Troy Brumbalow |
| Life-long Forsyth county resident Troy Brumbalow has always been a builder. He graduated from the first class of South Forsyth High School, building the identity of that then-brand new high school. He went into business building homes and businesses in the Forsyth county area. In 2017, he became the first new mayor of Cumming since 1970. He now relishes the task of building Cumming into a more vibrant, more diverse community in which to work, play, and live. What was your high school career like? I remember it fondly. I was really involved in sports, clubs, and student government. It was exciting to be in the first graduating class of the school. As the first class, we were able to help create the identity and traditions that continue today. Looking back, I have no regrets. |  Troy Brumbalow '90 Mayor of Cumming |
Breaking ground on the Cumming city center Your professional life kept you in the area. What did you do after high school?
I studied business at the University of North Georgia - back then it was known as Gainesville State College. At 21 was working on building custom homes, and I've also owned a few businesses in Cumming. Then a couple of years ago, I decided to run for mayor. Trying to win against an opponent who's been in office for 51 years, it's a pretty Herculean task. But I spent two years campaigning, and talking to people about building a new Cumming City Center. Instead of a downtown of just city offices, it would be a place for people to work, eat, and socialize. And people really responded.
I ran for mayor because Cumming has always been my home, and I felt that I could make a difference.
Tell us about the benefits and challenges to governing a city in which you grew up.
The county has grown five fold since I graduated. People continue to move here for many reasons. Our great schools, healthcare, parks, and proximity to Lake Lanier are just some of the reasons. I embrace the fact that so many people continue to call this home. We will continue to meet the needs and challenges that come with growth. I would rather deal with the challenges of growth as opposed to those that come from a shrinking population.
I want everyone to take pride in our great city. As the community grows, it has become more diverse, and thus harder for people to connect to the community. My hope is that our new city center will be the place for people to congregate, connect, and interact with their neighbors - to bring back that small town feel that we once had.
I studied business at the University of North Georgia - back then it was known as Gainesville State College. At 21 was working on building custom homes, and I've also owned a few businesses in Cumming. Then a couple of years ago, I decided to run for mayor. Trying to win against an opponent who's been in office for 51 years, it's a pretty Herculean task. But I spent two years campaigning, and talking to people about building a new Cumming City Center. Instead of a downtown of just city offices, it would be a place for people to work, eat, and socialize. And people really responded.
I ran for mayor because Cumming has always been my home, and I felt that I could make a difference.
Tell us about the benefits and challenges to governing a city in which you grew up.
The county has grown five fold since I graduated. People continue to move here for many reasons. Our great schools, healthcare, parks, and proximity to Lake Lanier are just some of the reasons. I embrace the fact that so many people continue to call this home. We will continue to meet the needs and challenges that come with growth. I would rather deal with the challenges of growth as opposed to those that come from a shrinking population.
I want everyone to take pride in our great city. As the community grows, it has become more diverse, and thus harder for people to connect to the community. My hope is that our new city center will be the place for people to congregate, connect, and interact with their neighbors - to bring back that small town feel that we once had.
Frankencuda, the customized 1971 Plymouth Barracuda
You're also pretty well-known for building something else - rebuilding classic cars.
The first car I ever fell in love with was a Richard Petty blue, 1973 Plymouth Barracuda. I've always loved classic cars. Something about riding around driving classic cars, it’s a cool feeling. Classic cars, they’re cool no matter how old you are. You take teenagers today, and I was no different, you look back at cars built before you were born, but they’re cool. The lines of the cars, they’re really almost legendary.
A lot of the stuff I’ve done is custom, one-off, like Frankencuda, my 1971 Plymouth Barracuda. It's called a resto-mod, where you take an original looking car, but then you update all the running gear and brakes and all that and make it perform much better. I've never had any formal training as a mechanic, working on cars is something that I learned from my dad out of necessity.
That car was used in Fast 5 of the Fast and the Furious movie franchise - it's in two of the trailers, but as for the movie, don't blink or you'll miss it.
What life lessons did you take away from high school, and what advice would you want to give this generation of students?
I learned my work ethic from Coach Bishop. He was my weight training coach from 7th grade until I graduated. He was the kind of teacher and mentor that you would do anything for. The work ethic that he instilled in me has been with me ever since. Another lesson came from Assistant Principal Reynolds. He said, "work smarter, not harder."
