Huckaby Enlists Experienced Former Chief Financial Officer as Deputy

Atlanta - Chief Financial Officer Hank Huckaby today announced the recent hiring of Bart L. Graham as Georgia's new Deputy Chief Financial Officer. Graham has the primary responsibility of assisting Huckaby in developing legislative agendas for state agencies and a long-term financial strategy for the state. Graham brings years of corporate level management experience to Governor Sonny Perdue's financial team.

Most recently Graham served as Chief Financial Officer for Transition to the New Georgia, Inc. His responsibilities included finance, banking, contract negotiations, accounting, taxes, audits and risk management.

"Bart did an outstanding job in directing the transition team's financial operation. I am genuinely excited that an executive with his vision and expertise has joined our team," Huckaby said. "Recruiting talented and experienced individuals like Bart is just what this state needs to get us out of the financial crisis that we currently face," added Huckaby.

Biography

Bart L. Graham has seven years of operating experience in information technology, commercial banking and defense contract manufacturing industries and nearly 12 years of capital markets and corporate banking experience. Graham's capital markets experience includes middle market and large corporate public and private companies from investment grade to distressed situations. His operating experience includes private equity, venture capital, finance and accounting responsibilities, contract negotiations, legal services management, Section 936 Corporation (Puerto Rico) administration, small Foreign Sales Corporation (U.S. Virgin Islands) administration, IRS Tax Court Case settlement and negotiation, shareholder lawsuit resolution and negotiation, and antitrust inquiry representation.

Formerly, Graham was employed as chief financial officer and corporate secretary Seventh Wave Technology, Inc. (SWT). SWT is an information technology firm in the managed service provider sector. His responsibilities included reporting to the CEO, Board of Directors and the Board's Audit and Compensation Committees. While at SWT, Graham had a key role in the firm's successful efforts to raise $4 million in Series A & B convertible preferred equity funds.

He also previously served as chief financial officer of Bank Atlanta. His responsibilities included preparing financial performance presentations for the Board of Directors and Asset/Liability Committee and management of the bank's financial reporting, regulatory reporting, and accounting management functions. He was also responsible for sell side due diligence for the two acquisition closings and consolidation.

During his tenure with Seventh Wave Technology and Bank Atlanta Graham was also a partner with Tatum CFO Partners, LLP.

Prior to this, Graham was Senior Vice President - Syndications of Wachovia Capital Markets. This group specialized in the syndication of middle market and large corporate secured and investment grade debt and equity facilities across the US and in Canada. Graham also worked in the bank's capital markets group which specialized in private placements, derivatives, loan syndications, and sale/leaseback transactions.

Graham began his career with Wachovia Bank where he spent eight years as a corporate banker with market responsibilities around the southeast United States. During his tenure with Wachovia he worked in the bank's credit, workout, cash management, trust, and stock transfer services areas.

Graham is an honors graduate with Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Finance and a Masters of Business Administration in Finance from The University of Tennessee - Knoxville. As a student athlete, he earned All-America honors in swimming and served as the team's co-captain.

Graham and his wife Susan have two children, a daughter and a son.