Deal Appoints 25 to Boards

ATLANTA, July 3 -- Gov. Nathan Deal, R-Ga., issued the following news release:

Ben H. Hall, Jr., Georgia Ports Authority

Hall is chairman of Dublin Construction Co., Inc. and B.H. Hall Ready Mixed Concrete Inc. He has served on the boards of Associated General Contractors of Georgia, Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Department of Economic Development. He previously served as president of the Dublin Rotary Club, chairman of the Dublin-Laurens Development Authority and as director of Morris Bank (Dublin). Hall graduated from Southern Poly Tech and the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Cailie, have two children and four grandchildren. They reside in Dublin.

William D. McKnight, Georgia Ports Authority

McKnight has been president of McKnight Construction Co. since 1996. He serves as chairman of the board of directors of First Bank of Georgia and has been president of both the Augusta Country Club and Augusta Golf Association. He has previously served on the boards of Associated General Contractors of America, Augusta Ballet, First Tee, Richmond Academy Booster Club and Tuttle-Newton Home. He is a member of the Exchange Club of Augusta and Trinity-on-the-Hill United Methodist Church, where he serves on the finance committee. McKnight earned a bachelor's degree from Georgia Tech. He and his wife, Janet, have four daughters and one grandson. They reside in Augusta.

Joe W. Rogers, Jr., Georgia Ports Authority (reappointment)

Rogers is chief executive officer of Waffle House Inc. He serves on the board of directors of Suntrust Bank of Atlanta and Grady Memorial Hospital Corp. He is a trustee of the Woodruff Arts Center, the Georgia Research Alliance and the Georgia Tech Foundation Board. He is the former chairman of the board of trustees for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Rogers earned a bachelor's degree in Industrial Management at Georgia Tech and a master's degree in Business Administration from Harvard University. He has three children, two stepchildren, one grandchild and is expecting another grandchild. He and his wife, Fran, reside in Atlanta.

Joel O. Wooten, Georgia Ports Authority (reappointment)

Wooten is an attorney with the law firm of Butler Wooten Cheeley & Peak, LLP. He served as chair of the University System of Georgia Board of Regents from 2004-2005 and was a board member from 1999-2006. He has been recognized as one of Georgia Trend's 100 Most Influential Georgians and has been repeatedly selected as a Georgia Super Lawyer. He received the State Bar of Georgia's Tradition of Excellence Award in 2000 and the UGA Law School's Distinguished Service Scroll in 2012. Wooten earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Georgia in 1972 and earned a law degree from the University of Georgia in 1975. He and his wife, Sybrina, have five children and three grandchildren. They reside in Columbus.

Steve R. Adams, Board of Governors of the George L. Smith II World Congress Center Authority (reappointment)

Adams founded West Georgia Ambulance in 1976 and continues to operate the company as Carroll County's 911 EMS Provider. In 2000, he founded Southeastrans, Inc., a nonemergency medical transportation management company. He has served on the Georgia Board of Juvenile Justice, the Emergency Medical Health Services Advisory Board, the Carrollton Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Board, the State University of West Georgia Board of Trustees and the boards of the Carroll County Children's Home and Carroll County Symphony. Adams is an honorary alumni from the State University of West Georgia. He has one daughter and resides in Carrollton.

David Allman, Board of Governors of the George L. Smith II World Congress Center Authority (reappointment)

Allman is owner & chairman of Regent Partners, a real estate investment and development company based in Atlanta. He currently serves as founding chairman of the Buckhead Community Improvement District, chairman of the Atlanta Urban Land Institute District Council, Eleazar Wheelock Society at Dartmouth College and Opportunity International Nicaragua. He is a trustee for the J. Bulow Campbell Foundation, a national trustee for the Urban Land Institute and serves on the boards of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation, the Metro Atlanta Chamber and FCS Urban Ministries. He and his wife, Donna, have four children and nine grandchildren. They reside in Atlanta.

Greg J. O'Bradovich, Board of Governors of the George L. Smith II World Congress Center Authority (reappointment)

O'Bradovich has practiced intellectual property law for more than 17 years. He earned a bachelor's degree from Fordham University, a master's degree in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He and his wife, Mary Emily, have two children. They reside in Atlanta.

William C. Rice, Board of Governors of the George L. Smith II World Congress Center Authority (reappointment)

Rice is currently president of RBH of LaGrange. He retired as director of marketing for Milliken and Company. He is a past president and chairman of the board for Leadership Georgia. He has also served on the boards of the Textile Rental Association and the Industrial Textile Service Association. Rice earned a bachelor's degree in Marketing from the University of Florida. He and his wife, Helen, have one child and three grandchildren. They reside in LaGrange.

R. Stan Conway, Board of Governors of the George L. Smith II World Congress Center Authority

Conway currently serves as executive vice president of Majestic Realty and is a member of the board of directors for Majestic Realty Co. He leads Majestic's activities in the eastern United States. He sits on the board of LEAD and is a former board member of Skyland Trail. Conway is a graduate of Southern Polytechnic State University. He has three children and resides in Atlanta.

