Name: Drew French

Family: Natalie French (UGA alum (BSAg ‘05, DVM ‘12), Anna French, Scarlett French, the dogs Luna, Ladd, the cats Georgie, Gurtrude, Pancake (Mustang Pony)

Hometown: Alpharetta, Georgia

Current Town:  Athens, Georgia

What Years at UGA:  2001-2005

School/Degree:  BBA Terry  Marketing

Profession: Your Pie Pizza (Founder), Jittery Joe’s Coffee(Franchising CEO), Your Dough Co (CEO), Caper Cabins(Assistant manager), Tulip Magnolia Design (camera man)

Accolades:  UGA 40 under 40, ABC 40 Under Forty, Bulldog 100

What life lessons did you learn while at UGA?  I’m still proud of not giving my shoes to an older brother at the Landing in Jacksonville while I was a pledge.  I said it wasn’t the time or place.  How stupid of an ask was that anyway?  Although watching my pledge class walk around campus without shoes the next week still makes me laugh.  Navigating the social life college provides while still doing ok in school is a priceless- learning that carries to this day.  Study abroad.  I didn’t do that and regret it.  Get involved.  I was not as involved in things in undergrad, and today I hardly say no in part because of those regrets. 

What professor did you most admire?  I can’t call out one professor out but I’ll say I wish I had Kirby as a professor, teacher, or coach.  I can hear him yell at practice and anyone who holds people to such a standard over a long period of time is worth learning from in my book.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Natalie saying yes when I asked her to go out senior year in high school and sticking with me through our years at UGA and beyond.  We just celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary and 25th together.  As you all know, Natalie is an amazing human and she did all of this while raising Anna and Scarlett, our greatest achievement together.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?  I’m proud to be related to Jimmy Carter.  He defied all odds to become President in the first place.  While most would say he didn’t have the best presidency, he kept working his whole life until the day he died at the age of 100 trying to make the world a better place.  He could have easily quit after his presidency,  but he kept giving his gifts to others.  He also was deeply in love with Rosalynn for life.  If we all had that mentality, how great would that be?

Who are your heroes in real life? The teams and franchise owners I get to work with every day are always inspiring to me.  The service industry is incredible, but it’s not for everyone.  We get to serve others day in and day out.  It is fun and rewarding. My parents and in-laws are my heroes too.  It takes a village to make it in this world and the support they have provided is heroic.  My mom works out every day still and my dad is soon to be the Dawg in 5 Points.

Quote to live by: Actions speak louder than words.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?  I love being with friends and family outdoors.  It usually involves something that makes me sweat like a run or hike followed by a great meal by a body of water.  Music is usually involved as well.  5 Points Athens is about near perfect and makes it easy to do those things. 

What is your most marked characteristic?  It’s always been easy for me to bring people together.  I love hosting and serving others.  Cooking a meal for my family and friends brings me a lot of joy.

What do you most value in your friends?  My closest friends truly know me and are unconditional in their friendship.  They forgive me when I don’t deserve it and always have my back even when I’m an embarrassment.  They know I do the same for them.  I have a lot of amazing friends that do amazing things day in and day out for this community and the world.  We are blessed.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?  I’d be more inquisitive and empathetic about the lives of those near to me.  I care so much about everyone but I don’t ask enough questions about how things are going or how I can help. 

Who are your favorite writers?  Will Leitch has been doing great work in fiction and non-fiction for a while now.   All his writing is clever and well done.  This time of year, I’m reading anything that Rivals (Radi) , Dawgnation, and of course BI puts out. 

Fave social media and who to follow?  Instagram. @‌tulipmagnoliadesign @capercabins @‌yourpiepizza @jitteryjoescoffee   These are the businesses that we get to work on every day while getting to live in the greatest city in the world.  Woof!