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Ask Scott Dozier (’73
Scott Dozier ('73)
A member of Darlington’s Board of Trustees since 2014, Scott Dozier (’73) was named chairman of the governing body in May.
A graduate of Florida State University, he has been in the financial services industry since 1983 and currently serves as senior vice president at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Atlanta. He frequently appears on NABCAP’s list of Georgia Premier Advisors and Forbes magazine’s “Best in State Wealth Advisors.” He is also a member of the Atlanta Estate Planning Council, Georgia Society of CPAs, the American Institute of CPAs, the Investments & Wealth Institute, and the Association for Corporate Growth.
Civically, he and his wife, Margaret, have played a significant role with the annual High Museum of Atlanta Wine Auction, which has raised over $25 million for the museum since its inception. He served on the High Museum Board of Directors for six years and remains a member of the Woodruff Arts Center's Investment Committee.
The Doziers live in Vinings, Ga., and have two sons, John and Taylor, and a daughter, Margaret.
What does Darlington mean to you personally?
Darlington was a very formative experience that prepared me for my journey ahead. I believe it changed my trajectory for the better.
When did you attend Darlington and what were you involved in as a student?
I attended as a boarding student from 19701973 and enjoyed being in the Glee Club, which also kept me on Mr. Moser’s good list. My senior year, they asked me to head the Weekend
Activities Committee to plan activities for dorm students. I had a popular idea of attending concerts in Atlanta, which was great until the school president, Gordon Bondurant, decided to go with us. He didn’t think they were an activity that met the school’s objectives! I also participated in many community volunteer projects, which started my lifelong love of volunteering.
Who were your favorite teachers and/ or coaches and why?
Doc Regester and George Awsumb -- two great
English teachers who provided me with strong writing skills and guided me through the classic
Upper School literature. My college freshman
English professor was impressed with how I jumped into the works of Kurt Vonnegut. It was obvious I was well prepared.
How have the values instilled in you at Darlington played a part in your adult life, both personally and in your career?
Darlington’s focus on Service Beyond Self has influenced me in my adult life. From serving in homeless shelters to building Habitat houses,
I have always been motivated to serve the less fortunate in the community.
We often talk about the fact that Darlington connections span the globe and you never know when you might meet a fellow alum. Do you have any stories about connecting with other Darlington alumni unexpectedly either in your career or otherwise?
When I began dating my wife-to-be in college,
I did not know that her father, Dick Denney, was
Class of 1948. I began my career in investments with the Robinson Humphrey Co. not knowing that two top executives, Roby Robinson (’58) and Bob Glenn (’61), were strong supporters and
fellow alumni. And just a few weeks ago, flying back from Los Angeles, a Darlington graduate from the Class of 1981 whose family ran The Partridge Restaurant in Rome, was sitting next to my wife. Tigers are everywhere.
What volunteer roles have you held at Darlington over the years?
I’ve participated in many Annual Fund call nights; served on the Second Century Campaign
Atlanta Cabinet; and, most recently, as trustee, vice chair, and now chairman of the Board.
How long have you served as a member of the Board of Trustees and what does it mean to you, as an alumnus, to have this opportunity to lead the governing body of the school?
I joined the Board in May of 2014. I enjoy helping solve issues the school may be facing.
Also, I want to bring Darlington’s long-standing mission and culture into today’s world.
What do you think are the most important qualities in a good leader?
Being a good listener and being open to a broad range of ideas as well as getting your Board or team engaged toward a common goal.
As a leader, how do you approach difficult issues or decisions?
Gather and analyze all possible information and discuss among a group. Seek everyone’s perspective and opinions. At some point, it will become clear which direction to go. Make a decision with conviction and move on.
Describe the makeup of our Board of Trustees and how diversity in representation helps the group make strategic decisions.
When adding new members to our Board, we are very cognizant of maintaining a balance among gender, day and boarding alumni, current parents, different professions, and varied backgrounds. We continually strive to add more diversity to the Board. Our current roster has a good mix.
Having a diverse group of ideas is key to making strategic decisions. I constantly hear comments in our meetings that have never crossed my mind. Although I might not agree with all of them, they give a new perspective to how I and others view the issue.
What are your goals for your first year as chairman of the board?
We have numerous exciting projects in the works. My goal is to rally the Board behind these projects to provide as much support as possible to the school’s leadership team. There are many opportunities for Darlington and I want to hit the ground running.
Darlington’s greatest opportunity is to broadcast our story to a larger audience and we want to engage our entire community in helping us do so. We have a unique experience and culture that is very appealing and produces successful outcomes. There are many more prospective students who would thrive at
Darlington. At the same time, we must find ways to make a Darlington education more affordable.
What do you hope for the future of Darlington School?
My hope is that Darlington can adapt to the needs of future students while maintaining the vision of our founders. I would like to have our
Mission and Motto be as relevant 50 years from now as they were 50 years ago.
Scott Dozier (’73), chairman of the Board of Trustees, talks with Head of School Brent Bell at a recent meeting in preparation for the 2021-2022 school year.