Those two things added together are powerful: hard work done in the smartest way possible is a recipe for success. While you're in school, work hard, be involved, and enjoy this special time of your life.
The first car I ever fell in love with was a Richard Petty blue, 1973 Plymouth Barracuda. I've always loved classic cars. Something about riding around driving classic cars, it’s a cool feeling. Classic cars, they’re cool no matter how old you are. You take teenagers today, and I was no different, you look back at cars built before you were born, but they’re cool. The lines of the cars, they’re really almost legendary.
A lot of the stuff I’ve done is custom, one-off, like Frankencuda, my 1971 Plymouth Barracuda. It's called a resto-mod, where you take an original looking car, but then you update all the running gear and brakes and all that and make it perform much better. I've never had any formal training as a mechanic, working on cars is something that I learned from my dad out of necessity.
That car was used in Fast 5 of the Fast and the Furious movie franchise - it's in two of the trailers, but as for the movie, don't blink or you'll miss it.
What life lessons did you take away from high school, and what advice would you want to give this generation of students?
I learned my work ethic from Coach Bishop. He was my weight training coach from 7th grade until I graduated. He was the kind of teacher and mentor that you would do anything for. The work ethic that he instilled in me has been with me ever since. Another lesson came from Assistant Principal Reynolds. He said, "work smarter, not harder."
Those two things added together are powerful: hard work done in the smartest way possible is a recipe for success. While you're in school, work hard, be involved, and enjoy this special time of your life.
Troy Brumbalow graduated in 1990 as the valedictorian of the very first graduating class. He was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, competed in football, soccer, track and wrestling, and - perhaps forecasting a life in politics - was president of the Y Club, Beta Club, French Club, and the senior class. He was also listed in Who's Who Among American High School Students for all four years of high school.
For more information about the development of the new Cumming City Center, visit the City of Cumming website or follow the Cumming City Hall on Facebook.
For more information about the development of the new Cumming City Center, visit the City of Cumming website or follow the Cumming City Hall on Facebook.
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Kaitlin Pniewski Urbanovitch
Class of 2006
| When she started as a student at South Forsyth High School, Katie Pniewski had wanted to be an elementary school teacher. But after discovering a love of business and marketing, she found herself moving down a new path. Not an unusual story for any student - however, she found her two passions merging after graduation, returning to her alma mater (now married and going by Katie Urbanovitch) and becoming a marketing teacher in one of the most successful and decorated Business & Marketing programs in the state of Georgia. Now approaching nearly a decade of teaching, she is right where she wants to be. What did you study in college? In college, I changed my major three times. I started out as a marketing major, then switched to advertising, and ended up graduating with a degree in public relations. |  Kaitlin Pniewski Urbanovitch '06 Marketing Teacher at SFHS |
Mrs. Urbanovitch collaborates with some marketing students on a project. So what changed for you, and brought you back to SFHS as a teacher?
When I started high school, I had wanted to be a teacher, probably early elementary. I took a lot of art classes then. As I went through high school, I discovered that I had a passion for marketing, and took so many of those classes that I wanted to pursue that. I realized quickly during my marketing major just how much math was involved - accounting, finance, economics, even calculus - which were not my best areas. That led me to advertising, but I decided to narrow my career path to possibly event planning or hospitality, which is why i studies public relations. When I was a senior in college, I realized my desire for teaching was still there, so I stayed at the University of Georgia to earn a master’s degree in marketing education to blend my two passions.
This is now my ninth year as a high school marketing teacher at SFHS, and I think I have the best job in the world. SFHS prepared me incredibly well. I worked with real businesses in my high school marketing classes. When I started UGA, I was surprised that we wouldn’t really work with a real business in our classes until junior or senior year. Most of my first level classes in marketing, advertising, and public relations covered material I already learned in my marketing classes at South.
What were some of your best high school memories?
When I was in high school, DECA organized the homecoming dance. Each year I enjoyed helping with homecoming, but my senior year I really had the opportunity to lead the planning and carry out my vision for the dance. We got the miss an entire day of classes to decorate. It was a blast. Getting to take on leadership roles in DECA and some other organizations, like National Technical Honor Society and Key Club, helped me grow as a person and were also a lot of fun.
Lots of my best high school memories are from hanging out in places my current students would think are “really far away.” Hanging out at places like North Point Mall, The Regal Movie Theater at Medlock Crossing, and the Forum in Norcross. We were not lucky enough the have the Collection across the street yet.
