Governor Perdue Announces Executive Appointments

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Contact: Office of Communications 404-651-7774

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

 

Board of Commissioners of the Superior Court Clerks’ Retirement Fund of Georgia

Kevin D. Abernathy, 34, Atlanta − Abernathy is an attorney in the Atlanta office of Hall Booth Smith & Slover. He served as Deputy Legislative Counsel and Special Deputy Legislative Counsel to Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle. Abernathy earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and a law degree from Georgia State College of Law.

 

Board of Corrections

M. Ashley Paulk, Jr., 65, Hahira − Paulk is chairman of the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners and president of Valdosta Electric and Shiloh Farms. He is a member of the board of the Boy Scouts of America and is chairman of the board of Guardian Bank. In 2006, he received the International Rotary Award. He served as Lowndes County sheriff for sixteen years. Paulk and his wife, Ginger, have five children and nineteen grandchildren.

 

Board of Directors of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority

Ken Stewart, 60, Marietta − Stewart is the senior advisor for industry strategy at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is treasurer of the American Forest Foundation, serves on the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Historical Society and the board of directors for the Langdale Company. He is past commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Stewart earned a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University and a law degree from Woodrow Wilson College of Law. He and his wife, Linda, have one son.

 

Edward M. Tate, 34, Atlanta − Tate is the campaign manager for U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson’s re-election campaign. He is the director of the T.R. Miller Mill Co., Inc. He served as deputy executive counsel and deputy chief operating officer for Governor Sonny Perdue. Tate earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard and a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.

 

Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission

Timothy A. Wall, 30, Brooklet − Wall is a therapeutic recreation specialist and a graduate assistant at Georgia Southern University. He is an associate instructor of the Professional Tennis Registry at the Statesboro Bulloch County Parks and Recreation Department. Wall earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern University.

 

 

GeorgiaEnvironmental Facilities Authority

Boyd L. Austin, Jr., 47, Dallas − Austin is the mayor of the city of Dallas and the dean of chief elected officials and constitutional officers in Paulding County Georgia Municipal Association. He serves as the vice chairman of the North Georgia Water Planning District and is a member of the board of directors of the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission. Boyd earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia.

 

 

GeorgiaMusic Hallof Fame Authority

David Barbe, 46, Athens − Barbe is the co-owner, president and chief engineer of Chase Park Transduction Recording Studios and is a free-lance recording engineer. He is a member of the board of directors for Nuci’s Space in Athens and a member of the board of directors for Athens Little League Baseball. Barbe earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Amy, have three children.

 

Rob J. Gibson, Jr., 51, Savannah − Gibson is executive and artistic director of the Savannah Music Festival. He is the founding director of Jazz at Lincoln Center where he worked for ten years. He served as a member of the faculty of The Julliard School. He helped create and co-produce the Peabody Award winning series “Jazz from Lincoln Center” for national public radio. Gibson earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Caroline, have three children.

 

R. Kirby Godsey, Ph.D., 74, Macon − Godsey is chancellor of Mercer University. He served as president and CEO of Mercer for 27 years. He is chairman of the Board of Birch Communication and a director of NewTown Builders, LLC. He is a member of the board of directors of the Rome Chamber Music Festival in New York and the Peyton Anderson Foundation in Macon, Georgia. Godsey earned a bachelor’s degree from Samford University, a master’s degree and a doctorate from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, a master’s degree from the University of Alabama and a Ph.D. from Tulane University. He and his wife, Joan, have four children and five grandchildren.

 

Robert S. Highsmith, Jr., 39, Atlanta − Highsmith is a partner at Holland & Knight where he practices legislative, administrative, and regulatory law, government relations and litigation. He serves as the national team leader for the firm’s State Capitals Team, and leads their Georgia Government Relations Practice. He is past Deputy Executive Counsel for Governor Sonny Perdue. Highsmith earned a bachelor’s degree from Yale and a law degree from the University of Georgia’s School of Law. He and his wife, Kristi, have four children.

 

Claire F. Hillard, Ph.D., 52, Albany − Hillard is a member of the music faculty of Darton College. He serves as music director and conductor for the Albany Symphony Orchestra. He is a member of the Georgia Council for the Arts Music Panel and a professional affiliate member of the American Symphony Orchestra League. Hillard earned a bachelor’s degree from Calvin College, a master’s degree and a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. He and his wife, Meri Beth, have three children.

 

 

 

 

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