Governor Swears in Workforce Investment Board Members

Monday, February 20, 2006

Contact: Office of Communications 404-651-7774

Governor Swears in Workforce Investment Board Members

Board to Develop Strategy for Better Educated Georgia Workforce

ATLANTA – Today at the State Capitol, Governor Sonny Perdue led the swearing-in ceremony of 32 Georgians appointed to the newly reconstituted Workforce Investment Board (WIB), a key part of the Governor's strategy to develop a better educated statewide workforce to compete for high-growth jobs.

“For Georgia to compete in creating 21 st century job opportunities we need a workforce with the skills, knowledge and lifelong learning demanded by an ever-changing global market,” said Governor Sonny Perdue.  “The Board's mission is to create an integrated statewide strategic plan for workforce development in Georgia .”

The board members include business leaders, local elected officials, and representatives from community services and labor unions. Mark Musick, retired director and former president of the Southern Regional Education Board, was named board chairman.

The WIB members will work with a steering council of high-ranking officials from 10 state agencies, chaired by Governor Perdue. The Commissioner of Labor is vice-chair.

Governor Perdue recently signed an executive order to move the federally-mandated board from the Georgia Department of Labor to the Office of the Governor, as prescribed by Congress.

The reconstituted workforce board creates a broad platform for policymakers to work closely with the business sector, communities, and employment programs to fill state and regional workforce pipelines with job-ready Georgians.

Education will play a major role in strengthening the workforce. The chief officers of all three state education systems have seats on the steering council -- the University System Chancellor, State School Superintendent and Commissioner of Technical & Adult Education.

Governor Perdue's strategy was influenced by recommendations of the Governor's Commission for A New Georgia (CNG). A recent CNG study illustrated the need for greater collaboration among education, employment and economic planners if the state intends to build a high-caliber workforce strategically aligned with high-growth industries.

The WIB dovetails with the newly-designated Governor's Office of Workforce Development, headed by Debra Lyons of Macon . She combines experience as an engineer, educator, and small business owner with expertise in developing technical training. The office will coordinate planning and policy for a comprehensive workforce system that supports the state's strategies for economic growth.

Members of the WIB are listed below.

Workforce Investment Board

Coordinating Council

This 11 member council, which includes the Governor, comprises chief executives of the lead state agencies in the workforce development system.  The Coordinating Council will serve as the steering committee of the WIB.  Coordinating Council members serve ex officio.

• Sonny Perdue, Governor of Georgia **Chairman
• Michael Thurmond, Commissioner of Labor **Vice Chairman
• Craig Lesser, Commissioner of Economic Development
• Mike Beatty, Commissioner of Community Affairs
• Erroll Davis, Chancellor of the University System of Georgia
• Mike Vollmer, Commissioner of Technical and Adult Education
• Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Schools
• Marsha Moore, Director of Early Care and Learning
• Albert Murray, Commissioner of Juvenile Justice
• Tim Connell, Director of the Georgia Student Finance Commission
• Shelley Nickel, Director of the Office of Planning and Budget

The following twenty individuals represent business opportunities in the state of Georgia :

Valencia Adams, 52, Atlanta , GA– Adams is vice president and chief diversity officer for BellSouth Corporation, where she has been for 36 years.  She is a graduate of Georgia 100 and a lifetime member of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.  In 2005, she was presented the “Millennium Pacesetter” award by the Atlanta Business League and selected as one of the “Top 100 Blacks in Corporate America” by Black Professionals magazine.  Adams earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Georgia State University and has completed management courses at Columbia and Emory Universities .  She is married to Jerry Adams.

Frank Barron, 74, Rome , GA – Barron is a retired officer and director of Coca-Cola Companies, where he began in 1956.  He is president of Echota Realty and Shorter Realty and is a member of the Rome Rotary Club.  Barron currently serves on the board of advisors for the Georgia Conservancy, the board of trustees for the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, and the board of directors for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.  He is a past member of the board of directors of Atlanta Gas and Light Resources, Incorporated and the Georgia Council on Economic Education.  Barron earned a bachelor's degree from Washington and Lee University and he served in the United States Navy for three years.  Barron and his wife, Anne, have two grown children and five granddaughters.

Joyce B. Blevins, 71, Thomson , GA – Blevins is the director of East Central Georgia Workforce Development. She is a member of the Thomson-McDuffie Chamber of Commerce and the McDuffie County Board of Education Foundation Board.  Blevins formerly served on the state boards of Community Health and Community Affairs.  She is past chairman of the McDuffie County Board of Commissioners as well as the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority.  She is a 2001 recipient of the Kiwanis Hixson Award.  Blevins survives her husband, Bob, and has three children and eight grandchildren.  

