Governor Perdue Announces Executive Appointments

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

GeorgiaMusic Hallof Fame Authority

James “Jim” L. Gillis IV, 28, Athens — Gillis is a financial advisor for Morgan Keegan and Company, Inc.  He serves as a member of the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame Foundation board of directors, and the Georgia Forestry Association.  Gillis earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia.  He is married to Lucy B. Allen.

Stephen K. Simpson, 50, Macon — Simpson is the owner of Simpson- Jones Construction, LLC.  He served in the United States Army for twenty years where he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.  He served as president of the Kiwanis Club of Macon, director of the Ronald McDonald House of Central Georgia and was the founding director of Crime Stoppers of Central Georgia.  He is a trustee of the Georgia Military College Foundation and a graduate of Leadership Macon.  He serves on the Board of Juvenile Justice, representing the Eighth Congressional District.  Simpson earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgia College and State University and master’s degrees from both Mercer University and the University of Southern California.  He and his wife, Susan, have two children.

Georgia Council for the Arts

William “Bill” S. Adler, 49, Alpharetta, Sixth Congressional District Representative — Adler is the founder and chief executive officer of CyberScrub LLC.  He has been a professional photographer for the past twenty-eight years and served as the official photographer to the Republican National Convention in 1996 and 2000.  Adler earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga.  He and his wife, Brenda, have two children.

Elizabeth “Connie” G.  Averitt, 70, Statesboro, Twelfth Congressional District Representative — Averitt serves as a board member on the David H. Averitt Center for the Arts in Statesboro.  She is a member of the grant committee of the Hospital Authority of Bulloch County.  In 1988, Averitt founded the Georgia Southern Botanical Garden and is currently a member of the board.  She also founded the Bulloch Academy in 1971 and Joseph’s Home for Boys in 1981.  Averitt earned a bachelor’s degree from Converse College.  She survives her husband, Hal, and has three grown children and eight grandchildren.

Betty Anne Bell, 73, Atlanta, Fourth Congressional District Representative — Bell is retired after performing as a singer and serving as a teacher in the Atlanta School System.  She served as the soloist for Southern Charm Ltd., and has sung for numerous presidents, governors, and foreign dignitaries.  She served as president of the Atlanta Music Club, and as a board member of the Atlanta Repertory Opera Company, Atlanta Children’s Civic Theater, Southern Ballet Company and the Woodruff Arts Center.  Bell earned a bachelor’s degree from Berry College.  She and her husband, Bob, have two grown children and six grandchildren.

Warren J. King, 62, Dawsonville, Ninth Congressional District Representative — King is a retired executive with Amoco Corporation and British Petroleum.  Most recently, he was the chief executive officer of ARCO Polypropylene Company.  King is the president and chairman of the Dawson County Arts Council and the Bowen Center for the Arts in Dawsonville.  He is also the president of his local rotary club and the chairman of the Dawson County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board to the Dawson County Board of Commissioners.  King earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin and a master’s degree from Northwestern University.  He and his wife, Nancy, have three grown children and one grandson.  

M. Marie Nygren, 48, Chattahoochee Hills, Thirteenth Congressional District Representative — Nygren is the owner of Serenbe Development Corporation and The Inn at Serenbe.  She serves on the governing board of Woodward Academy.  She has served on board of Zoo Atlanta and has directed the summer program of Emmaus House.  Nygren attended Florida State University and Georgia State University.  She and her husband, Steve, have three children.

State Construction Industry Licensing Board

Johnny B. Lyons, Jr., 46, Lawrenceville, Division of Conditioned Air Contractors — Lyons has worked for Gwinnett County Planning and Development for 13 years and currently serves as the mechanical chief in building inspection.  He has 30 years of experience in the building industry.  Lyons earned a degree from DeKalb Technical College.  He and his wife, Toni, have five children.

James “Jim” E.  Poe, Jr., 50, Lawrenceville, Division of Conditioned Air Contractors — Poe is the owner of Poe Mechanical Contractors and Poe Enterprises, Inc.  He has been involved in the heating and air conditioning business for 26 years.  Poe earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of West Georgia.  He and his wife, Sara Anne, have one grown son and three grandchildren.

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