Andrew Southerland is a second-generation graduate of Buford High School — his mother, Celia Southerland of Buford, is a 1980 graduate and was on the color guard team — and other family members, including Andrew’s aunts, uncles and cousins, are also Buford alumni. 

“Buford is in my blood,” Andrew said. “It’s a great area to live, work and play.” 

During his four years as a Buford High School student, Andrew excelled in the area of academics. He was a member of the National Honor Society and an Honor Roll student. 

“I am always seeking to learn new things every day,” he said. “Buford High School is where I discovered the love of learning that has carried into my professional and personal life today.”

Andrew was a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Future Business Leaders of America and Beta Club. He said his favorite memory from high school is his senior class trip to New York City. 

“We visited all the major sites and created memories with fellow students that still gets recounted today,” Andrew said. “It was a trip I’ll never forget.” 

Coach Hunnicutt, who taught American history, was Andrew’s favorite teacher. 

“Coach Hunnicutt was a great teacher, very relatable and made the subject matter interesting,” Andrew said. “He took the curriculum seriously, but also made it fun.” 

If he could repeat any class or activity at Buford, Andrew said he would return to his physics class.  

“It was a challenging class where we were able to build a Rube Goldberg machine (a chain reaction–type machine or contraption intentionally designed to perform a simple task in an indirect and overly complicated way) from scratch,” Andrew said. “It was a lot of fun.” 

After graduating from Buford, Andrew earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of North Georgia and a Master of Business Administration in leadership from Liberty University. He is a sales representative for the Sherwin-Williams Company in Johns Creek, where he has worked for the past 11 years. 

“At Sherwin-Williams, I enjoy working with small business painting professionals helping them grow their business, develop strategic business models to differentiate themselves from their competition and making the world a more beautiful place one color at a time,” he said.  

Andrew said several BHS business and economics teachers were influential in helping set the course of his path in the field of business. 

“Mrs. Aiken helped mold her students into business professionals,” Andrew said. “She taught us the importance of professionalism and how to carry ourselves in professional work settings.

“Coach Snell taught economics and showed his students how business impacts everyday life,” Andrew added. “Coach Snell brought economics to life with his ability to teach difficult concepts to young minds.

“Through both teachers, and the other business courses I took at BHS, I developed a love for business, professionalism and entrepreneurship.” 

In addition to his job with the Sherwin-Williams Company, Andrew has served as Central Campus Go Team Pastor at Christ Place Church in Flowery Branch for the past seven years. 

“At Christ Place Church, I lead a team of high-level leaders at the Central Campus in the areas of missions, church administration, and the Weekday Preschool Program helping them to disciple the next generation of world changers,” Andrew said. “I have a passion to help people grow in their personal, spiritual and professional lives. In both of my roles as a sales representative and a pastor I am able to fulfill this passion.”   

Andrew maintains strong past and present connections to the Buford community — he played Little League baseball at the same park where his two sons, Ethan and Rhett, play baseball today, and Andrew serves as coach for their recreational team. He and his wife, Lisa, their daughter, Molly, and their sons regularly attend Buford football, baseball and basketball games.

“The main reason we continue to support Buford Athletics is because of the community, friendships, and love for Buford,” Sutherland said. “Once Buford gets in your blood, it never comes out. We love the degree of competition, the excellence in how the programs are run, and the relationships we have been able to establish. Simply put, Buford does everything right.”

The Southerland family resides in Flowery Branch. 

Andrew is the son of Frankie and Celia Southerland of Buford. Andrew’s brother, Adam, is a North Gwinnett High School graduate.