Governor Perdue Announces Executive Appointments

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

State Board of Technical and Adult Education

Emerson E. Russell, 58, Rossville, GA, Tenth Congressional District Representative - Russell is the chief executive officer of the Emerson Russell Maintenance Company (ERMC), a partner in Emerson Russell Thad Hunt (ERTH), a co-manager of R&R Properties, the owner and president of East Ridge Motors and the president of Apparel Sew Right (ASR).  He is a member of the Building Owners and Managers Association, the Catoosa County Economic Development board of commissioners, the Catoosa County Chamber legislative board of directors and the North Georgia YMCA board of directors.  Russell earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga .  He and his wife, Angela, have five children. 

Georgia Council for the Arts

Hilda A. Morris, 62, Atlanta , GA , Fifth Congressional District Representative - Morris is the owner and president of Hil–Mor Homes in Atlanta .  She is a past member of the board of directors of the American Cancer Society and serves on the fundraising committee.  Morris has also served as the facilitator for support groups and has helped with various implementation issues for the American Cancer Society.  She and her husband, Arthur, have three grown children.

Stephan "Steve" L. Penley, 40, Carrollton , GA , Eighth Congressional District Representative - 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 Maytre Gallery in Atlanta and the FAA Gallery in Washington , D.C.   He has donated his art to various charities, including the Festival of Trees and 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 two children.

David Yu, 54, Atlanta , GA , Sixth Congressional District (REAPPOINTMENT) - Yu is the chairman of Summit Bank Corp in Atlanta .  He is the chair of the Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation of Atlanta, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of seriously ill children and their families.  In addition, he serves on the boards of Sheltering Arms and Theater of the Stars.  Yu earned a bachelor's degree from Virginia Commonwealth University and a master's degree in business administration from Georgia State University .  He and his wife, Enying, have two children.

Georgia Child Fatality Review Panel

Kevin K. Tanner, 33, Dawsonville , GA , Law Enforcement Representative - Tanner is a major and chief deputy in the Dawson County Sheriff's Office where he is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the office.  He is a member of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, the Northeast Georgia Council for Boy Scouts executive board, a past director of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce, and a former president of the Dawson County Rotary Club.  Tanner is a certified emergency medical technician and earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from North Georgia College and a master's degree in public administration from Columbus State University .  He and his wife, Stacie, have two children. 

Board of Trustees of the Public School Employees' Retirement System

J. Sammons "Sam" Pearson, 36, Macon , GA , Member - Pearson is the account vice president and financial advisor for USB Financial Services, Inc.  Previously, he worked as the construction lender for Sun Trust Bank.  He is a member of the Macon Civic Club and a former member of the Boys and Girls Club of Central Georgia and the Home Builders Association of Middle Georgia.  Pearson earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics from the University of Georgia .  He and his wife, Molly, have two children.