Governor Perdue Announces Executive Appointments

Thursday, August 2, 2007

Contact: Office of Communications 404-651-7774

 

 

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today the following executive appointments.

 

serves on the board of the Dublin/Laurens Economic Development Authority. He was appointed to both the Board of Human Resources, where he served as vice

Board of Economic Development

James “Jim” B. Hammock, Dublin, At Large Representative- Hammock is the president and chief executive officer of Omni Resource Group, Inc. He chairman, and the Board of Industry Trade and Tourism.  He was elected to two terms as a Commissioner of the Public Service Commission. Hammock attended Mercer University and Northwestern State College. He and his wife, Ramona, have three grown children and two grandchildren.

 

Board of Natural Resources

Ray P. Lambert, Jr., McDonough, At Large Representative - Lambert is the president of Lambert Sand and Gravel Company, Inc. He is a member of the Young Harris College Board of Trustees, Young Harris College Alumni Board and a former member of the Henry County Employee Review Board. Lambert earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Mary Lynn, have three children.

 

Board of Human Resources

Ann M. White, Rome, Eleventh Congressional District Representative- White is the director of Ride for the Children. She is a member of the Open Door Home, Cancer Navigators and Shorter College Board of Visitors. She and her husband, Mike, have two children.

 

T. Stephen “Steve” Johnson, Alpharetta, Sixth Congressional District Representative - Johnson is the founder and chairman of T. Stephen Johnson and Associates. He is the founder and chairman emeritus of the Board of NetBank, Inc., Directo, Inc., and TeamStaff, Inc. He served on the board of counselors for the Carter Center and the board of directors for the Georgia Tech Athletic Association. Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a master’s degree from Georgia State University. He and his wife, Mary, have two grown children.

 

Franklin “Frank” G. Auman, Stone Mountain, Fourth Congressional District Representative - Auman is the special advisor to the chief executive officer of Cheatham Chemical Company. He served as chief executive officer of Validata, Inc.  He is a member of the Dekalb Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Advisors to Georgia’s We the People program. Auman earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Gaye, have three children. 

 

Board of Directors of the Georgia Lottery Corporation

James “Jimmy” F. Braswell, Macon- Braswell is a certified public accountant and partner at Lamb and Braswell, LLC. He is a member of the Small Business Development Assistance Oversight Committee for the Economic and Community Development Office for the City of Macon and a trustee for the Subsequent Injury Trust Fund Commission. He served as president of the Ronald McDonald House Charity of Central Georgia. Braswell earned a bachelor’s degree from Mercer University. He and his wife, Helen, have two children.

 

Georgia Agrirama Development Authority

William “Bill” L. Lanier, Sr., Metter-   Lanier is a former state legislator and U.S.D.A. executive. He served in the U.S. Navy and is a veteran of World War II.  He is a former board member of Cotton Inc., the President’s Consumer Advisory Board and served as president of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Services Alumni Association at the University of Georgia. He is president of the Candler County Farm Bureau and a member of the University of Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame. Lanier earned degrees from both the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Jean, have three grown children and four grandchildren.

 

T. Brinson Brock, Arabi- Brock is the city president of South Georgia Banking Company - Ashburn. He served as president and chief executive officer of Community National Bank. He is a member of the UGA President’s Club, ABAC President’s Club and the Crisp and Turner County Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the board of directors for Moultrie Technical College and Turner County Connections. He is vice chairman of the Turner County School Advisory Board and vice president of the Turner County Cattlemen’s Association. Brock earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Ginger, have three children.

 

Board of Control for Southern Regional Education

E. Steven “Steve” Smith, Valdosta- Smith is the superintendent of the Lowndes County school system. He served as superintendent of the Pulaski County school system. He is a member of the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders, Rotary Club of Valdosta and the Lowndes County Board of Health. Smith earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgia College and State University and a master’s degree from Georgia State University. He and his wife, Linda, have two grown children and one grandchild.

 

Jennifer A. Rippner, Atlanta- Rippner is the executive director of the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement and has served as Governor Perdue’s education policy advisor since June 2005. She previously directed the Charter School and Alternative Education Programs for the Georgia Department of Education.  She served as the director of the Florida Charter School Accountability Center and was the school director of an elementary charter school in Micanopy, Florida.  She is president of the Park Towers Place home owners association. Rippner earned a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from the University of Florida.

 

Jan S. Jones, Milton, SREB Legislative Council- Jones is a Georgia state representative and former marketing executive. She serves as vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee and as a member of the Education and Reapportionment committees. Jones earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree from Georgia State University. She and her husband, Kalin, have four children.

 

Georgia Technology Authority

William “Bill” H. Williams, Jr., Duluth- Williams served as vice president of BellSouth Technology Group. He is a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity of Atlanta and Habitat for Humanity of Birmingham. He is a supporter of the Woodruff Arts Center, Junior Achievement and United Way of Atlanta. He is a Distinguished Alumnus of the Georgia Institute of Technology. Williams earned a bachelor’s degree from the Georgia Institution of Technology, a master’s degree from Georgia State University and graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Senior Executive Program. He and his wife, Regina, have three grown children.

