Governor Perdue Announces Appointments to Mental Health Service Delivery Commission

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today the following appointments to the Mental Health Service Delivery Commission. The Mental Health Service Delivery Commission was created by an Executive order issued on August 7, 2007.  The Mental Health Service Delivery Commission will undertake a study of the conditions, needs and issues associated with the services to those with mental illness and substance abuse.

Mental Health Service Delivery Commission

James E. Donald, Atlanta– Donald is the Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections.  Donald served as deputy chief of staff for personnel and installations in the U.S. Army Forces Command. He formerly served as deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army Pacific. He is a member of the board of the American Red Cross and the Atlanta Boy Scouts. Donald earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi and a master’s degree from the University of Missouri. He has two grown children.

Larry L. Gellerstedt, III, Atlanta- Gellerstedt is the president of the office/multi-family division of Cousins Properties, Inc. He is the chairman of the Livable Communities Coalition.  He is a director or a trustee of Agnes Scott College, Central Atlanta Progress, Jesse Parker Williams Foundation, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Midtown Alliance and The Commerce Club.  He served as chairman of the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and the Metropolitan Atlanta YMCA.  Gellerstedt earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He and his wife, Carol, have two children.

Stanley S. Jones, Jr., Atlanta- Jones is a partner of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP. He is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association, board of directors and executive committee of Georgia Health Decisions and executive committee of the Dean’s Council for the Emory University School of Public Health. He previously served as chairman of the Georgia Commission on Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Service Delivery and as vice president for public policy of the National Mental Health Association. Jones earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College, a master’s degree from Oxford University and a law degree from the University of Georgia.  He and his wife, Bobbi, have three grown children.

Dev Nair, Ph.D., Bishop – Nair is the director of clinical operations of the Division of Managed Care and Quality in the Georgia Department of Community Health.  Prior to joining DCH, Nair served as the vice president of Quality Improvement and the vice president of Clinical Services at Magellan Health Services in Massachusetts.  Nair earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Dayton, a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from DePaul University and he is currently working on a master’s degree in public health at Georgia State University. He is licensed as a psychologist in Georgia and Massachusetts. He is married to Lori Rios.

Abel Ortiz, Layton, Utah- Ortiz currently works for the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Prior to his work at the foundation, he served as health policy advisor for Governor Perdue. Before his work at the Governor’s office, Ortiz was general counsel and director of operations for a behavioral health organization in Utah and served on a commission to examine DFCS in Georgia. He also worked as a supervisor, regional director, and deputy director for Utah’s DFCS. Ortiz earned a bachelor’s degree from Weber State University, a master’s degree in social work from the University of Utah, and a law degree from Drake University Law School.

B.J. Walker, Atlanta- Walker is the Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Human Resources. She served as director of community operations for the Illinois Department of Human Resources. She is a member of the Emory University Board of Visitors and the National Algebra Project Board of Directors. Walker earned a bachelor’s degree from Mount Holyoke College and a master’s degree from Northwestern University. She and her husband, Thomas, have two grown children and four grandchildren.

Michael S. Yeager, Newnan- Yeager is the sheriff of Coweta County, Georgia. He is chairman of the Peace Officers Standards and Training Council for Georgia and serves on the executive board of the Georgia Sheriff’s Association. He is past president of both the Georgia Sheriff’s Youth Homes Executive Board and the Newnan Kiwanis Club. He is a member of the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce, board of directors of Boys & Girls Club of Newnan-Coweta County and the Newnan-Coweta Board of Public Safety. Yeager attended West Georgia College and Brenau College. He and his wife, Beverly, have two children.