Tim Bentsen, Georgia Advisory Board Member

For Tim Bentsen, leadership has always been about more than business—it's about using his experience to strengthen organizations, invest in communities, and create opportunities for others to succeed.

Tim spent 37 years with KPMG LLP, one of the world's leading accounting and advisory firms, where he served as an audit partner, practice leader, Southeast Area Managing Partner, and Atlanta Office Managing Partner before retiring in 2012. Throughout his distinguished career, he built a reputation for integrity, strategic leadership, and a commitment to excellence.

Retirement marked the beginning of a new chapter of service. Tim has continued to share his expertise as a member of the boards of four public companies, including serving as the Independent Lead Director for Synovus Financial Corp. He also spent seven years teaching in the University of Georgia's Master of Accountancy Program, helping prepare the next generation of business leaders.

Beyond the boardroom, Tim has devoted much of his life to serving his community. His volunteer journey began through his church and his children's schools and has grown into decades of leadership with organizations including Atlanta Children's Shelter, the Atlanta Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, United Way of Metro Atlanta, the Woodruff Arts Center, Historic Oakland Foundation, Georgia Center for Opportunity, and Arete Scholars.

For Tim, supporting Arete Scholars is a natural extension of his lifelong commitment to expanding opportunity. He believes Arete's approach to serving families reflects the true purpose of Georgia's scholarship program by not only helping students access the right schools but also providing the support they need to succeed long-term.

"Arete's approach to providing support to families in need lines up exactly with the intent of the state's scholarship program," Tim says. "The fact that Arete is now going deeper to assure longer-term success for students is incredibly encouraging and rewarding to see. It is easy to talk to others about Arete and how it is different—and better—than others in this field."

Outside of his professional and volunteer work, Tim has developed a passion for wildlife photography, particularly photographing birds. His travels have taken him to remarkable places in search of unique species, and he has photographed nearly 700 species of birds—including more than 70 different hummingbirds. For Tim, bird photography offers both adventure and an appreciation for the beauty found throughout the natural world.

Tim and his wife, Susan, live in Brookhaven, Georgia, and are proud parents of five children and grandparents to eight grandchildren. As a member of Arete's Georgia Advisory Board, Tim continues to use his leadership, wisdom, and passion for service to help more students and families access the educational opportunities they deserve.