Coles College Hall of Fame Welcomes Newest Honorees

The Kennesaw State University – Michael J. Coles College of Business recently honored Jack Dinos and Lee Rhyant through their induction into the school’s Hall of Fame, only the second class of honorees in the school’s history.

The Hall of Fame was established at Coles College in 2015 to recognize those who have supported and been an integral part of the Coles community. The induction of Dinos and Rhyant was celebrated with a ceremony at Kennesaw State, where the two new honorees were celebrated for their commitment to community service, global engagement, and innovation- all crucial aspects of the mission at Coles.

“It is a great honor for the Coles College of Business to have such tremendous partners,” Coles College Dean Kathy Schwaig said at the ceremony. “Jack Dinos and Lee Rhyant have paved remarkable paths in business and industry and serve as role models for us all as we strive to be better citizens and engage more effectively in our communities. Their entrepreneurial spirit makes our world a better place.”

Jack Dinos is the retired CEO and founder of Southern Tea Company, a company which he grew into the second-largest packer of tea in North America and the country’s largest private-label tea producer. Dinos’ contributions to Coles College has contributed to the experience of both students and faculty, helping to establish the Tetley Lecture series as well as endowing two eminent scholar chairs at the business school: the Chair of Private Enterprise and the Chair of Entrepreneurial Management. He has also assisted in the establishment of the Family Business Forum and “K System”, which has been adopted by business colleges around the globe. Dinos holds an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from the University System of Georgia, and today serves as a trustee emeritus at the Kennesaw State University Foundation.

Lee Rhyant is the president and CEO of LER Solutions, LLC, which he comes to with over 33 years in various corporate leadership roles. For 11 years, Rhyant served as the executive vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin and for more than a decade he has been an active proponent of KSU. Named one of ‘Georgia’s Most Influential People’ by Georgia Trend, Rhyant today serves as an advisory board member and executive in resident at Coles.

regions: Atlanta

About the Author