Would you recommend students who aren't interested in marketing and business still take some of your classes?
Absolutely! As a PR major, I learned a large amount of journalism and writing skills, and I bring those lessons into my classes to help my students become better writers. I tell students all the time that there are a huge number of applications for what we learn in marketing classes - you can apply what we teach in marketing to almost any profession. Want to be a doctor? You've got to know how to market your practice. A lawyer? Now is the time to develop your public speaking and writing skills! A dentist? How are you going to get new patients? A stay-at-home mom? You have to understand how to manage a budget. We also teach interview skills in our classes. No matter what you do, you will most likely need to interview.
As a teacher, what things would you tell students to think about besides academics?
The sincerest advice I could give would be to not spend so much time worrying about homework, AP classes, studying, GPA, tests, etc. My advice would be to go to football games, go to homecoming, compete in DECA, compete in anything. Challenge yourself in ways not directly tied to your GPA. Put your phone down. Talk to the awkward kid. Thank your parents. Think about your beliefs. Uninstall social media even if just for a small amount of time. Make new friends. Get an after school job. Look people in the eye. Most of all, enjoy the high school experience, because you only get to do it once - unless you come right back after college and stay in high school forever.
When I started high school, I had wanted to be a teacher, probably early elementary. I took a lot of art classes then. As I went through high school, I discovered that I had a passion for marketing, and took so many of those classes that I wanted to pursue that. I realized quickly during my marketing major just how much math was involved - accounting, finance, economics, even calculus - which were not my best areas. That led me to advertising, but I decided to narrow my career path to possibly event planning or hospitality, which is why i studies public relations. When I was a senior in college, I realized my desire for teaching was still there, so I stayed at the University of Georgia to earn a master’s degree in marketing education to blend my two passions.
This is now my ninth year as a high school marketing teacher at SFHS, and I think I have the best job in the world. SFHS prepared me incredibly well. I worked with real businesses in my high school marketing classes. When I started UGA, I was surprised that we wouldn’t really work with a real business in our classes until junior or senior year. Most of my first level classes in marketing, advertising, and public relations covered material I already learned in my marketing classes at South.
What were some of your best high school memories?
When I was in high school, DECA organized the homecoming dance. Each year I enjoyed helping with homecoming, but my senior year I really had the opportunity to lead the planning and carry out my vision for the dance. We got the miss an entire day of classes to decorate. It was a blast. Getting to take on leadership roles in DECA and some other organizations, like National Technical Honor Society and Key Club, helped me grow as a person and were also a lot of fun.
Lots of my best high school memories are from hanging out in places my current students would think are “really far away.” Hanging out at places like North Point Mall, The Regal Movie Theater at Medlock Crossing, and the Forum in Norcross. We were not lucky enough the have the Collection across the street yet.
Would you recommend students who aren't interested in marketing and business still take some of your classes?
Absolutely! As a PR major, I learned a large amount of journalism and writing skills, and I bring those lessons into my classes to help my students become better writers. I tell students all the time that there are a huge number of applications for what we learn in marketing classes - you can apply what we teach in marketing to almost any profession. Want to be a doctor? You've got to know how to market your practice. A lawyer? Now is the time to develop your public speaking and writing skills! A dentist? How are you going to get new patients? A stay-at-home mom? You have to understand how to manage a budget. We also teach interview skills in our classes. No matter what you do, you will most likely need to interview.
As a teacher, what things would you tell students to think about besides academics?
The sincerest advice I could give would be to not spend so much time worrying about homework, AP classes, studying, GPA, tests, etc. My advice would be to go to football games, go to homecoming, compete in DECA, compete in anything. Challenge yourself in ways not directly tied to your GPA. Put your phone down. Talk to the awkward kid. Thank your parents. Think about your beliefs. Uninstall social media even if just for a small amount of time. Make new friends. Get an after school job. Look people in the eye. Most of all, enjoy the high school experience, because you only get to do it once - unless you come right back after college and stay in high school forever.
Mrs. Urbanovitch, in school known as Katie Pniewski, was a member of DECA (the marketing student co-curricular organization), Key Club and NTHS (National Technical Honor Society). She competed in national and international marketing competitions, and received two 1st place wins at state DECA competitions, as well as 6th place at the International Career Development Conference.
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