Tony E. Calloway, 45, Columbus , GA (RE AP POINTMENT) – Calloway is regional vice president of Primerica Financial Services, Calloway and Associates, a subsidiary of Citigroup. Calloway is secretary of the alumni trustee board of Mercer University .  He has developed a minority business assistance program, Capitol Access and Management Assistance and is a 2000 graduate of Leadership Georgia.  Calloway served in the United States Army as a Strategic Military Intelligence Officer and received the bronze star for his work in Operation Desert Storm.  He earned a bachelor's degree from Mercer University and a master's degree from Troy State University .  Calloway and his wife, Avia, have two children. 

Kenneth W. Cannestra, 75, Sandy Springs , GA – Cannestra is a private consultant to the aeronautic, aerospace and electronic industries. He is the former group president and senior advisor of Aeronautical Systems for the Lockheed Corporation. He is a member of the

Kennesaw University Foundation Board and a former member of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. Cannestra received his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan , his master's degree in business administration from San Jose State University and is a graduate of Columbia University 's executive program in business administration, the Management Institute at the University of Santa Clara and the Executive Institute at California State Polytechnic University .  Cannestra and his wife, Dianne, have five children and thirteen grandchildren. 

Bruce C. Coles, 60, Duluth , GA – Coles serves as chairman, president and CEO of MACTEC, Inc, and president of MACTEC Engineering and Consulting.  He is a member of the Environmental Advisory Council and serves on the Carter Center board of councilors, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce board of directors and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce board of advisors.  Coles has received the Accreditation Board for Engineering Technology President's Award and the American Society of Civil Engineers' President's Medal.  He earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from the University of Maine .  He and his wife, Joan, have two children.

Ann W. Cramer, 60, Atlanta , GA – Cramer is director of corporate community relations and public affairs for IBM North America.  She is chair of the Governor's Workforce Development Task Force of the Commission for a New Georgia.  Cramer serves on the boards of the Woodruff Arts Center , the Georgia Center for Nonprofits and Voices for Georgia 's Children.  She was recently awarded Leadership Atlanta's Legacy of Leadership Award.  Cramer received her bachelor's degree in mathematics from Salem College .  Cramer and her husband, Jeff, have two children.

Oliver “Wendell” Dallas, Jr., 38, Snellville , GA – Dallas serves as general manager of Atlanta Gas Light Operations.  New to Atlanta , Dallas relocated from Savannah , where he was a board member of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce and the Savannah Economic Development Authority and chairman of the local Workforce Investment Board.  He is currently a member of the 2006 class of Leadership Georgia, a graduate of Leadership Savannah, and a member of Auburn University 's Engineering Alumni Council.  Dallas received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Auburn University .  Dallas and his wife, Ruth, have three children.

Doc Eldridge, 53, Athens , GA (RE AP POINTMENT) – Eldridge is owner of Eldridge and Associates Insurance.  He is a former Athens-Clarke County Commissioner and served as the mayor of Athens from 1999 to 2003.  Eldridge currently serves on the board of directors of the Athens YMCA, the Northeast Georgia Chapter of the American Red Cross and is a member of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Georgia .  Eldridge and his wife, Sheri, have two grown children. 

Michael D. Garrett, 56, Atlanta , GA – Garrett is the president and chief executive officer of Georgia Power.  Garrett is the 2006 chairman of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and serves on the boards of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the Georgia Board of Economic Development, Central Atlanta Progress, the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta and the Georgia Cancer Coalition.  As president of Georgia Power, he is a member of the board of directors of the United States Chamber of Commerce and the Edison Electric Institute.  He received an associate's degree in mechanical engineering technology from Southern Polytechnic State University and a bachelor's degree from Georgia College and State University .  Garrett and his wife, Karen, have three children and four grandchildren.

James “Jim” O. Hardegree, 57, Watkinsville, GA (RE AP POINTMENT) – Hardegree is the corporate human resources manager for Oliver Rubber Company, a division of Cooper Tire and Rubber Company.  He serves on the board of directors of the National Association of Workforce Boards and is chairman of the Northeast Georgia Workforce Investment Board.  Hardegree is a member of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce.  He received a bachelor's degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a master's degree from Valdosta State University .  Hardegree and his wife, Jo Ann, have one grown daughter. 

Stephen M. “Mike” Harrison, 51, Albany , GA – Harrison is president and co-owner of Technical Associates, an Albany-based engineering firm that provides services to large industrial customers. He is a member of both the National Society of Professional Engineers and the Georgia Society of Professional Engineers and has served on the board of directors of the Boys Club of Albany. Harrison received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.  Harrison and his wife, Jean, have two grown children. 

