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Governor Perdue Announces Appointments to State Boards and Commissions

Monday, April 12, 2004  Contact: Office of Communications 404-651-7774

 

Atlanta - Governor Sonny Perdue announced today the following appointments to State Boards and Commissions:

Georgia Agrirama Development Authority

Margie Leger, 68, Cordele , GA , At Large - Leger is presently the Workers' Compensation Clerk for the Crisp County School System.  She previously served as Secretary to the Title I Director of Crisp County Schools.  Leger has served as Chairman of the American Cancer Society and of the Heart Association.  She and her husband, Buddy, have five children.

Georgia Council for the Arts

Heather Heath, 44, Brunswick , GA , 1st Congressional District - Heath is the Executive Director of the Golden Isles Arts and Humanities Association.  She is also an Actress, with performances in Joe and Betty , I Can't Imagine Tomorrow , Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing , and Taming of the Shrew.  Heath has directed A Christmas Carol, I Can't Imagine Tomorrow , and four short plays at the Marnet Short Play Festival.  She is a member of the Actors Equity Association and serves on the board of the Brunswick Rotary Club.  Heath received an Associate Degree of Arts from Oxford College of Emory University and a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Florida State University . 

Cay Dykes, 47, Cochran , GA , 3 rd Congressional District (Reappointment) - Dykes is a member of the Georgia State Arts Council and the Cochran-Bleckley Arts Alliance.  She received her undergraduate degree from Mercer University .  Dykes and her husband, Richard, have two children.

State Board of Education

Jose Perez, 57, Norcross , GA , 7th Congressional District - Perez is currently President of Target Market Trends.  He is past Director of Market and Business Strategy Consulting for Gartner.  Perez is a member of the National Society of Hispanic MBAs, a Chairman's Club Member of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, and a Gwinnett Housing Resource Partnership board member.  Perez has an MA in Economics from Florida Atlantic University .  He and his wife, Yolanda, have three children.

Lake Lanier Islands Development Authority

Joni Owens, 44, Cumming , GA , Forsyth County Representative - Owens is currently the President and CEO of the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce.  She is past Director of Business Development for The Meadows Partners, LLC.  Owens has worked with state, regional and local leadership on several business location projects including locating United Parcel Service, Phillips Electronics, Johnson Controls, and General Motors.  The Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce received a Four Star Accreditation by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce under Owens' leadership.  She served on the Board of Directors of the Georgia Economic Developers Association and the Board of Directors of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Executives Association.  Owens received an undergraduate degree in Business Administration/Marketing.  She and her husband, Schiffley, have two children.

Seed Development Commission

Ben Copeland, Jr., 31, Marshallville , GA , At Large - Copeland is currently President of the Georgia Seed Producers Association.  He serves on the board of the Georgia Crop Improvement Association and is former Chairman of TifSport Growers.  Copeland received his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and is a graduate of Leadership Georgia.  He and his wife, Kelly, have two children. 

Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Authority

Howard "Doc" Ayers, 82, Cedartown , GA , At Large (Reappointment) - Ayers is a former football coach for the University of Georgia where he served as Assistant Coach, Head Freshman Coach, and Chief of Recruiting.  Ayers is a member of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.  Prior to arriving in Athens , Ayers was a coach for Cedartown High School and led his team to the state championship.  In his honor, Cedartown High School's football stadium was renamed Doc Ayers Field.  Ayers received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Georgia .  He and his wife, Glinda, have three children.

Conrad Nix, 58, Warner Robins , GA , At Large - Nix is currently a football coach at Northside High School in Houston County .  He has served as Head Coach and Athletic Director of high schools in Georgia and Alabama .  He led several of those high schools to first ever playoff games and won or tied for the Region Championships ten times.  Nix was awarded Region Coach of the Year and Middle Georgia Coach of the Year.  He is a member of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators and the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association.  Nix is also a member of the American Football Coaches Association.  He received his undergraduate degree from Auburn University , his graduate degree from Georgia Southwestern, and his administrative degree from the University of Alabama .  Nix and his wife, Patsy, have two children. 

Tripp Self, 35, Macon , GA , At Large - Self is currently Equity Partner with Sell & Melton, LLP.  He served in the United States Army as a Field Artillery Officer and participated in drug reconnaissance missions with the FBI.  Self is an NCAA Division I-AA Football Official and past Junior League World Series Umpire.  He serves on the board of the Macon Touchdown Club, Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce, and the Macon Sports Hall of Fame.  Ayers received his undergraduate degree from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina and a Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law. 

