, and operations. This year, the focus is on Climate Action and, as you know, development is underway on a comprehensive Climate Action Plan in which A&F plays an integral role. I encourage you all to participate in the in-person and virtual events throughout the week. You can learn more here about SDG Action and Awareness Week including how to get involved.  

In closing, let me take this moment to celebrate YOU on this National Employee Appreciation Day. Every one of you contributes to achieving the Institute’s instructional and research mission, and I value your dedication and commitment to advancing our goals. Please don’t hesitate to let me know how I can be helpful to you and your teams. Take care and thank you for all you do!

All my best,






Mike Shannon
Interim Executive Vice President for Administration and Finance
Interim Chief Business Officer