Governor Perdue Announces Executive Appointments

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today the following executive appointments.  Brief biographies are provided below:

9-1-1 Advisory Committee

Linda M. Tanner, 59, Pearson, County Representative – Tanner is chairman of the Atkinson County Board of Commissioners. She previously served as executive director of the Georgia Insurance Agents Alliance and as an aide to the Georgia House of Representatives Insurance Committee. Tanner earned a bachelor’s degree from Valdosta State College.  She and her husband, Clark, have two grown children.

Professional Standards Commission

Joy Hawkins, 48, Atlanta – Hawkins is VP Regional Education with the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.  Hawkins previously served as deputy chief operating officer in the Office of Governor Perdue. She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and has served three terms as a school council member in her children’s public school.  She was recently appointed to the DeKalb County Public Schools Foundation Board and is serving her second term on the Georgia Commission for Child Support.  Hawkins earned a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from Georgia State University.  She has two children.

Stephanie L. Haynes, 41, Macon – Haynes is an academic math coach at Clifton Ridge Middle School. She is a Master Teacher and a member of the Georgia Association of Educators and the Georgia Council of Supervisors of Mathematics. She serves on the advisory panel of the Professional Standards Commission and as an advisory board member of BRIDGE. Haynes earned a bachelor’s degree from Mercer University and is pursuing a master’s degree from Walden University. She has one child.

Edwin D. Smith, Ed.D., 52, LaGrange – Smith is superintendent of Troup County Schools. He serves on the board of directors for LaGrange Development Authority, Communities-In-Schools of Troup County, United Way of West Georgia and West Georgia Technical College. He is a member of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, the Georgia Association of Educational Leadership, and the National Association of Curriculum Development. Smith earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Auburn University and a doctoral degree from the University of West Georgia. He and his wife, Deborah, have three children.

State Board of Education

Elizabeth J. Ragsdale, Ed.D., 68, Albany, Second Congressional District Representative - Ragsdale retired from Darton College as chair of both the division of humanities and the division of learning support and has experience teaching kindergarten, middle school, high school and post-secondary levels.  She is a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International and a former member of the Board of Early Care and Learning. She volunteers at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital and is a graduate of Leadership Albany.  Ragsdale earned a bachelor's degree from Huntingdon College, a master's degree from Georgia State University and a doctoral degree from Florida State University.  She and her husband, Tom, have three children and seven grandchildren.

Allen C. Rice, 63, Vidalia, Twelfth Congressional District Representative – Rice is president of Savannah Luggage Works. He served in the United States Army Active Reserve for five and a half years. He serves on the board of directors of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, is a former member of the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia and is an active Rotarian. Rice earned a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University. He and his wife, Nancy, have two grown children.

Linda M. Zechmann, 56, Waycross, First Congressional District Representative (Reappointment) – Zechmann is a team leader for Work Ready Ware, Governor’s Certified Work Ready Community Initiative, chairman of the State Board of Education Charter Schools Committee and a member of the Joint Education Boards Liaison Committee. She is a member and former president of the Okefenokee Toastmasters. Zechmann is involved with the Angel Food Ministries of Satilla and is a graduate of Leadership Waycross. She attended the University of Minnesota. She and her husband, John, have two children.

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