Timothy S. Mescon, PhD., 51, Kennesaw , GA – Mescon is the dean of the Michael J. Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University , as well as the Tony and Jack Dinos Eminent Scholar.  He serves as a member of the Homeless Commission in Atlanta , where he chairs the workforce development task force. He is a faculty member at the Stonier School and Barrett School of Banking and former director of the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta.  Mescon received a bachelor's degree from Tulane University , a master's degree in business administration from Southern Methodist University and his doctorate from the University of Georgia .  Mescon and his wife, Lauren, have four children.

Robert “Rob” C. Mitchell, 56, Greensboro , GA – Mitchell is president and chief operating officer of Reynolds Plantation.  He served in the United States Navy, where he attained the rank of Lieutenant. Mithcell competed in the 1972 Munich Olympics on the United States

Kayaking Team.  Before joining Reynolds, Mitchell held a variety of managerial positions at the Walt Disney Corporation and served as chief operating officer for the Kessler Enterprise in Orlando .  He received a bachelor's degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a master's degree from Rollins College .  He is a graduate of the Harvard Business School program for management development. Mitchell and his wife, Karen, have three grown children.

Mark D. Musick, 58, Atlanta , GA – Musick is a retired director and former president of the Southern Regional Education Board.  He has served as a member of the ACT board of trustees, a member and chairman of the National Assessment Governing Board and a member and task force chairman for the Atlanta Committee for Public Education.  Musick is currently a member of the board of directors of Great Schools Atlanta and the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education. He received a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University .  Musick and his wife, Judy, have two grown children.

Carlisle “Bix” B. Rathburn III, Ph.D., 48, Savannah , GA – Rathburn is president of Savannah Technical College . He serves on the board of directors of the Savannah Economic Development Authority and the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce. Rathburn is a former commissioner of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. He received an associate's degree from Gulf Coast Community College , a bachelor's degree from Huntingdon College and a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Florida .  Rathburn and his wife, Adrianne, have five children. 

Allen C. Rice, 61, Vidalia , GA – Rice is the president of Savannah Luggage Works.  He served in the United States Army Reserve for five and a half years.  Rice serves on the board of directors of the Toombs/Montgomery County and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, is a member of the state board of technical and adult education and is active in Boy Scouts, Troop 933. Rice received a bachelor's degree in textile management from Auburn University .  Rice and his wife, Nancy , have two grown children.

Charlene P. Sizemore, 51, Augusta , GA – Sizemore is president and chief executive officer of Sizemore Inc., a total service contract business founded in 1955. She serves on the board of directors of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the Georgia Medical Center Authority and Child Enrichment Endowment, Inc. Sizemore attended Augusta State University and is a graduate of Leadership Augusta and Leadership Georgia.  Sizemore and her husband, Preston , have three grown children and four grandchildren.

Danny D. Sparks, 49, Douglasville , GA- Sparks serves as plant chairman at the Ford Atlanta Assembly Plant under the local chapter 882 of the United Auto Workers. He attended North West Junior College .   Sparks and his wife, Sandra, have three children and one grandchild.

Charles E. “Gus” Whalen, Jr., 60, Gainesville , GA – Whalen is chairman of The Warren Featherbone Company and is director of The Warren Featherbone Foundation. He is past chairman of the American Apparel Manufacturers Association in Washington , DC , a current member of the board of directors of Textile/Clothing Technology Corporation and the author of three books.  Whalen received a bachelor's degree in business and communications from LaGrange College .  Whalen and his wife, Nell, have two children.

The following four individuals represent local government:

Susan D. Holmes, 63, Monticello , GA –Holmes is the mayor of Monticello .  She is the former chief financial officer of Insurance Company of the South and past president of the Georgia Municipal Association.  Holmes serves on the board of the Georgia Academy of Academic Development and is outgoing vice chairman of the Georgia Rural Development Council.  She received a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia .  She and her husband, Paul, have three children.

John Fretti, 47, Valdosta , GA – Fretti is the mayor of Valdosta and owner and operator of All States Moving and Storage, Inc., a local agent of United Van lines.  Under his management, the company has become one of ten companies worldwide to be awarded the Military Traffic Management Command Quality Service Award two years in a row.  Fretti is a current member of the Lowndes-Valdosta Chamber of Commerce, past president and current member of the Georgia Movers Association and a recipient of the Valdosta Rotary Club's Vocational Service Award.  He received a bachelor's degree from Valdosta State University .  Fretti and his wife, Robin, have two daughters.

