Ryan Warren Named 2026 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year

Valdosta State University recently honored Ryan Warren with the 2026 Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration Alumnus of the Year Award. He is pictured with Dr. Guclu Atinc, dean of the Langdale College of Business Administration; Dr. Donald J. Green, president of VSU; and Thomas D. Head, president of the VSU Alumni Association Executive Board.

VALDOSTA – Valdosta State University recently honored Ryan Warren with the 2026 Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration Alumnus of the Year Award.

“This honor is one that means a lot to me for many reasons,” he said. “As a leader, it’s not only an honor personally, but it also speaks to the collective efforts of the various professional and personal organizations that I have been blessed to be a part of since my graduation from VSU in 1998. It’s also special because I chose to make Valdosta my family’s home after graduation. To be recognized for my impact on the Valdosta community just adds to that.”

Warren earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management in 1998. He currently serves as president and chief executive officer of Commercial Banking Company (CBC) Bank in Valdosta.

“Mr. Ryan Warren represents exactly what we hope our graduates will become — successful professionals, thoughtful leaders, and individuals who make a meaningful difference in their communities,” said Dr. Guclu Atinc, dean of the Langdale College of Business Administration. “His accomplishments in banking are impressive, but what stands out to me even more is his commitment to serving others and his understanding that leadership is about bringing people together to achieve a common goal. I am particularly proud of his continued connection to Valdosta State University and his confidence in the quality of our graduates. Ryan is a wonderful example of the lasting impact of an education from the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration, and we are proud to recognize him with this well-deserved honor.”

VSU Alumni Relations: How did your time at Valdosta State University shape your personal and professional?

Warren: When I think of education I always think of “foundation.” My time at VSU was a part of the foundation that began with my parents and culminated with my time at VSU. Anything that is built can only be as strong as its foundation can support. VSU gave me a fantastic foundation to start my career.

VSU Alumni Relations: What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of since graduating from VSU? 

Warren: Apart from my amazing family, which I consider my biggest accomplishment, I have been blessed to be a part of many fantastic organizations since my time at VSU. I have worked with my church, Airport Church of Christ, in leadership for nearly 30 years in some capacity. I have served on the Georgia Christian School Board of Directors for 20-plus years; both the Lake Park and Valdosta-Lowndes County chambers of commerce; the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission; and three fantastic banks, including Commercial Banking Company (CBC) Bank where I currently serve as president and CEO. All of this helped shape who I am and how I would eventually lead. I take pride in knowing that each organization is better now than when my time with them began. In none of these cases was that solely because of me, but rather the organization as a whole. To help lead them in each of these cases has been an honor that I am proud of.

VSU Alumni Relations: What person, experience, or opportunity at VSU had the greatest impact on your life?

Warren: Aside from the obvious “foundation” of education the university gave me, the greatest impact on my career was made by the community of VSU graduates that I have worked with throughout the years. Since my very first job in banking, my peers have mostly been VSU graduates. To this day, over 80 percent of leaders in my bank are VSU graduates. This has been a common bond that has brought me even closer to the university than during my time as a student. It is a point of pride that we share and, more importantly, a validation that when you get a graduate of the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration, you are getting a high-quality, well-prepared employee. This has been a blessing to me that I could never have expected.

VSU Alumni Relations: What advice would you give today’s VSU students? What do you wish someone had told you when you were in college?

Warren: There is an old John Dunn quote that says, “No man is an island.” I learned this in middle school but never really understood it. I even thought it was silly. Now more than ever, I embrace the value of others and the positive impact that a group can have collectively on a community, a particular organization, or a situation. As a leader, I only wish I’d sooner embraced the power of building a network and learning to maximize the talents of others to achieve the greater goal. No leader becomes great without the efforts of others.

VSU Alumni Relations: Where do you currently live and how do you spend your time? Your answer could include where you work and what you do there, community service you enjoy doing, the church you attend and organizations you are a member of, your family, your pets, your hobbies, etc.  

Warren: My family resides in south Lowndes County, where we have been since 1999. I am currently president and CEO of Commercial Banking Company in Valdosta where I have been for the last 10 years. I am a Shepard at the Airport Church of Christ, and I enjoy hunting, fishing, sports, and spending time with my family. I am married to Nikki (Copeland) Warren (1999) and have two daughters, Bailey Warren Erickson (24) and Lindsey Warren (21), a son-in-law, Taylor Erickson (26), and a grandson, Ted Erickson (1).