Governor Perdue Announces Executive Appointments

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

Board of Public Safety

Lester L. Rampy, Jr., 71, Calhoun – Rampy retired as a Major from the Georgia Department of Public Safety after 32 years of service, where the majority of his career was supervision of personnel, international affairs, and commanding officer of all units of the Georgia State Patrol. He is currently part owner of Rampy Cleaners, Inc.  He is a member of the Peace Officers Association of Georgia, chairman of Fields Ferry Golf Course Advisory Board and is a member of the Calhoun Elks Lodge.  Rampy earned an associate’s degree from Rhinehart College.  He and his wife, Louise, have two children, three grandchildren and one great grandchild. 

Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council

Marcia W. Johnson, 54, Byron, County Manager Representative – Johnson is the administrator for the Peach County Board of Commissioners.  She is a member of the National Association of County Administrators, Association of County Clerks of Georgia, and the Georgia City/County Managers’ Association.  She is also a member of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia’s Council of County Administrators, and the Georgia Government Finance Officers’ Association.  Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia.  She is married to Terrance Johnson. 

Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission

Jerome J. Byers, II, 42, Marietta – Byers is regional president, Atlanta and executive vice president of Wachovia Bank.  He is a member of the Carter Center Board of Councilor’s, Atlanta Education Fund, and the Buckhead Coalition.  He is chairman of the board of the Atlanta Foundation, Atlanta Beltline board, and Teach for America Atlanta.  He is also a member of 100 Black Men of Atlanta and special vice chair of the Board of Trustees for the 2009 Corporate Campaign for Woodruff Arts Center.  Byers earned a bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville University.  He and his wife, AnJanette, have three children.

Matthew T. Echols, 37, Atlanta – Echols is director of Coca-Cola North America Government Relations for the Coca-Cola Company.  He is a board member of the Jekyll Island Foundation and the Smithgall Woods Foundation. He previously served on the board and the executive committee of Research Atlanta with the Civic League of Greater Atlanta, and he also served on the board of directors of both the Food Industry Association Executives and the State Government Affairs Council. He was named in Georgia Trend’s “40 Under 40” in 2006 and is a graduate of Leadership Georgia. Echols earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of West Georgia and a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University. He and his wife, Abby, have two children.

State Board of Accountancy

Wanda W. Goodson, 60, Dawsonville – Goodson is the owner of Goodson Accounting and Tax Services.  She is a member of the Georgia Association of Accounting and Tax Professionals and the National Society of Accountants.  She is also a member of the Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation and is the training director at Lake Lanier Obedience Club.  Goodson earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia.  She and her husband, Phil, have one child. 

Michael P. Salazar, 53, Grovetown – Salazar is an accountant and president of Michael P. Salazar, CPA, P.C.  He is a member of the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants, Georgia Association of Accountants and Tax Professionals, National Association of Accountants and the National Association of Tax Professionals.  He is also a member of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, the Augusta West Chapter of the Georgia Rotary and serves on the Board of Directors of the Augusta State University Alumni Association.  Salazar earned a bachelor’s degree from Augusta College and a master’s degree from Brenau University.  He and his wife, Sandra, have two children.

State Board of Registration for Professional Geologists

Benjamin S. Persons, 87, Atlanta (Reappointment) – Persons is a consulting civil engineer and geologist. He is a fellow with the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Geological Society of America, and is a member and subject matter expert of the Council of Geologic Examiners and Association of State Boards of Geology. Persons earned a diploma from of The Infantry School, US Army, a bachelor’s degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a diploma from The Engineer School, US Army. He and his wife, Frances, have three children and five grandchildren.

State Construction Industry Licensing Board

Andrew “Andy” R. Chambers, 59, Fayetteville, Telecom Low Voltage Contractor, (Reappointment) – Chambers is vice president of Gallagher Electric and Engineering Company.  He has been a member of the State Construction Industry Licensing Board since 1998.  Chambers earned a bachelor’s degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology.  He and his wife, Jeanne, have two children. 

State Workforce Investment Board

B. Amrey Harden, 55, Watkinsville – Harden is president and chief executive officer of Oconee State Bank.  He formerly served as mayor of Watkinsville, Georgia and is currently a member of the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission, Upper Oconee Basin Water Authority, and Northeast Georgia Workforce Investment Board.  He is also a trustee for Athens Regional Medical Center and is a member of the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce.  Harden earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia.  He and his wife, Debra, have one child. 

Joseph S. Marks, 64, Warner Robins – Marks is the material director for TIMCO Aviation Services.  He is co-chairman of the Transportation Education Foundation of Georgia.  He also works with Skills USA, the Georgia Work Ready program in Macon and Warner Robins and is a member of the Warner Robins Area Chamber of Commerce Aerospace Industry Committee.  He served in the US Air Force during the Vietnam War and received awards including “Airman of the Year” in his unit and “Wingman of the Year” at command level.  Marks graduated from the Gale Aeronautical Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  He and his wife, Noriko, have two children. 

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