8:00 AM: Arrival – I-STEM Building 1, 302 East Campus Rd., Athens GA 30621
8:15 AM: Check-in – I-STEM Building 1, First Floor Conference Room 1023
8:40 AM: Welcome - Life Sciences Auditorium, C127
8:45 AM: Keynote – Leading with Compassion
9:45 AM: Technology Tours – I-STEM 1
11:15 AM: Reconvene at Life Sciences Auditorium, Room C127
11:20 AM: Panel
12:20 PM: Final Remarks and Closing
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Tom Shoupe recently retired from Honda of America Mfg., Inc. (HAM), where he served in numerous leadership and management roles over his 33 year career. In his final role at Honda, Shoupe served as Executive Vice President and COO of HAM, was a senior member of the Honda North America Regional Operating Board, and served as function leader for the company’s human resources planning and staff deployment for regional manufacturing operations.
Shoupe represented Honda externally in many capacities, including serving as a board member for the Columbus Partnership and Columbus 2020, an economic development organization for the 11-county Columbus, Ohio region.
Before joining Honda, Shoupe served as a legislative assistant to U.S. Representatives Thomas N. Kindness and Michael G. Oxley. Shoupe earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
Shoupe and his wife, Lisa, have three children, four grandchildren and currently reside in Birmingham, Alabama.
Elyse Davis serves as Statewide Director of Regional Economic Development at Georgia Power. In her role, Elyse leads the team that works with communities to prepare for job creators and existing business expansion opportunities. Elyse and her team work with Georgia Power’s research, engineering, workforce development, and marketing teams to ensure Georgia businesses and communities have what they need to thrive.
Before joining Georgia Power Community & Economic Development team in 2014 as the Northwest Georgia Regional Economic Development Manager, Elyse was the lead executive of community and economic development organizations in Georgia and North Carolina for over twenty-five years.
Since July 2020, Patrick has served as the Economic Development Liaison for Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) at the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE). In this capacity, he advances CTAE programs across the state by cultivating strategic partnerships with business, industry, and economic development organizations at both the state and local levels. His work includes leading and coordinating workforce—and economic—development initiatives that help design, strengthen, and sustain Georgia’s talent pipelines. Prior to joining GaDOE, Patrick spent six years in Career Development at North Georgia Technical College and brings additional experience from both the public and private sectors.
Mary Overholt is the Human Resources Director at Kubota Manufacturing of America in Gainesville, Georgia, where she leads human resources strategy for a complex manufacturing operation. She brings deep expertise in performance management, continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, and organizational change, with a strong track record of aligning people-focused initiatives with business goals.
With more than 20 years of experience in human resources across the manufacturing sector, Mary has held progressive roles at Kubota, Nifco KTW America Corporation, and Caterpillar Inc. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership from Union University and has completed advanced training in managerial leadership, change management, and leveraging AI for business.