Governor Perdue Announces Executive Appointments

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

Board of Natural Resources

James A. Walters, 71, Gainesville, Ninth Congressional District Representative (Reappointment) —Walters is the president and chief executive officer of Walters Management Company. He is a past president and current chairman of the Legislative and Political Action Committee of the Georgia Industry Loan Association. At Brenau University, Walters is secretary to the Board of Trustees and serves on the Finance and Executive Committees of the Board. Walters attended N.C. State University and Charlotte College and was granted an honorary doctorate degree in law from the Brenau University Board of Trustees. He and his wife, Peggy, have two children and five grandchildren.

GeorgiaDevelopment Authority

EdmondH. “Eddie” Wilson, 48, Rome, Public Member – Wilson is the chief executive officer of River City Bank. He currently serves as the chairman of the Development Authority of Floyd County and was recently elected to the Floyd Healthcare Foundation Board and the Advisory Board to the Campbell School of Business at Berry College. He is a member of the Georgia Bankers Association Community Banking Committee and previously served on the Georgia Student Finance Commission.  Wilson earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern University and a master’s degree from Mercer University. He and his wife, Penny, have three children.

GeorgiaPublic Service Commission Advisory Committee

Jeffery K. Patton, 51, Bethlehem, Non-municipal Telecom Representative – Patton is the area manager customer service center for AT&T and the emergency operations manager for AT&T Southeast Region. Patton is the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Georgia Utilities Protection Center, the AT&T Representative on the Georgia Utilities Coordinating Council, and the AT&T Representative on the Georgia Emergency Management Agency. He and his wife, Beth, have two children and three grandchildren.

State Board of Technical and Adult Education

Lynn M. Cornett, 67, Sandy Springs, Member At-Large – Cornett retired as senior vice president from the Southern Regional Education Board, after 26 years of service. She previously served as the SREB’s vice president for state services. She is involved with the Achievement Awards for College Scientists (ARCS) program and the American Cancer Society’s Reach for Recovery program. Cornett earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tulsa, a master’s degree from the University of South Florida, and a doctoral degree in education from the University of Rochester. She and her husband, Ben, have one son.   

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