Parker College of Business alumnus Tommy Jones and The Parker Companies were recognized with two of the college’s most prestigious awards during the inaugural Parker College of Business Gala held in March at the DeSoto Hotel in Savannah.
Jones, a 1973 accounting graduate, was awarded the Parker College Distinguished Service Award, the highest award conferred by the college. It honors alumni who exemplify the aspirations, accomplishments and reach of the college. Jones is a certified public accountant (CPA) and the president of Jones, Jones, Davis & Associates, CPA, PC, in Augusta, Georgia. In addition, he is a certified valuation analyst, personal financial specialist, certified financial planner and is accredited in business valuation by the American Institute of CPAs.
He has more than 30 years of experience specializing in individual and corporate income tax; estate, gift and trust taxation; and estate planning. Additionally, Jones serves on the Parker College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board, is a former trustee of the Georgia Southern University Foundation and has served on the Georgia Southern University School of Accountancy Advisory Council. A member of the Augusta Estate Planning Council, Jones speaks at seminars for the Georgia Society of CPAs on estate and income tax planning and valuation of the closely held business.
The college presented the Outstanding Corporate Partner Award to The Parker Companies. The award recognizes corporate partners that invest in the college by giving time, talent and philanthropic support. Hiring students as interns, recruiting recent graduates as employees, mentoring students in the classroom, and providing resources through financial support are just a few examples of the ways these organizations invest in business education.
Greg Parker, founder and CEO of Parker’s and Parker’s Kitchen, accepted the award on behalf of The Parker Companies. He has earned acclaim for his uncompromising commitment to high-quality food service, his dedication to operating the cleanest convenience stores in the industry and his passion for cutting-edge technology, consumer rights and charitable giving.
Recently inducted into the Convenience Store News Hall of Fame, Parker has also been named a Georgia Trend Legacy Leader. A steadfast advocate for consumer rights, he launched the Parker’s Rewards loyalty program and founded the company’s Fueling the Community charitable giving initiative to give back to the communities where Parker’s does business, and endowed Parker’s Emergency and Trauma Center at Memorial Hospital in Savannah. In 2020, he established the Parker’s Community Fund to support charitable causes throughout the region. In 2018, Parker donated $5 million to name the Parker College of Business, supporting the next generation of Georgia business leaders. He actively donates his time and resources to nonprofit organizations in Savannah and leads a city-wide, anti-litter initiative.
The Parker of Business Gala was presented by Synovus and hosted by members of the Parker College Young Alumni Board, and raised more than $45,000 for student scholarships.
