Randy Groomes serves as the Director of Professional and Community Engagement at the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. Experienced in both corporate and educational leadership, Groomes is known for developing innovative programs that leverage diversity at the intersection between interpersonal relations and the core disciplines of business.

Since 2009, thousands of students have trained in the Beckham Workforce Develoment Series that he developed to prepare leaders to interact across differences and drive interpersonal team effectiveness. During his tenure, he founded the Mind Blowers training program in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Athens to help middle school student develop problem solving skills.

Prior to joining UGA, Groomes managed the profit and loss for a multi-state book of business for a national insurance carrier and held regional responsibilities for marketing efforts within the organization. He was tapped by the CEO to serve on the corporate advisory board that developed a plan which increased the profitability of the portfolio of the firm’s multi-million-dollar diversity business by 10%.

In 2004, Groomes was selected as a regional finalist for the White House Fellows Program which accelerated his involvement in community and business organizations such as Toastmasters, Rotary Club and the Commerce Club in Atlanta. He served as president for both the Fulton Parks Foundation and the Atlanta Association of Insurance Professionals and on the Boards of the United Way of Clayton County helping to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for both organizations. Then-Governor Sonny Perdue honored his outstanding service to the state and the state insurance commissioner appointed him to serve on a special advisory task force. The group led a successful initiative to provide access to affordable insurance to underserved communities.

Groomes’ board membership includes the Atlanta Diversity Management Advocacy Group and the Business School Engagement Collaborative which serves as a resource for educators and industry leaders in the field.

He holds a BBA in risk management and insurance and an MBA in strategy from the University of Georgia. Randy and his wife are empty nesters and the proud parents of two adult daughters.