Savannah, GA, March 30, 2026—Six members of the Georgia Historical Society (GHS) Board of Curators have been included on James magazine’s 2026 “Most Influential Georgians” list. They are Atlanta business leaders Kevin Blair, President and CEO of Pinnacle Financial Partners; Ted Decker, Chair, President, and CEO of The Home Depot; Kim Greene, Chairman, President, and CEO of Georgia Power; and Carol Tomé, CEO of UPS; as well as Robert Jepson, Chairman Emeritus of GHS and Chairman of Jepson associates, Inc.; and Dr. W. Todd Groce, GHS’s President and CEO.
“The ability of the Georgia Historical Society to fulfill its mission and influence the teaching of history is directly tied to the influence of our board,” said Groce. “GHS is a relatively small institution, but our powerful, highly visible board gives us a credibility and reach beyond our size.”
Each year, James magazine publishes a list of Georgia’s “major business, political, and media players,” according to the magazine. The magazine noted the following about the GHS board members.
Kevin Blair: “When Columbus-based Synovus completed an $8.6 billion merger with Pinnacle in January, the resulting bank became one of the largest in the Southeast, boasting over $117 billion in assets. Blair remains at the helm of the combined entity.”
Ted Decker: "Since joining the home improvement giant in 2000, Decker has climbed the corporate ladder all the way to the top and now oversees a thriving company that operates over 2,350 stores in all 50 states and employs some 475,000 associates."
Kim Greene: “Starting her career as an engineer for Southern Company in 1991, Greene has worked her way up through the energy industry to the top of Georgia Power, Southern Company’s largest subsidiary which serves more than 2.8 million customers statewide.”
Robert Jepson: “This prominent businessman and philanthropist made his fortune as CEO of the Jepson Corporation, a Fortune 500 manufacturing conglomerate which he sold in 1989. In ‘retirement’ his focus has been on arts and higher education philanthropy in the Savannah area.”
Carol Tomé: “This former Home Depot executive became UPS’s 12th CEO in 2019, bringing a background in finance to the helm of the Atlanta-based shipping giant. Twice named to the Forbes list of ‘The World’s Most Powerful Women.’”
Todd Groce: “Groce’s 32 years at the Historical Society are but a blink of an eye for the 187-year old, Savannah-based institution, but it’s been a particularly fruitful tenure. GHS’s annual revenue increased from $500,000 to over $5 million.”
Several Georgia Trustees were also on the list, including 2026 inductee Chris Womack, and past Trustees Dan Amos, Ed Bastian, Arthur Blank, Donna Hyland, Robert Jepson, Alana Shephard, Carol Tomé, Paula Wallace, and Andrew Young. The Georgia Trustees is the highest honor the state can confer. In conjunction with the Governor’s Office, the Georgia Historical Society reestablished the Georgia Trustees in 2008 to recognize Georgians whose accomplishments and community service reflect the noble principle of Non Sibi, Sed Aliis, “Not for Self, but for Others."
Womack and former U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss will be inducted as the 2026 Georgia Trustees at the Trustees Gala on April 18, 2026, in Savannah.
For more information, please contact Keith Strigaro, Director of Public Relations and Communications, at 912.651.2125, ext. 153, or by email at kstrigaro@georgiahistory.com.
To see the full list of the James magazine Most Influential Georgians list, click here.
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ABOUT THE GEORGIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Georgia Historical Society (GHS) is the premier independent statewide institution responsible for collecting, examining, and teaching Georgia and American history. GHS houses the oldest and most distinguished collection of materials related exclusively to Georgia history in the nation.
To learn more visit georgiahistory.com.