Governor Perdue Announces Executive Appointments

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

Board of Commissioners of the Georgia Student Finance Commission

J. Joseph Edwards, Sr., 71, Barnesville, 3rd Congressional District Representative – Edwards is the chief executive officer of United Bank Corporation. He serves on the Oxford College of Emory University Board of Counselors, is the chairman of the Barnesville-Lamar Community Foundation and the vice chairman of the Gordon College Foundation. He has also served as a member on the Federal Reserve Advisory Board, the board of directors of the American Bankers Association and a past chairman of the Georgia Bankers Association. He earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Emory University. Edwards and his wife, Patricia, have two grown children and seven grandchildren.

Board of Economic Development

Brian R. Foster, 57, Savannah, Member at Large – Foster is the chairman, president and chief executive officer of the First Chatham Bank in Savannah. He is a member of the executive committee of the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, the vice chairman of the Savannah Economic Development Authority and a board member of both the Armstrong Atlantic State University Foundation and the Savannah Technical College Foundation. He also served as the first chairman of the Savannah Development and Renewal Authority and the Community Housing Services Agency. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia and attended Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers College. Foster and his wife, Lynn, have two grown children.

Gardiner W. Garrard, 36, Atlanta, Member at Large – Garrard is the founder and managing partner of Total Technology Ventures, LLC. He is actively involved as a board member with the Make-a-Wish Foundation, the Advisory Board for the Goizueta Business School at Emory, the Emory Eye Center and the Young Entrepreneurs Organization. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master's degree from Emory University. Garrard and his wife, Wickliffe, have three children.

Board of Juvenile Justice

Dexter O. Rowland, 49, Stone Mountain, 4th Congressional District Representative – Rowland is a pastor of the New Piney Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Decatur. He is a member of the board of directors at the South DeKalb YMCA and the board of visitors of the Grady Health System. He earned a bachelor's degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology and master's degrees from Mercer University and Emory University. Rowland and his wife, Sonya, have three children.

Bruce L. Garraway, 36, Grayson, 7th Congressional District Representative – Garraway is a high school history teacher at Killian Hill Christian School. He is a member of the Snellville City Council and has been appointed Mayor Pro Tempore. He is a member of the Georgia Municipal Association, the Gwinnett Municipal Association and the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce. He earned a bachelor's degree from Oklahoma Baptist College, a master's from Crown College and is a graduate of the Coverdell Leadership Institute. Garraway and his wife, Rebekah, have one child.

Board of Commissioners of the Sheriff's Retirement System of Georgia

M. Ashley Paulk, Jr., 61, Hahira, Active Sheriff Representative – Paulk is the sheriff of the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office. He is also president of Valdosta Electric and Shiloh Farms. He is chairman of the board of Guardian Bank, a member of the board of the Boy Scouts of America and a member of the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council. He is a past president of the Georgia Sheriff's Association and a past director of the Boys and Girls Clubs. He earned a bachelor's degree from Clemson University. Paulk and his wife, Ginger, have five grown children and eighteen grandchildren.

Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board

Rebecca H. Amerson, 53, Woodstock – Amerson is a national board certified library media specialist at Woodstock High School. She has previously worked as a biology teacher at McIntosh County Academy and Ware County High School and a media specialist at Waycross High School, Boykins Elementary School, Little River Elementary School and Arnold Mill Elementary School. She earned a bachelor's degree from Tift College and two master's degrees and an educational specialist's degree from Georgia Southern University. Amerson has one grown son.

Sheryl B. Vogt, 61, Athens – Vogt is the director of the Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies. She is a member of the Academy of Certified Archivists, the Society of American Archivists, the Society of Southwest Archivists and is a past president of the Society of Georgia Archivists. She served on the Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress in 1994 and on the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board from 1981 to 1982. She earned a bachelor's degree, a master's degree and an education specialist degree from the University of Georgia. Vogt and her husband, John, have two children.

Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission

Robin H. Ferst, 58, Madison - Ferst is the founder and chairman of the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy, a statewide organization headquartered in Madison, GA. She is a board member of the Community Foundation of Morgan County and Treasurer for the Metropolitan Atlanta Literacy Network. Ferst earned a bachelor's degree from Shorter College.

Children and Youth Coordinating Council

Vickie H. Williamson, 45, Monroe, 7th Congressional District Representative - Williamson is a community volunteer in Monroe, GA. She is a board member for the Walton County Boys and Girls Clubs and Advisor for the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. She also is a Class Administrator for BSF International and a Sunday School Teacher for Monroe First United Methodist Church. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia. Williamson and her husband, Hugh, have four children.

Rural Development Council

George L. DeLoach, 66, Waynesboro – DeLoach is a former member of the Georgia House of Representatives and a former mayor of Waynesboro. He is a member of the Georgia Funeral Directors Association, the Georgia Cemetery Association and the South Augusta Exchange Club. He has previously served on the Georgia State Board of Funeral Services and the Georgia Board of Community Affairs. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia and graduated from the Gupton Jones College of Mortuary Science of the Dallas Institute. DeLoach and his wife, Jane, have four grown children and ten grandchildren.

Jekyll Island State Park Authority

Samuel B. Kellett, Jr., 35, Atlanta – Kellett is the founder and president of Kangaroo Bob's, an interactive children's learning center. He is the chairman and co-founder of the 159 Group, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Public School Employees' Retirement System and a member of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. He earned a bachelor's degree from North Carolina State University and a master's degree from the University of Georgia. Kellett and his wife, Jennifer, have one child.

State Construction Industry Licensing Board

Roger E. Futch, 61, Ellijay, Unrestricted Low Voltage Contractor Representative – Futch is the executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Ellijay Telephone Company and the president of ETC Communications, LLC. He serves on the management committee of US Carrier Telecom, is the current president of the Georgia Telephone Association and the past chairman, president and treasurer of the Management Committee of Georgia PCS Management. He is a past director of the Ellijay Chamber of Commerce, a board member of the Gilmer County Bank and a board member of Appalachian Technical College. Futch and his wife, Ann, have two grown children and five grandchildren.

Keith D. Wommack, 46, Metter, Low Voltage Alarm Contractor – Wommack is the owner and president of Southeast Fire and Burglar Alarm Company, Inc. He is a member of the National Fire Protection Association, the Georgia Alarm Association and the Statesboro Home Builders Association. He attended Swainsboro Technical College. Wommack and his wife, Darlene, have two children.

Charles R. McMurtrey, Jr., 52, Powder Springs, Electrical Inspector Representative – McMurtrey is a construction inspector supervisor in the Community Development Electrical Division for Cobb County. He previously worked as a building inspector for the city of Kennesaw and as a self employed electrical contractor. He is a member of the Cobb County Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals, the Cobb County Home Builders Advisory Board, the Cobb County Electrical Advisory Board and past chairman of the Metro Code Council. McMurtrey has three grown children.

Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission

Griffin W. Garner, 29, Carrollton – Garner works in governmental affairs for Southwire Co. He served as a member of the legislative staff for former United States Senator Zell Miller. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama. Garner is to be married to Emily Wilkes.

Sheriff William “Bill” E. Smith, 68, Woodbine – Smith is the sheriff of Camden County. He has served as a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, an officer in the United States Marine Corps and worked for Gilman Paper Company in St. Marys. He is a member of the Woodbine Lions Club. He served three terms on the Camden County Board of Commissioners. Smith graduated from the Citadel Military College in South Carolina. He has three grown children.

Georgia Board of Examiners of Licensed Practical Nurses

Vicky M. Penn, 47, Milner, Nursing Educator Representative – Penn is the lead instructor of practical nursing at Flint River Technical College. She is an advisor for the National Technical Honor Society and assists in quarterly American Red Cross blood drives at Flint River Technical College. She earned an associate's degree in nursing from Gordon College, a bachelor's degree in education from Mercer University, a bachelor's degree in nursing from Clayton College and State University and is completing a master's degree in nursing from South University. Penn has two children.

Jane P. Harte, 54, Savannah, Licensed Practical Nurse Representative – Harte is a utilization manager in the clinical care coordination department with Saint Joseph's/Candler Health System at Candler Hospital. She has also served as a staff nurse in several medical centers in Savannah. She is a member of the Georgia Hospital Association and of the Mercy Associates. She is also the past president of the Saint Vincent's Academy Alumnae Association, Savannah. She earned a nursing degree from Memorial Medical Center School of Practical Nursing. Harte has two grown sons.