Governor Perdue Announces Executive Appointments

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

Board of Public Safety

Jack K. McElfish, 63, Sandy Springs, Firefighter Representative - McElfish has served as a fire chief since 1981 and is now the Fire Chief for the city of Sandy Springs.  He serves on the International Association of Fire Chiefs as the treasurer and a member of the board of directors.  He also serves on the board of directors of the Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs and the International Association of Fire Chiefs Foundation.  McElfish has been designated as “Chief Fire Officer” of the Commission on Professional Credentialing from the Center for Public Safety Excellence.  He is a member of the Georgia Fire Chiefs, Georgia State Firefighters Association and the Metro Atlanta Fire Chiefs Association.  McElfish earned an associate’s degree from Montgomery College and a bachelor’s degree and two master’s degrees from the University of New Haven.  He and his wife, Joyce, have one grown daughter.

Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia

W. H. “Dink” NeSmith, Jr., 59, Athens, 10th Congressional District Representative-

NeSmith is co-owner and president of Athens-based Community Newspapers, Inc.  He serves on the board of directors of Athens First Bank and Trust Company, Southern Mutual Insurance Company and Pattillo Construction Company.  NeSmith also serves on the Commission for a New Georgia and is chairman of the Richard B. Russell Foundation.  He is past president of the Georgia Press Association, the University of Georgia Alumni Association, and Leadership Georgia.  He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia.  NeSmith and his wife, Pam, have three grown children and two grandchildren.

Georgia Council for the Arts

Martha N. Bush, 64, Colquitt, Second Congressional District Representative-

Bush owns and operates Newberry Angus Farms, Inc.  She serves as director of the board of trustees and on the executive board of the Bainbridge College Foundation.  She is a member of the Colquitt/Miller Arts Council and the Flint River Arts Council and was a participant of the J.W. Fanning Institute’s “Leadership Baker” program.  Bush earned an associate’s degree from Gulf Park College and dual bachelor’s degrees from Florida State University.  She and her husband, Leron, have two grown children and one grandchild.

Sheryl L. Threlkeld, 57, Vidalia, Twelfth Congressional District Representative-

Threlkeld is a member of the board of directors and former president of Ohoopee Regional Council for the Arts.  She is a City of Vidalia representative on the board of trustees of the Ohoopee Regional Library.  Threlkeld served as an instructor and an assistant professor of theatre at Brewton Parker College.  Threlkeld earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree from the University of Nebraska.  She and her husband, Reid, have two children.

Georgia Film, Video, & Music Commission

Richard T. Warner, 51, Dunwoody - Warner is the founder and chief executive officer of What’s Up Interactive, a web marketing and technology firm.  He is the host and managing editor of the weekly series “Georgia’s Business” for GPTV and contributes a monthly column to “Business to Business” magazine.  He is a board member of the Safe America Foundation and served as president of the American Marketing Association’s Atlanta chapter.  Warner earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia.  He and his wife, Malenka, have two children.

GeorgiaMusic Hallof Fame Authority

Susan M. Green, 53, Macon - Green is a municipal marketing representative for Advanced Disposal Services.  She served as a county commissioner for the Jones County Board of Commissioners from 1997-2000.  She is a member of the executive board of directors for the Boys & Girls Club of Baldwin and Jones Counties, Inc., a member of the Jones County/Gray Chamber of Commerce, and vice chairman of the Jones County Republican Party.  She was a member of the Coverdell Leadership Institute Class of 2007.  Green earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida.  She has three children.

William B. “Brad” Turner, Jr., 56, Columbus - Turner is president and vice chairman of the board for W.C. Bradley Co.  He serves as a director for Synovus Financial Corporation and Columbus Bank and Trust Company.  He serves on the advisory board for the University of Georgia‘s Terry College of Business.  He is a trustee of both the Bradley Turner Foundation, Inc. and the Columbus State University Foundation, Inc.  Turner is a member of the Community Foundation of Chattahoochee Valley.  He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia.  He and his wife, Sally, have four children and one grandchild.

Professional Standards Commission

Albert “Al” A. George II, 36, Atlanta - George is the director of education for Georgia Aquarium Inc. and the co-founder and managing partner of Building Block Group & Associates, L.P.  He served as director of the Packard Scholar Program at Morehouse College and as a research associate and marine educator for the Center for Marine, Environmental Science, & Biotechnology.  He is a member of the Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership and 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc.  George earned a bachelor’s degree from Savannah State University, a master’s degree from Harvard University, and is currently pursuing a doctorate from Georgia Institute of Technology.  He and his wife, Leslie, have one child.

Penny L. Benton, 59, Woodstock - Benton is a sixth grade Earth Science teacher at Holly Springs Elementary School.  She has 24 years of teaching experience and has received gifted endorsement.  She was a presenter at the Cherokee County Schools of Excellence Conference.  Benton earned a bachelor’s degree from Bob Jones University and a master’s degree from Brenau University.  She and her husband, Martin, have three children and three grandchildren.

State Construction Industry Licensing Board

Paul H. Maushardt, 61, Stockbridge, Plumbing Inspector - Maushardt is assistant chief plumbing inspector for DeKalb County.  He is a member of Georgia State Inspectors, Inc., Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 72, and the Metro Atlanta Inspectors Association.  He enjoys volunteering for Relay for Life in Henry County.  He and his wife, Anna, have six grown children and 13 grandchildren

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