Macon State College MVPs is a web feature that profiles notable students, alumni, faculty and staff.
Recent business grad Amanda Gates has begun her career at one of Macon’s largest accounting firms.
Full Name: Amanda Lynn Gates.
Age: 26.
Originally From: Lizella.
Residence: Macon.
Current Employment: Administrative assistant at McNair, McLemore, Middlebrooks & Co., LLC, Macon.
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Business & Information Technology with a major in marketing, Class of 2012, magna cum laude.
Activities: Softball, praise band, full-time work while a Macon State student.
Career: “I am currently the administrative assistant to four partners at a large accounting firm, McNair, McLemore, Middlebrooks & Co., LLC. My goal is to become the marketing director for the firm.”
She chose Macon State College because … “I needed an affordable education at a college with a solid reputation for excellence. I began my freshman year at another institution and realized the education I was receiving was not worth the high cost of tuition, even with a scholarship. When I switched to a business major, the option of transferring to Macon State made the most sense.”
The one thing that surprised her about Macon State was … “The high quality of the professors.”
Her favorite professor was … “Luke Hopkins was my favorite professor for many reasons. He teaches, continues his own education, has a marketing business and still somehow has time for a family life. Being young and a student himself, he can easily relate to his students. He encouraged me from day one and really seemed to care about my success and future in marketing. I strived to do better to live up to his high expectations of me.”
One thing people don’t know about her is … “I enjoy scrapbooking.”
The one person she’d most like to meet is … “Jesus Christ, but I know I’ll meet him in heaven someday. It would be nice to have him clarify some things while I’m on this Earth, though.”
Five years from now she sees herself … “Managing the marketing activities of the firm I currently work for. I am very happy where I am and plan to stay for the foreseeable future in anticipation of gaining additional marketing responsibilities. In addition, I hope to have completed an MBA program by then.”