Board of Trustees of the Subsequent Injury Trust Fund

John Fervier, 41, Alpharetta , GA , Management Representative - Fervier is currently the Vice President of Risk Management for Waffle House, Inc.  He was previously the Director of Security/Workers' Compensation/General Liability as well as a Property Manager and Real Estate Representative for Waffle House, Inc.  Fervier also served as a Signal Company Executive Officer and Platoon Leader for the U.S. Army.  He is the current Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Georgia Self Insured Association and is a member of the Chairman's Advisory Council of the Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation.  Fervier is also a member of the American Society for Industrial Security and the Risk and Insurance Management Society.  He received his undergraduate degree from Berry College .  Fervier and his wife, Sarah, have one child.

Commission on Women

Bette Rose Bowers, 62, Commerce, GA, At Large - Bowers is currently a consultant for an Arizona developer.  She previously worked as a Sales and Realtor Associate and was selected as DeKalb County 's Realtor-Associate of the Year.  Bowers served as President of DeKalb Young Realtors and President of the DeKalb Chapter of the Women's Council of Realtors.  She served on the Board of Directors of the Relocation Directors Council and was presented with the Meritorious Service Award from the Employee Relocation Council.  Bowers also served as Vice President and Director of Relocation at Buckhead Broker Realtors and on the Board of Directors and the Program Committee of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta.  She and her husband, Mike, have two children.

State Board of Architects and Interior Designers

Niles Bolton , 57, Atlanta , Georgia , Architect Representative - Bolton is currently President and CEO of Niles Bolton Associates and has 32 years of architectural experience.  He is a member of the American Institute of Architects and of the National Council of Architectural Registration Board.  Bolton is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Tech Foundation, Inc.  He also served as Director of the Executive Committee of the Buckhead Coalition.  Bolton received his undergraduate degree from Georgia Tech. He and his wife, Kathleen, have two children.

State Board of Barbers

David Jones, 52, Perry, Georgia, Barber Representative (Reappointment) - Jones has been a barber for 32 years and shop owner for 26 years.  He is currently the Chairman of the Georgia State Barber Board and Vice President of the National Association of Barber Boards of America.  Jones graduated from Macon Vocational Technical School .  He and his wife, Jamie, have one child.

State Board of Cosmetology

Martha Harris, 53, Eatonton, Georgia, Cosmetologist Representative (Reappointment) - Harris is currently a self-employed hair stylist.  She was previously a cosmetology instructor at Morrow Senior High School in Morrow, Georgia .  She was appointed to the Georgia State Board of Cosmetology in 1998 and is the current Chairperson of the Board.  Harris and her husband, Kenneth, have one child.

Cynthia Stein, 46, Marietta, Georgia, Manicurist Representative (Reappointment) - Stein is currently an independent contractor and nail technician.  She was previously a stylist and owner of Creations Hair & Nails prior to relocating to Georgia .  Stein graduated from Romar Hairstyling Academy . 

State Board of Registration of Used Car Dealers and Used Motor Vehicles Parts Dealers

James Wilkinson, 57, Milledgeville, Georgia, Dealer Representative (Reappointment) - Wilkinson has been employed at Wilkinson Used Cars since 1964.  He is Treasurer of the Georgia Independent Auto Dealers Association and past President of the Georgia Automotive Recyclers Association.  Wilkinson is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Director of First National Bank of the South.  Wilkinson and his wife, Patricia, have two children. 

Composite Board of Social Workers, Professional Counselors, and Marriage and Family Therapists

Helen Coale, 59, Atlanta , Georgia , Social Worker Representative - Coale is currently a therapist for the Atlanta Area Child Guidance Clinic, which she founded and directs.  She also serves as a panelist, speaker, and workshop leader in local, state, and national meetings on topics ranging from family therapy to therapeutic interventions with children.  Coale is past President of the Georgia Conference on Social Welfare and served as a member of the American Family Therapy Academy Ethics Committee.  She also served as Secretary and board member of the Georgia Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.  Coale is a recipient of the National Association of Social Workers' Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award as well as the Gettysburg College Distinguished Alumni Award.  She received her undergraduate degree from Gettysburg College and her graduate degree from the University of Georgia .  She and her husband, Carlo, have two children.