Annual Spring Banquet

in the

The George W. Woodruff
School of Mechanical Engineering

Thursday, April 9, 2007
6:00 p.m.
Student Center Ballroom
Georgia Institute of Technology

This event is planned and organized by the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering Student Advisory Committee (WSSAC) and is sponsored by the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering.

---

The 2007 Woodruff School Distinguished Alumnus

Jean Albert Mori (BME 1958)

 

Jean Albert Mori is CEO of Mori Luggage & Gifts, a retail specialty store chain based in Atlanta with 28 stores in Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Alabama, and the finest web site in the travel goods industry.

He and his wife, Betty, founded the business in 1971. At Georgia Tech, Jean, who was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, was on the Dean's List every year. He was President of Phi Delta Theta, Koseme Society, and the Rambling Reck Club, and a member of ANAK, ODK, Student Council, Student Trial Board, Tau Beta Pi, Pi Tau Sigma, and Phi Eta Sigma.

After receiving his BME in 1958, he served as an officer in the United States Air Force for three years.  He earned his MBA from Emory University in 1963, graduating first in his class. After two years with Exxon Corporation he joined several Tech graduates in building one of the first computer systems consulting and software companies, Management Science America (MSA). He was Executive Vice President of MSA and served on its board until 1971.

Jean has served as President or Chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Small Business Advisory Council, National Luggage Dealers Association, Atlanta Kiwanis Club, Emory Business School Alumni, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, and as Executive President of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. Jean serves or has served on the boards of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Metro Atlanta YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, Georgia Tech Alumni, Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Atlanta Southeast Airlines, and the Travel Goods Association. He was honored as the Small Businessman of the Year in 1987 by the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. In 1995, Jean received an honorary doctoral degree from Newberry College and the Emory University Goizueta Business School Distinguished Achievement Award; in 1996, he received the Georgia Tech College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Jean married the former Betty Nunn of Perry, Georgia on June 14, 1958, seven days after she graduated from Emory University and he from Georgia Tech. They have three married children: Liz, John, and George, and eight grandchildren: Katherine, Elizabeth, Sam, Austin, Rankin, George, John, and Cannon, who live in Atlanta.

 

About the Award

The Woodruff School Distinguished Alumnus Award was inaugurated in 1989 to recognize an outstanding alumnus of the Woodruff School. The names of the winners are on permanent display in the lobby of the MRDC Building at Georgia Tech.