Ed Trimble ’86, co-founder, president, and CEO of EzGov, Inc., Atlanta, was the keynote speaker for the Alumni Council-sponsored Career Day, Jan. 27. Thirty-seven speakers, 25 of whom are Darlington alumni and others of whom are parents and friends of the School, spoke on a wide range of potential careers. Students registered for the topics of their choice via their confidential Web student pages.
Trimble, who was introduced by Alumni Council President Billy Harrison III ’86, began his presentation by sharing his memories of playing basketball with Billy, as well as other special memories like ninth grade biology with David Rhodes, his first creative writing assignment called “Mind over Matter,” trying to avoid Jack Summerbell as he sneaked off campus, running out onto the basketball court for each game, and the time that author Pat Conroy (The Water is Wide, The Lords of Discipline, Beach Music, and The Great Santini) spoke to them in Chapel.
He especially remembered advice that Coach Jim Van Es gave his players: “Remember this time and savor it, because it is not going to last.” And, he recalled the valuable lesson he learned when Coach Gus Bell kicked the seniors off the baseball team because they weren’t giving their best effort. He and the other seniors went to beg for another chance, promising to straighten up and work, and Bell gave them one. The team went on to the playoffs and won the regional playoffs.
He gave career advice as well:
· “You are getting a very special education at Darlington. I discovered when I started as a freshman at Duke University that classes weren't any harder there than classes I took at Darlington. Take full advantage of the opportunities you have been given.”
· “You are not just a citizen of Darlington, or of Rome, or even of the United States. You are a citizen of the world. Take advantage of the fact that Darlington has students from around the world to learn about other cultures. Travel whenever you can. Commit yourself to learning another language. Broaden your perspective so you can fully appreciate your own culture.”
· “Find out what you love to do and then do it. Experience as much as you can. Find out what you're passionate about. Don't let others define what success means to you. Only you know what's best for you.”
· “Remember and honor God.”
Trimble, a native of Rome, received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Duke University in 1990. While at Duke, he was recognized as a JA Jones Scholar for his leadership and academic accomplishments. After graduation, Trimble worked for Accenture, a leading information technology consulting firm, where he spent the first five years of his career working on advanced technology initiatives in the airline, telecommunications, and healthcare industries.
At the age of 27, Trimble launched his first company, InterArch Technologies. An Atlanta-based company, Interarch specialized in delivering e-commerce solutions to large corporations. In April 1999, he co-founded EzGov, Inc. and in four short years the company has grown to over 200 employees. It is recognized as one of the premiere global providers of e-government software and solutions. “Our company’s vision is to simply government for anyone from anywhere at any time,” Trimble said.
EzGov’s software allows people to interact with government over the Internet to do things like renew a driver’s license or file taxes. With offices in Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Amsterdam, and London, the company has been recognized with the Pacesetter award for the fastest growing company in Atlanta.
In 2003, Trimble was named the Ernst & Young Southeast Entrepreneur of the Year and was also recognized as a finalist for both the Metro Atlanta Chamber Small Business Person of the Year and Catalyst Magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year.
Trimble has lectured at Harvard, Emory, Georgia Tech, and other leading universities on the benefits of technology to government. He serves on the Steering Committee for Hands On Atlanta and is an active member of the Darlington Board of Visitors. He and his wife, Melissa, have two sons, Will and Charlie.
Alumni, parents, and friends of Darlington who are interested in sharing their career experiences with Darlington students at future career days, contact Lauren Ledbetter, alumni officer, at 706-236-0408 or lledbetter@darlingtonschool.org
Career Day Speakers 2004: Shane Richardson, Whittington, Jones, accounting; Charles Craton ’76, Craton Promotions, advertising/marketing; Sam Edgens ’85, Cooper, Carry Inc., architecture; Frank Barron III ’77, ASA/Delta, aviation/pilot; Bill Wilcox ’84 and David Johnson, 1st Floyd Investment Services, banking; Ed Trimble ’86, EzGov, Inc., business; Nathan Abbott ’90, Atlanta Illustrated, computer technology; Bill Wesley ’70, State of Georgia Dept. of Corrections, counseling; Lewie Mashburn, Zion Farms, culinary arts;Lynn Whatley ’67, Synovus Securities Inc., financial planning; Suzanne Royal '77, freelance artist, fine arts; Michelle Williams ’91, Creative Loafing, graphic design; Summer Williams ’94, The Johnson Studio, interior design; Ed Watters ’83, Ed Watters and Associates, landscape architecture; Jule Peek, Jr. ’81, Shaw, Maddox, Attys., and Wade Hoyt IV ’87, The Hoyt Firm, law; Bob Meadows, FBI, law enforcement; Stacy Sennett Peek ’80, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesist, medical technology; Paul Brock ’74 and Meesha Mathis, physician's assistant, Harbin Clinic, medicine; Bill King, military; Elizabeth Morgan Mitchell ’86, nurse educator/consultant, nursing; Julie Hodges, Zartic, Inc., nutritionist; Jason Whitfield, freelance actor, performing arts; Mark Law, Mark Law Photography, photography; Sam Echols, Advanced Rehab, physical therapy/sports medicine; Matt Sawhill ’96, Senator Saxby Chambliss, politics; Mandy May Carranze ’96, Turner Broadcasting, radio/TV; Tom Muller ’87, Tom Muller Real Estate, real estate; Dean Drummond ’88, Dean’s Fifth Ave. Grill, restauranteur; Cameron O’Riley '95, Gordon County DFACS, social work; Greg Wells, former professional baseball player with the Blue Jays and Twins, sports; Lee Watson ’75, Culbreth-Carr-Watson Animal Clinic, veterinary medicine; and Charlotte Smith, former admission rep for Stetson University, Sally Cash Johnson ’87, Camp Skyline, Larry Powell, Rome-Floyd County YMCA, Mary Y. Hudson and Amy Astin, Floyd Medical Center, freshman program.
