Bert serves as the Vice President of Institute Relations at Georgia Tech. In his role, he provides leadership for the Institute’s strategic external relations, including government and community relations, economic development, and other external-facing areas. As a member of the President’s cabinet, he supports the Institute in accomplishing the vision, commitments, and goals as laid out in Georgia Tech’s new strategic plan.

Bert previously served as a member of the House of Representatives in the Georgia General Assembly, first elected in November 2014 to represent House District 34 in Cobb County, which includes parts of Marietta and Kennesaw. In this role, he served as a floor leader for the Governor (2019 – 2021), vice chairman of the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee, vice chairman of the Higher Education Committee, as well as a member of the Appropriations, Insurance, Judiciary, Juvenile Justice, Science and Technology, and Ways and Means committees. Bert has been recognized for his commitment to passing multiple laws to reform and improve adoption and foster care in Georgia.

He earned his juris doctorate, cum laude, from Stetson University in St. Petersburg, Florida. Bert is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Management with dean’s list honors. While at Georgia Tech, Bert served as the school yellow jacket mascot, Buzz, from 1997 to 2000, where he was named an All-American Mascot in 1997. Bert is a native of Cobb County and graduated from North Cobb High School in Kennesaw.

Bert was an attorney and partner in the Marietta law firm Smith, Schnatmeier, Dettmering, and Reeves, LLP, and served as “of counsel” for the nationwide firm Freeman, Mathis, and Gary. His legal career focused on civil and complex litigation, small business legal representation, and all aspects of probate law. Bert began his legal career as a prosecutor, where he served for five years as an assistant district attorney in Cobb County.

In 2021, Bert received the Mack Henderson Public Service Award from the Cobb Chamber of Commerce. Bert was recognized by Georgia Trend Magazine's “40 Under 40” in 2015 for the state of Georgia. In 2016, the District Attorneys’ Association of Georgia recognized him for his passage of public safety measures through the General Assembly. During his time in office, he was named Legislator of the Year by the Georgia Council of Probate Judges, the Georgia Council of Adoption Lawyers, the Cobb County Republican Women’s Club, and other organizations. He was named the Ross Adams Cobb County Young Lawyer of the Year in 2012 by the Cobb County Bar Association.

In his spare time, Bert enjoys singing and playing the guitar, piano, and harmonica in his band, Better By Daylight. An avid hiker and mountaineer, Bert is actively attempting to reach the highest point in all 50 of the United States. Bert lives in Marietta with his wife Amy and their children, Charlie and Albert, and attends Stonebridge Church.