Governor Perdue Announces Sandy Springs Appointments

ATLANTA - Governor Sonny Perdue announced today the following appointments as interim representatives of the newly incorporated municipality of Sandy Springs:

Sandy Springs Interim Government Committee

James V. "Jim" Burgess, Jr., Social Circle, GA - Burgess is currently the mayor of Social Circle and has more than 40 years experience in the fields of local government, law and business. He is the former executive director of the Georgia Municipal Association, where he also served as administrator and chief lobbyist. Burgess earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a master’s degree in governmental administration from the University of Pennsylvania, and a law degree from the Woodrow Wilson College of Law. In addition, he has completed a public policy mediation program at the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government.

Sidney Kirschner, Sandy Springs, GA - Kirschner currently works as a consultant in Atlanta. Previously, he served as the chairman and chief executive officer of Northside Hospital. He also spent over 20 years working for National Service Industries where he served in various capacities, including president, chairman, chief operating officer, and chief executive officer. He serves on the board of directors for the Sector Medical Corporation, the Cleveland Group, Inc., the Atlanta Jewish Federation, and the William Breman Jewish Home. He is an executive in residence at Kennesaw State University’s Michael J. Coles College of Business. Kirschner earned a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology.

Oliver W. Porter, Sandy Springs, GA - Porter is a former vice president of sales at AT&T. He is the founder of the Combined Health Appeal of America and served as the group’s chief executive officer and past national chairman. He served as the director of the Committee for the City of Sandy Springs and as the past chairman of the National Kidney Foundation. Porter earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of South Carolina, a master’s degree in business administration from Georgia State University, and completed graduate level executive programs at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, Williams College, and the University of Illinois.

Ray S. Smith, III, Sandy Springs, GA - Smith is currently an attorney at McManus & Smith, L.L.P., practicing in the areas of real estate, land use, business and employment, and creditor bankruptcy. Smith has also served as special assistant to the attorney general of the State of Georgia. He serves on the Committee for Sandy Springs Executive Board, the Stone Mountain Memorial Association, and previously served on the Fulton County Board of Elections and Registration. He has been honored as one of the Pre-Eminent Lawyers of America by Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and speech communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a law degree from Mercer University.

Yvonne D. Williams, Marietta, GA - Williams serves as the president of Perimeter Community Improvement Districts for DeKalb and Fulton Counties. She has represented chambers of commerce, economic development, and community improvement districts for over 25 years. She is the former president and chief executive officer of the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce and has served in various capacities with the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce and the Madison-Morgan Chamber of Commerce. She is a graduate and former member of the board of trustees of Leadership Georgia. Williams earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations from the University of Georgia. She also completed the Institute for Organizational Management program at the University of Georgia and a three-year program through the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma.