Governor Perdue Announces Executive Appointments

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

Board of Corrections

William "Bill" S. Acuff, 52, Moultrie (Eighth Congressional District Representative) – Acuff is president of W.S. Acuff, Inc., which specializes in asset management planning insurance and financial services, retail securities, and investment advisor services.  Acuff is also manager of financial services at Harper-McCall Insurance Agency and is a real estate salesman for Landmark Realty. He serves as chairman of the board of advisors of Magnolia Manor South.   He served as president of the Moultrie Rotary Club, chairman of the Moultrie-Colquitt County Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Children Advocacy Center of Moultrie and chairman of the Colquitt County Arts Center in Moultrie. Acuff earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern University. He and his wife, Lynn, have two grown children.  

  Kristopher "Kris" B. Nordholz, 33, Gainesville (Ninth Congressional District Representative) – Nordholz is president, chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Red Clay Interactive, an internet marketing and software development firm.  He is a member of the Gainesville State College board of trustees, Hall County Boys & Girls Club board of directors, Hands on Georgia board of directors, Leadership Hall County class of 2006 and the University of Georgia alumni board of directors.  Nordholz earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the University of Georgia.  He and his wife, Courtney, have one child. 

Board of Public Safety

Ellis Wood, 59, Statesboro – Wood is founder and president of Ellis Wood Contracting, Inc.  He serves as chairman of the Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport Committee and chief pilot for the Bulloch County Sheriff's Department. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia.  Wood and his wife, Kathy, have two children and two grandchildren.

Board of Economic Development

Sam A. Way, 80, Hawkinsville (Member At Large) – Way is chairman of the board of MidState Banks, Inc.  He served on the Mercer University board of trustees, the Georgia Baptist Hospital board of trustees, the Baptist World Alliance board and the University of Georgia Foundation board.  He served as chairman of the steering committee to develop a Hawkinsville branch of Middle Georgia Technical College and is a former member of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. He served in the United States Coast Guard in World War II.  Way attended Emory at Oxford and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia.  He and his wife, Dorothy, have four grown children and seven grandchildren. 

Capitol Arts Standards Commission

Thomas "Tommy" D. Hills, 62, Atlanta (Chairman) –Hills is the chief financial officer for the State of Georgia.  He had a long and distinguished career with the First National Bank of Atlanta and Wachovia Bank, N.A. from 1965-2001.  Most recently, he served as Wachovia Bank’s Atlanta City president.  His civic and community involvement has included the Atlanta Historical Society, the High Museum of Art, the Atlanta Opera, the Center for Puppetry Arts, the Hospital Authority of Fulton County, the Carter Center Board of Visitors, the Georgia Council on Economic Education, Leadership Atlanta, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau.  He is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, American Bankers Association Alumni Council and the Rotary Club of Atlanta.  Hills earned a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from Emory University and recently earned a master’s degree in southern history from Georgia State University.  Hills is an elder in the First Presbyterian church in Atlanta.  He and his wife, Wally, have 2 grown children and 5 grandchildren.

Stephan "Steve" L. Penley, 42, Carrollton – Penley is an artist and the owner of Penley Art Company.  He has sold his art successfully since 1993 and has shown it in many galleries, including the Matre Gallery in Atlanta and the FAA Gallery in Washington, D.C.  He is a member of the board of advisors for the Atlanta Youth Project.  Penley attended the University of Georgia and the School of Visual Arts in New York.  He and his wife, Carrie, have three children.

  Steve Smith, 42, Atlanta – Smith is vice president of corporate responsibility for Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. He worked as the director of administrative services for Georgia Public Broadcasting and as a principal in the Fulton County School System. Smith is a member of the board of directors for 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Metro Atlanta YMCA, Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.  He is vice chairman of the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau.  Smith earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from the University of Georgia and an education specialist degree from Troy State University.