Amanda Groover

In 2001, Amanda Groover earned an associate degree in business administration from what was Gainesville State College. She entered the workforce and began developing leadership skills that have earned her the respect and opportunities she holds today.

The self-described "servant leader" has led teams in professional and volunteer sectors, with a willing attitude.

"I can only expect others to do what I'm willing to do. I'm never going to ask someone to do something that I'm not willing to do myself," she said.

She casts a vision and creates goals as part of leading her team. Sometimes Groover steps back to allow others to experience the pain necessary to learn to do things differently themselves, taking a hands-off approach to allow others the growth opportunity.

"My leadership mentality and how I lead other people is just letting them bring their values and assets to the table, allowing them to grow through the process, and sometimes letting them bring their best skill set to the team to be a better well-rounded team," Groover said.

The leadership roles held by the Clarkesville, Georgia native include professional, service and volunteer activities. Her current role as a business development manager for CROFT & Associates in the architectural industry, provides opportunities to "do a lot of cool things like job site tours with hard hats and working in professional organizations."

"I'm helping lead two tours on an active job site for college students to walk through construction job sites because they're looking at going into the architectural field in the construction field post-college.

That's just a simple version of leadership, but it's the ability to open their eyes and give them that experience," Groover said.

She has been actively involved in Rotary for many years in various roles, which provide "new perspective from people in different or multicultural nationalities that experience life differently than we do."

Groover said her current role as membership chair for the UNG Alumni Association holds one of the biggest challenges because of the different legacies people have. She draws on her personal experience, having earned a degree in management from UNG in 2004.

Leadership roles often come with challenges, and Groover faces them with confidence.

"The best leaders are driven to identify solutions," she said. "I just look at how to tackle those problems.  What's the core of the problem? What's the realistic way to solve that problem? What can we do today and what can we do tomorrow? Let's start with what's attainable."

Groover believes the value of leadership lies in a willingness to serve others.

"I love the return on the relationship more than the return on investment that I get every day because I can always meet somebody and get to know them and be nice to them. At some point in time in the future, that return on relationship gives me way more return than any kind of monetary value I give you today," she said.