Governor Perdue Announces Executive Appointments

Monday, May 1, 2006

Contact: Office of Communications 404-651-7774

Governor Perdue Announces Executive Appointments

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

Georgia Board for Physician Workforce

Brian K. Burdette, 44, Greensboro, GA, Member at Large – Burdette is the owner and CEO of Glasstech Services Inc. and Blueprint Conversion Technology, LLP. He is a member of the Georgia Rural Development Council, the Greensboro Businessman’s Association and the City of Greensboro’s “Foundation for the Futures.” Burdette is the chairman of the Minnie G. Boswell Hospital Authority and the Greensboro Planning and Zoning Board. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University. Burdette is married to Patricia Walters Burdette.

Julia H. Jones, 44, Decatur, GA, Hospital Representative – Jones is the administrator and vice president of DeKalb Medical Center. She served in various positions with DeKalb Medical Center including director of the center at Hillandale, project manager and managing engineer. She is a member and past president of the South DeKalb Rotary Club, a member of the Georgia Tech ANAK Honor Society and a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a master’s degree from Georgia State University. Jones and her husband, Bernard, have two children.

James “Jim” R. Lowry, 64, Moultrie, GA, Hospital Representative – Lowry is the president and CEO of Colquitt Regional Medical Center. He has worked as an assistant administrator of Vereen Memorial Hospital in Moultrie. He is a fellow of the Healthcare Financial Management Association and the American College of Healthcare Executives. He is a former chairman of the Georgia Hospital Association, the Colquitt County Unit of the American Cancer Society, the Moultrie County Chamber of Commerce and a former board member for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Georgia. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University. Lowry and his wife, Diane, have five children and eight grandchildren.

Joe Sam Robinson M.D., 60, Macon, GA, Non-Primary Care Physician Representative (REAPPOINTMENT) – Robinson is the president of the Georgia Neurosurgical Institute. He served as the chief of staff, chairman of the department of surgery and chief of neurosurgery at the Medical Center of Georgia. He is a member of the Bibb County Medical Society, the Georgia Medical Society and a member and past president of the Georgia Neurosurgical Society. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard College, a master’s degree from Northwestern University and a medical degree from the University of Virginia. Robinson and his wife, Elizabeth, have two children.

State Board of Physical Therapy

George “Bo” Hamil, Jr., 52, Carrollton, GA, Physical Therapist Representative – Hamil is the president and CEO of Southern Therapy Services, Inc. and director of First Georgia Banking Company. He has served as director of Regions Bank and president of Orthopedic Therapy, Inc. He is a member of the Georgia Physical Therapy Association, the American Physical Therapy Association and director of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the Medical College of Georgia and a master’s degree in education from West Georgia College. Hamil and his wife, Shirley, have three children.

Charlene D. Portee, 46, Atlanta, GA, Physical Therapist Representative (REAPPOINTMENT) – Portee is an assistant professor at North Georgia College and State University. She has served as the director of rehabilitation services at Haralson Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and as a staff physical therapist at Crawford Long Hospital. She is a charter member and current president of the American Academy of Physical Therapy and chapter delegate for the Physical Therapy Association of Georgia. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Fisk University, a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Georgia State University and a doctorate from Nova Southeastern University.

Donald J. Walsh, 42, Gainesville, GA, Physical Therapist Representative – Walsh is a physical therapist supervisor at Northeast Georgia Medical Center. He has been an American Physical Therapy Association book reviewer and a Federation of States Boards item writer for the national physical therapy board exam. He is a member of the Physical Therapy Association of Georgia and a Georgia delegate to the American Physical Therapy Association. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Kean College of New Jersey and a master’s degree from Lynn University. Walsh and his wife, Karen, have three children.

State Board of Registration for Professional Geologists

Jerry M. German, 54, Oxford, GA, Government Geologist Representative – German is the materials and research branch chief for the Georgia Department of Transportation. He has worked as an aggregate geologist with the Georgia Department of Transportation, a regulatory geologist with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and a research geologist with the Georgia Geological Survey. He is a member of the Geological Society of America and the Georgia Geological Society. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University and two master’s degrees from the University of Memphis. German and his wife, Suzette, have two children.

William “Ed” Riley, 43, Sandersville, GA, Company Geologist Representative – Riley is a senior research geologist and group leader at Thiele Kaolin Company. He has served as a process-engineering technician, a research technician and associate research geologist at Thiele Kaolin. He is a member of the Geological Society of America, the Georgia Geological Society and the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia. Riley and his wife, Becky, have two children.

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