Kennesaw State’s Coles College recently inducted two local business leaders into its Business Hall of Fame.
The two new inductees, Dr. Shelby Wilkes and Valery Voyles, were honored at a reception in October and were given a chance to share their passion for business and innovation with the KSU community.
Wilkes, a Coles College alumnus, has been a long time supporter of the university and has earned a long list of accomplishments. He has served as a vitreoretinal surgeon and scientific researcher for 37 years, and he established Atlanta Eye Consultants, a full-service medical eye group in Georgia.
Wilkes earned his master’s in business administration from KSU in 1998 and has continued his involvement with the Coles College, serving on the college’s diversity committee. He has also helped create endowed scholarships, helped establish the International Business Fellowship program and remained active in the Black Alumni Society. He also formerly served as a member of the Coles College Advisory Board.
Valery Voyles, daughter of Ed Voyles of the Ed Voyles Automotive Group, was inducted at the same time as Wilkes. In 2004, Valery Voyles became the chairman and CEO of the automotive group, taking over where her father left off.
Valery Voyles was inducted into the hall of fame over one month after KSU Athletics announced that it signed an agreement with Ed Voyles Automotive Group, creating a partnership that will fund 25 scholarships for the Athletic Department in the span of five years.
Valery Voyles has won the Cox Family Enterprise Center Family Business of the Year, has been named one of the 100 Leading Women in North America Auto Industry by Automotive News and has been nominated for Time magazine’s Dealer of the Year Award.
“Valery has supported educators in Cobb County for years through her generosity and advocacy,” Dean of the Coles College of Business Kathy Schwaig said. “She also is a great champion for Kennesaw State and higher education. With a servant’s heart, Valery is always ready to impact the lives of others for good.”
Schwaig said that, in terms of selection, the college seeks individuals who have had great success in business but also live with integrity and have a passion for giving back to the community.
The Coles Business Hall of Fame now includes 12 members including Voyles and Wilkes. Previous inductees include Michael Coles, Jack Dinos, Connie Engel, Gene Henssler, Tom Hughes, Harry Maziar, Lee Rhyant, Doug Shore, Kerstin Valdes Benden and Mark Wilson. New inductees are accepted every October.
