Bud Stumbaugh now owns a silver spoon but wasn’t born with one in his mouth. His school drop-out mom found it difficult to put food on the table for him and his three sisters on the minimum wages she earned after his father left when Bud was one year old. At age 9 Bud picked cotton for a penny a pound to help his mom buy food and school clothes. From this meager beginning he worked his way through college and became the first in his family to earn a bachelor’s degree.

After successfully helping other companies to profitability, Bud Co-Founded and was CEO of AssuranceAmerica Corporation. In just 10 years he led its growth from zero to $200 million. He has since promoted his successor and retired but is still called upon to occasionally lead special projects, conduct planning and sales training sessions and represent AssuranceAmerica through public speaking engagements. His company and its co-founder, Guy Millner, honored Bud by pledging $3 million to start the Stumbaugh School of Risk Management and Insurance in the business college of Faulkner University.

In addition to business and charitable endeavors, Bud has been active in elective politics having served 8 terms in the Georgia State Senate where he was chosen as Outstanding Senator of the Year 5 different times. Later, he was an unsuccessful candidate for Lt. Governor of Georgia.

A frequent speaker before business entities, religious groups, civic clubs, conventions, political forums and universities, Bud hopes to inspire people to pursue their dreams regardless of circumstances or difficulties. In that regard, he recently authored a book, DO THE BEST YOU CAN’T!, published by Morgan James Publishing Company. that echoes the theme of his speeches by encouraging readers to fight their fears, overcome obstacles and conquer challenges as he did; thereby achieving what they and others previously thought was impossible.

Driven by his desire to help others, Bud is active in his local community and beyond by serving on a half-dozen charitable or non-profit boards. This includes the Holly Theatre, Boy Scouts of America, and Faulkner University in Montgomery, from which he has an honorary doctorate. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Lipscomb University in Nashville.

One of Bud’s favorite quotes, from Ben Franklin’s “Poor Richards Almanac,” provides insight into his motivations for writing his book, speaking to groups and living his life: “If you don’t want to be forgotten soon after you die, either write a book worth reading or lead a life worth writing.”

Bud has certainly attempted that, not only in business, politics, motivational speaking, civic and charitable endeavors, but also by staying physically active. He lifts weights 4 times a week and jogs 3 miles a day 7 days a week. He recently exceeded 61,000 total miles of jogging as a result of his running regimen. He is the father of 2 daughters, has 4 grandkids, and lives with his wife, Tania, in Dahlonega, Georgia.