G. Melvin Davis, 65, Watkinsville , GA – Davis is chairman of the Oconee County Commission.  He spent 19 years as a District 4-H leader, responsible for coordinating

4-H educational programs for 36 Georgia counties.  Davis is a former district extension Director and retired from the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service in 1993.  He is currently chairman of the Upper Oconee Basin Water Authority, the Madison Athens-Clarke Oconee Regional Transportation Study and is secretary of the Northeast Georgia Regional Development.  Davis and his wife, Esther, have three daughters and five grandchildren. 

Bebe Heiskell, 66, Chickamauga , GA – Heiskell is Sole Commissioner of Walker County , Georgia .  She has served as vice chair of the Walker County Board of Health, a member of the board of directors of the Coosa Valley Regional Development Center and a member of the state Board of Communty Affairs.  Heiskell was recognized as the Professional Woman

of the Year by LaFayette Business and Professional Women in 1994.  She is a graduate of Leadership Walker County .  Heiskell survives her husband, Arthur, and has three children and one grandchild. 

The following four individuals represent youth activities, service delivery, and labor:

Bo Ryles, Ed.D., 49, Athens , GA –Ryles is the state leader and director of 4-H and a senior public service faculty member at the University of Georgia . where  He is the national chair of state 4-H leaders, co-director of 4-H Clovers and County, and a member of the executive committee of the National 4-H Leadership Trust, the Governor's Council on Leadership and the Georgia Partnership for Education.  Ryles received bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees from the University of Georgia .  Ryles and his wife, Becky, have one son.

Jackie Rohosky, 53, Atlanta , GA –Rohosky is the director of Georgia Quick Start, an economic development division of the Department of Technical and Adult Education.  Prior to joining DTAE, Rohosky directed training and development for Rockwell International Tactical Weapons Systems Division.  She is a member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Training Directors.  Rohosky received a master's degree from Georgia State University .  She is married to Robert Rohosky.

Richard A. Ray, 64, Jonesboro , GA – Ray is the president of the Georgia AFL-CIO.  He previously served as secretary-treasurer for the Georgia AFL-CIO and as president of the Atlanta Labor Council AFL-CIO.  He has served as a member of the advisory committee to the Georgia State Labor Department, the labor studies program advisory council at Georgia State University , and the Atlanta Regional Health Forum.  Ray attended Atlantic Christian College .  He and his wife, Marion, have four children and 12 grandchildren.

Noah V. Savant, 61, Covington , GA – Savant is vice president of district three of the Communications Workers of America and has worked in the communications and labor representation industry for 41 years.  He serves on the board of directors for Mobile Air Networks Inc. and is a member of the small business, agriculture, and labor committee for the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta .  Savant has two children and four grandchildren.

The following two senators were appointed by the Senate President Pro Tempore:

Senator James “Jim” L. Whitehead, Sr., 63, Evans , GA – Whitehead represents Senate district 24 and serves Columbia , Glascock, Lincoln , McDuffie, Wilkes, and pars of Elbert and Warren counties.  He is the owner of Jim Whitehead Tire and Auto in Augusta and Evans.  Whitehead is chairman of the board of directors of the Augusta chapter of the American Red Cross and vice chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.  He attended the University of Georgia , where he lettered in football and track.  Whitehead and his wife, Peggy, have three grown children.

Senator Ronnie Chance, 37, Tyrone , GA – Chance represents Senate district 16 and serves Lamar, Pike and parts of Fayette, Monroe and Spalding counties.  He is secretary of the Senate Finance Committee and currently serves on the Veterans and Military Affairs, Reapportionment and Redistricting, Higher Education, and Economic Development Committees. Chance received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Georgia State University .  Chance is married to the former Cressida Stevens of Gloucestershire, England . 

The following two representatives were appointed by the Speaker of the House:

Representative Terry England, 39, Auburn , GA – England represents house district 108 and serves part of Barrow County .  He is owner and operator of The Homeport Farm Mart, a farm and garden supply retailer.  England is a past chairman of the board of the Barrow County Chamber of Commerce and recently received the Presidential Award for his dedication.  He is a founding director of both the Barrow County Builders Association and the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association.  He is currently secretary of the House Tourism and Industrial Relations Committee.  England attended the University of Georgia , majoring in agricultural engineering.  England is married to Cindy England.

Representative Clay Cox, 37, Lilburn , GA – Cox serves house district 102 and represents part of Gwinnett County .  He is a member of the House Public Safety and Industrial Relations Committees and serves as secretary of the State Institutions and Properties Committee.  Cox is CEO of Professional Probation Services, Inc. and active with the Georgia Private Probation Association.  He received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Western Carolina University .  Cox and his wife, Alisa, have two sons.   

# # #