UWG News Archive

Oxford to speak at Spring ceremony

April 23, 2004

CARROLLTON, GA - Internationally successful Atlanta entrepreneur and University of West Georgia alumnus W. Cliff Oxford will deliver the commencement address at the West Georgia spring graduation ceremony at Grisham Stadium on Thursday, May 6, at 8 p.m.

Oxford created what Inc. Magazine ranked as one of the 500 fastest-growing companies in America in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

A native of Waycross, Ga., Oxford worked his way through West Georgia driving trucks for United Parcel Service. The company hired him full-time upon his graduation in 1985, and he became its youngest district manager at only 23.

In 1995, armed with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from West Georgia and a Master of Business Administration degree from Emory University, he left UPS and started STI Knowledge using the expertise he gained from developing a new, technologically advanced help desk for UPS.

Before selling his interest in the company in late 2003, Oxford shaped it into a global leader in information technology support with offices in the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, India, Hong Kong and the Philippines. It was recognized by the highly regarded Gartner Group as a “Visionary and Execution” high-tech leader in 2003.

In early 2004, Oxford entered a real estate venture with Four Seasons Hotels and started a new Atlanta company, The Home Shoppe, an innovative one-stop retail shop for remodeling, home services and home investments.

If severe weather threatens the commencement ceremony, a decision will be made by 5 p.m. that day, based on the weather information available at that time, to proceed with the ceremony or implement the rain alternative. If light rain is expected, the intent is to proceed with the ceremony, so umbrellas would be appropriate. Students and guests should check the UWG website at www.westga.edu by 5 p.m. on May 6 for information on the final decision.

If the ceremony is postponed, three indoor ceremonies will be held on Saturday, May 8, in the Health and Physical Education (HPE) Building on the UWG campus in order to accommodate all family and guests of the graduates. Graduates should report to the HPE Building one hour before the appropriate ceremony:

9 a.m. — College of Education: Undergraduates and Graduates

Noon — College of Arts and Sciences: Undergraduates and Graduates

3 p.m. — Richards College of Business: Undergraduates and Graduates

For more information, contact the UWG Office of Public Relations at
770-836-6464.

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