New Leadership for Commission for a New Georgia

Atlanta - Governor Sonny Perdue announced today the appointment of Annie Hunt Burriss as the new Executive Director & Senior Advisor to the Governor for the Commission for a New Georgia (Commission) effective January 1, 2004. Burriss has served as the Governor's Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, Legislative Affairs, & Executive Appointments since January 2003. Bill Todd, the previous Executive Director, was recently appointed President of the Georgia Cancer Coalition.

"Annie's experience in the business, academic, and government sectors uniquely qualifies her for this leadership role. I have found her to be a results-oriented venture capitalist of ideas," said Governor Sonny Perdue. "Her understanding of economic development, combined with her strong sense of Georgia , provides her with keen insights for directing the Commission for a New Georgia."

Governor Perdue also announced that Jerry Guthrie will serve as an Executive-on-loan to the Commission for up to three years. Guthrie has served as the Corporate Director for Ethics and Compliance for BellSouth since 1996.

"Jerry Guthrie will add another private sector perspective to the leadership of the Commission. I appreciate his commitment to this critical review of the operations of our state government," said Governor Perdue. "Duane Ackerman, CEO of BellSouth, and Phil Jacobs, President of BellSouth Georgia , understand the importance of this Commission, and I appreciate their loan of a valuable and well-respected executive."

The Commission is chaired by Joe Rogers, Jr., CEO of Waffle House, Inc, and Bob Hatcher, Georgia Chairman for Branch Banking and Trust, and includes twenty of the top corporate leaders in the state. The purpose of the Commission is to infuse expertise from the private sector into the operations of state government to improve efficiency and effectiveness. Kris Nordholz will continue to serve as Deputy Executive Director. The Commission and staff will report directly to the Governor's office through the Chief of Staff. For more information, please visit http://www.new-georgia.org .

Brief biographies are provided below.

Burriss has served as Governor Perdue's Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, Legislative Affairs, & Executive Appointments since January. Prior to joining the Governor's Office, she was Associate Vice Chancellor for Economic Development for the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. Since the early 1980s, Burriss has served as an economic development professional in the public and private sectors, including the Governor's Development Council, Georgia Power Company, the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade & Tourism. Burriss has been named as one of Georgia Trend magazine's "100 Most Influential Georgians" and to Atlanta Business Chronicle's list of 100 most influential Atlantans and technology leaders for several years. She earned fine arts degrees from Sullins College and Stephens College , a Master of City Planning from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and has completed advanced studies at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania .

Guthrie has served as the Corporate Director of Ethics and Compliance at BellSouth since 1996. Previously, he served as Director of Cash Management and Assistant Treasure and Director of Investor Relations at Bellsouth. Guthrie retired after a long career in the United States Air Force as a Lt. Colonel. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and an MBA from the University of Southern Mississippi.