Duane Ackerman Honored as 2017 Georgia Trustee

Mr. Duane Ackerman has been named a Georgia Trustee – an incredibly high honor which recognizes a small group of leaders who have had a profound impact on our state. As featured in the February edition of Georgia Trend Magazine, "As BellSouth CEO, Duane Ackerman was a major force in transforming yesterday's slow and steady telephone business into today's booming telecommunications industry."

In the article, Mr. Ackerman is not only recognized for his business accomplishments, but also for his philanthropic activities. "Giving back is part of the American way," Ackerman says. "When you look at de Tocqueville and what he wrote about the difference in America – it has a lot to do with how we treat philanthropy and what we do."

Created in 2014, the Duane Ackerman Family Scholarship provides financial aid to select graduates of Mr. Ackerman's alma mater, Plant City High School. The college scholarships are awarded to recipients based on their financial need, high school academic and extra-curricular achievements, personal character and work ethic, likelihood of collegiate success, and potential long-term individual contribution to the welfare of the communities in which they ultimately reside.

The full article as featured in Georgia Trend Magazine can be read here.