 

Rodney “Rod” Knowles, III, Roswell- Knowles is a partner at the TriVeritas Group. He served as the managing director for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games and served as the chairman, president and chief executive officer of the Chattahoochee Bank. He is a lifetime member of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, on the Board of Visitors of Davidson College and served as First Lieutenant with the U.S.Army from 1968-1970 with service in Vietnam in 1969.  Mr. Knowles earned a bachelor’s degree from Davidson College. He and his wife, Dixie, have two children.

 

William “Doug” D.  Lewis, Atlanta- Lewis is a senior partner at the Edge Consulting Group. He served as chief information officer for Carnival Corporation, Six Continents Hotels, A T&T/Lucent Technologies and the Pratt & Whitney division of United Technologies.  He serves on the board of directors of SoftBrands, Inc.  He is a board member of OpenWorld and former board member of Leading the Way. Lewis earned a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and a master’s degree from Southern Methodist University. He is married to Lucinda Lewis.

 

State Children’s Trust Fund Commission

James R. Garland, Winterville, Tenth Congressional District Representative- Garland is a research assistant at Sink & Associates. He is a former columnist for the Athens Weekly News. He is a member of the Adoptive and Foster Parent Association of Georgia, University of Georgia Alumni Association and the Development Authority of the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County.  Garland earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree from American Public University. He is married to Patricia Ann Garland.

 

Julianne E. Thompson, Suwanee, Seventh Congressional District Representative- Thompson is president of Casa Bella Interiors. She served as press secretary of the Georgia Republican Party during the 2000 presidential election.  She is a member of the Gwinnett County Planning Commission and the Interior Design Society. She has been involved in the Suwanee Day Parade and the District Attorney’s Blue Ribbon Panel for Victim Witness Assistance. Thompson earned a bachelor’s degree from Liberty University. She and her husband, Jason, have two children.

 

Carolyn “Carol” B. Hanna, Warner Robins, At Large Representative- Hanna is an independent contractor of the National Children’s Alliance. She is the former executive director at Rainbow House Children’s Resource Center. She is a member of the Houston County Exchange Club and a supporting member of the National Children’s Alliance. Hanna earned a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and a master’s degree from Georgia College and State University. She is married to Mark Hanna and has three stepsons and three grandchildren.

 

Sharolyn D. Taylor-Ward, Ph.D., Douglasville, Thirteenth Congressional District Representative- Taylor-Ward served as the associate director of Early Education and Care for Easter Seals North Georgia, Inc. She served as project director and day care supervisor of the Atlanta Job Corps Child Development Center. She served as a member of United Way, vice president of Douglas County Cultural Arts Connection and the National Child Welfare League. Taylor-Ward earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Mercer University and a doctoral degree from Jacksonville Theological Seminary.  She and her husband, Allen, have three children.

 

Board of Community Affairs

Thomas “Tommy” D. Stewart, Jr., St. Simons Island, At Large Representative- Stewart is a commercial contractor and developer. He serves as director of Satilla Community Bank and as community director of Sapelo Southern Bank. Stewart earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Sherrie, have four grown children and six grandchildren.

 

GeorgiaCommission on Child Support

Alicia “Lisa” C. Jones, Americus- Jones is a judge for the Juvenile Courts of the Southwestern Judicial Circuit. She is the former assistant district attorney for the Southwestern Judicial Circuit. She serves as the third district representative to the Georgia Council of Juvenile Court Judges and as an advisor to the Supreme Court Committee on Justice for Children. She is a member of the Americus Junior Service League, Meals on Wheels and the Southwestern Judicial Circuit Alternative Dispute Resolution Program. She has served as a member of the Sumter County Child Abuse Council and the Montezuma Kiwanis Club. Jones earned an associate’s degree and a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and a law degree from Mercer University. She and her husband, Wesley, have two children.

 

Ronald “Rick” W. Smith, Smyrna- Smith is the special assistant to the chairman of the board of The National Christian Foundation. He is a former high tech sales manager for Motorola, Inc. He served as a University of Georgia police officer and as a Clarke County police officer. He served as criminal justice planner for the Macintosh Trial Area Planning and Development Commission. Smith earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Harriett, have two grown children. 

 

Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District Governing Board

Suzanne Sitherwood, Marietta- Sitherwood is senior vice president of Southern Operations and president of Atlanta Gas Light, Chattanooga Gas and Florida City Gas. She is a member of the Governor’s Energy Policy Council, Governor’s Task Force on Transportation and the Alexis de Tocqueville Society of United Way. She is a board member for the Clean Air Campaign, Emory Hospital Visiting Committee, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and American Cancer Society. She was the recipient of the Atlanta Women’s Magazine 2007 Power Women’s Award.  Sitherwood earned a bachelor’s degree from Southern College of Technology and a master’s degree from Brenau University. She and her husband, Guy Griswold, have one grown child.