Governor Perdue Announces Appointments to State Boards and Commissions

Atlanta - Governor Sonny Perdue announced today the followingappointments to State Boards and Commissions:

State Board of Education

Joy Berry, 73, Atlanta, Georgia, 5th Congressional District (Reappointment) - Berry retired as executive director of the Georgia Human Relations Commission in May 2000.  She is a former teacher and principal and was an adjunct professor at Pace University in New York where she also served on the Board of Examiners.  Berry also served as an education specialist in the Office of Planning and Budget.  She was appointed to the State Board of Education in December 2000.  Berry received an undergraduate degree from Hunter College in New York and a graduate degree from Pace University in New York.    

Jim Bostic, 56, Atlanta, Georgia, 6th Congressional District (Reappointment) - Bostic is currently the executive vice president of Environmental, Government Affairs and Administrative Services of Georgia-Pacific Corporation.  He has been with Georgia-Pacific since 1985 and has held numerous managerial and leadership positions.  Bostic is a member of the board of directors of Clemson University Foundation and is the vice chairman of education for the board of directors of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.  He is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Georgia Conservancy and was recognized to Who's Who Among Black Americans.  Bostic received the Thomas Green Clemson Academy of Engineers and Scientists Award from Clemson University as well as the Vision 300 Award from the Paper Industry Management Association.  He received an undergraduate degree and a doctorate degree from Clemson University. He and his wife, Edith, have two sons.

Al Hodge, 48, Rome, Georgia, 11th Congressional District (Reappointment) - Hodge is currently the president and CEO of the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce.  He is past president of the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce as well as past executive vice president and CEO of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce.  Hodge was appointed to the national Community Leaders Network by the U.S. Department of Energy and served on the board of directors for the American Chamber of Commerce Executives Association.  He currently serves as first vice president of the Georgia Economic Developers Association and is the past chairman of the Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.  Hodge is a recipient of the Kent Lawrence Leadership Award and was recognized as a Notable Georgian in 2002 and 2003 by Georgia Trend Magazine.  He received an undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia. Hodge and his wife, Cheryl, have one daughter.

Board of Industry, Trade and Tourism

Price Harding, 44, Duluth , Georgia , 7th Congressional District - Harding is currently the President and CEO of CarterBaldwin Executive Search Services, which has been recognized as a "Top Ten" Atlanta Search firm for eight consecutive years.  He is past Director of Manufacturing Services at Astechnologies.  Harding was recognized as a 2000 Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Finalist for the Small Business Person of the Year Award.  He served as director of the National Association of Personnel Services and on the Board of Directors of the Georgia Association of Personnel Services.  Harding received an undergraduate degree from Baptist University of America in Decatur, Georgia, and his graduate degree from Temple Baptist Seminary in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  He and his wife, Nancy, have two children.

Professional Standards Commission

Gary Walker, 59, Douglasville, Georgia (Business/Private Sector Representative - Reappointment) - Walker is currently a financial consultant for AXA Advisors LLC in Atlanta, Georgia.  He served as superintendent of the Valdosta City School Board in Valdosta, Georgia, and as assistant superintendent of the Cartersville School Board in Cartersville, Georgia.  Walker is a past lobbyist for the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders and also served as Title I Director of the Rome City School Board in Rome, Georgia.  He is also a former teacher in Haralson County.  Walker received an undergraduate degree and two graduate degrees from West Georgia College and a doctorate degree from Georgia State University. He and his wife, Kathy, have one child.

Debbie Wilkes, 53, Atlanta, Georgia (Business/Private Sector Representative) - Wilkes is currently the President of Phoenix Early Care and Educational Consulting.  She was previously an evaluation consultant for the Family Child Care Provider Training Project and is a past regional director of the Family Child Care Unit for the Georgia Department of Human Resources. She was formally an assistant professor of early childhood education at Oglethorpe University as well as a past child development associate instructor at Georgia State University.  Wilkes is presently the chairperson of the Advancing Child care through Education and Training (ACET) board of directors and is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).  She received an undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia, a graduate degree from Augusta College, and a doctorate degree from Georgia State University.  She and her husband, Joseph, have one child.