Seven alumni from the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences were honored as Bulldog 100: Fastest Growing Bulldog Businesses on Jan. 22 at the Marriott Marquis in Atlanta.

The Bulldog 100 focuses on an individual business’s average three-year growth rate and then ranks all of the businesses – regardless of size – based on their growth rate.

Branch Carter of Grovetown, who graduated from UGA with a degree in agricultural communications, credits both his education and the friends he made while in college with some of his business’s success.

“It all goes back to people,” said the owner of Branch Carter Photography. “Knowing the UGA College of Agriculture, even though it’s large, it still has a smaller feel to it. It’s a place where you feel like you know the people and feel like you know them as friends.”

“It’s thrilling to see our CAES alums recognized in this way,” said Juli Fields, CAES director of alumni relations. “We know the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences successfully prepares its graduates for lucrative careers, and the Bulldog 100 program allows us to showcase those alums who have hit a homerun in the business world. … These alumni-owned businesses have a tremendous impact on the economy of this state.”

Winners who graduated from CAES and their rankings were:
• Hardy Edwards (1985, BSA in agricultural economics and 1994, MS in food science), owner of Vitamin Derivatives Inc. in Winterville, second place
• Branch Carter (1994, BA in agricultural communications), owner of Branch Carter Photography in Grovetown, at 34
• Thomas Zeke Harvey (2001, BSA in landscape grounds management), owner of Chappell Mill Trees in Milner, at 42
• Harold Still (1966, BSAE in agricultural engineering), owner of Southern AGCOM Inc. in Blakely, at 45
• Mark Tribby (1984, BSA in biological sciences and 1988, doctor of veterinary medicine), of Saint Frances Animal Hospital in Augusta, at 60
• Jim Moore (1978, BSA in agricultural economics and 1981, juris doctorate) of Moore, Clarke, Duvall & Rodgers PC in Albany, at 62
• Charles Hall (1972, BSA in horticulture and 1974, MS in horticulture), owner of Association Services Group in LaGrange, at 80

“We hope other CAES alums will take the time to nominate their business for the 2012 class,” Fields said. “Being a part of that group of successful businesses can only be a positive.”

The Bulldog 100 is in its second year. Winning businesses have all been in operation at least five years, are owned or operated by a UGA alumnus and have a yearly revenue of more than $100,000 for 2007.

Bob Pinckney (’82) and Justin Niefer (’05) of protective sports wear manufacturer Evoshield in Bogart came in first place. Pinckney is a former Georgia 4-H’er. Evoshield had a growth rate of 130.48 percent from 2007-2009.

Nominations for the 2012 class of Bulldog 100 businesses opened Jan. 24. For more information visit www.uga.edu/alumni/bulldog100.