Governor Perdue Announces Appointments to the Board of Industry, Trade and Tourism and Professional Standards Commission

Atlanta - Governor Sonny Perdue made appointments today to the Georgia Board of Industry, Trade and Tourism and the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

Four appointments were made to the Board of Industry, Trade and Tourism - Dwight Horace Evans of Stone Mountain, GA to serve at-large; Stanley Earl Thomas of Sharpsburg, GA to serve at-large; Harriette D. Watkins of Thomasville, GA to represent the Thirteenth Congressional District; and Abner Paul Wood of Atlanta, GA to represent the Fourth Congressional District.

Two appointments were made to the Professional Standards Commission - Carolyn Hart of College Park, GA and Martin "Bert" Wagnon of Albany, GA.

The Georgia Board of Industry, Trade and Tourism provides strategic direction to the state's lead economic development agency.

The purpose of the Professional Standards Commission is to set and apply high standards for the preparation, certification and continued licensing of Georgia public educators.

Brief biographies are provided below.

Georgia Board of Industry, Trade and Tourism

Dwight Horace Evans, 55, Stone Mountain, GA, At-Large Member - Evans is Executive Vice President of Southern Company and President of the company's External Affairs Group. He holds a Juris Doctor from Atlanta Law School, a Masters of Science in Environmental Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, both from Georgia Tech. Evans is also a graduate of Harvard University's Program for Management Development and the Wharton School's Executive Accounting and Finance Program. Some of his activities include board member of the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution and board of directors of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Evans and wife, Sharon, have two children.

Stanley "Stan" Earl Thomas, 49, Sharpsburg, GA, At-Large Member - Thomas currently serves as President of Thomas Enterprises, a commercial real estate corporation, and owns Three Tree Ranches, a group of farms throughout the nation. He received his undergraduate degree from Georgia State University in 1972. Some of Thomas' activities include serving as deacon at New Hope Baptist Church in Fayetteville, the Student Leadership Program in Orlando, FL, and several ministries including Friends of the Garden Tomb and Christian City. Thomas and wife, Carole, have three children.

Harriette D. Watkins, 54, Fairburn, GA, Thirteenth Congressional District - Watkins was named Vice President of Community Affairs at AGL Resources in October 2001 and was previously employed by Georgia Power Company for 20 years. Watkins received her undergraduate degree from Spelman College and holds two Masters Degrees from Clark Atlanta University in special education and higher education administration. Watkins' activities include 2002 chair of the Atlanta Business League Board of Directors and the 2003-2004 Membership Chair for Leadership Atlanta. Watkins and her husband, Fred, have two sons.

Abner Paul Wood, 60, Atlanta, GA, Fourth Congressional District - Wood is currently President and CEO of Georgia Electric Membership Corporation. He has a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Northwestern Louisiana State University. Some of his activities include the Board of Directors for both the Georgia Corporation for Economic Development, Inc. and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. Wood served as a Captain in the U.S. Army Special Forces (Airborne) and the Louisiana National Guard. Wood and wife, Suzanne, have two sons.

Georgia Professional Standards Commission

Carolyn Lee Hart, 57, College Park, GA - Hart has served as Coordinator of Community and Family Relations and Deputy Superintendent for Instruction for Atlanta Public Schools since 2000. Hart is currently a candidate for her Doctoral Degree at Clark-Atlanta University. She earned a Masters Degree in Reading and Secondary Education from Atlanta University and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Livingston College. Some of Hart's activities include the Georgia State Department of Education- Goals 2000 Team, Chair of the Advisory Board for Fulton County schools, and a member of the National Education Association. She has two children.

Martin Bertram "Bert" Wagnon, 54, Albany, GA - Wagnon is currently the Field Director of Southwest Georgia for the Georgia Association of Educators. He has a Masters Degree in Teaching from Georgia State University and a Bachelor of Science in History from Georgia Southwestern College. He served in the United States Army Reserve as a parachute rigger from 1968 to 1976 before receiving an honorable discharge. Some of his activities include serving as staff liaison with the Georgia Council on Social Studies, past chairman of the education division for United Way of Bay County, and past member of the Partnership in Education Committee in Dougherty County. Wagnon and his wife, Joyce, have two sons.