Anne G. Hennessy, Board of Governors of the George L. Smith II World Congress Center Authority (reappointment)

Hennessy serves on the board of directors of both Trinity School and the Georgia Healthcare Foundation. She began her career as an investment banker at what is now Chase JP Morgan. Later she became actively involved as an executive with Intellivoice. She was tapped to participate in Leadership Atlanta and graduated from the program in 2003. Hennessy has been an active angel investor in early stage technology companies since 1998. She and her husband, Peter, have three children. They reside in Atlanta.

Rene M. Diaz, Board of Economic Development

Diaz is president and chief executive officer of Diaz Foods and is president of the Diaz Group. He is the owner and manager of Diaz Produce, Tortillas de Casa, Jose's Not Here Taqueria and Tequila Bar and EDUA Holdings. He currently serves on the boards of Atlantic Capital Bank, J. Mack Robinson College of Business, United Way of Greater Atlanta, Young Harris College, Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities, Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Emory University Center for Ethics and Georgia State University. He is the recipient of the 2003 Legacy Award from Big Brothers Big Sisters, the 2003 Georgia State University Robinson College of Business' Inaugural Entrepreneurship Award and has been listed by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of the "Top 100 Most Influential Atlantans." Diaz earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Georgia State University. He and his wife, Aileen, have three children. They reside in Atlanta.

D. Pendleton "Penn" Hodge, Board of Economic Development (reappointment)

Hodge is the owner and principal partner of Penn Hodge Properties. He serves on the boards of the Fulton County Development Authority, Georgia Chamber of Commerce and Alpharetta Chamber of Commerce. He earned a bachelor's degree in Accounting from the University of Georgia and a law degree from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Cynthia, have three children. They reside in Alpharetta.

H.M. "Monty" Osteen, Jr., Board of Economic Development (reappointment)

Osteen retired as chairman and chief executive officer of Bankers First Corp., Augusta. He currently serves on the boards of the Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA), Georgia Health Sciences Foundation, CSRA Alliance for Fort Gordon, Augusta Tomorrow, Inc. and as chairman of the National Science Center Foundation Board. Osteen was inducted into the CSRA Business Hall of Fame in 2008 and is a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from Augusta State University. He earned a bachelor's and master's degree in Economics from the University of South Carolina. He and his wife, Molly, have two children and two grandchildren. They reside in Augusta.

C. Tom Griffith, Board of Economic Development (reappointment)

Griffith is the founder of Golden Pantry Food Stores, Inc., where he served as chief operating officer until retirement. He previously served as president of the National Association of Convenience Stores, founder and president of Georgia Association of Convenience Stores, director of Business Council of Georgia, president of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce and founder of Classic Charities. He was inducted in 2007 into the Georgia Food Industry Hall of Fame. He attended the University of Georgia and was in the U.S. Navy. He and his wife, Marion, have four adult sons and eight grandchildren. They reside in Watkinsville.

Vincent M. "Zippy" Duvall, Georgia Development Authority (reappointment)

Duvall is president of Georgia Farm Bureau. He serves on the American Farm Bureau Board and the Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co. Board. He previously served as chairman of the Greene County Commission and is a past member of the Rayle EMC Board of Directors. He and his wife, Bonnie, have four children and three grandchildren. They reside in Greensboro.

Jacob F. Redmon, Georgia Development Authority (reappointment)

Redmon has worked for Houston Fertilizer & Grain Co. for 34 years. He is past president of the Georgia Plant Food Society and Georgia Crop Production Alliance and recently received Lifetime Achievement awards from both groups. Redmon earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Florida and a master's degree from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Gale, have three children and three grandchildren. They reside in Warner Robins.

James S. "Steve" Singletary, Georgia Development Authority (reappointment)

Singletary is president of Singletary Farms. He is chairman of the board of the Bank of Early in Blakely. He has served on the Flint River Soil & Water Conservation District Board for 36 years and on the State Soil & Water Conservation Commission for eight years. Singletary earned a bachelor's degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Liza, have two children and three grandchildren. They reside in Blakely.

Robert W. Krueger, Jekyll Island State Park Authority (reappointment)

Krueger is vice chairman of the board of ComSouth Corp. He serves as treasurer and on the executive committee of the Georgia Telecommunications Association. Krueger earned a bachelor's degree from Mississippi State University and a master's degree from the University of Georgia. He is a former officer in the U.S. Navy and is an Eagle Scout. He and his wife Carol, have three children and three grandchildren. They reside in Hawkinsville.

Sandra Heath Taylor, Board of Juvenile Justice (reappointment)

Taylor currently serves as chief assistant solicitor general of Troup County after working 28 years as a trial attorney. She has served as board chairman for her local domestic violence shelter and as director of a Rotary scholarship and mentoring program for children in Troup County. Taylor earned a bachelor's degree from Emory University and a law degree from Mercer University. She is a member of First Baptist Church of LaGrange. She has one child and resides in LaGrange.

Al St. Lawrence, Board of Commissioners of the Sheriffs Retirement Fund of Georgia (reappointment)

St. Lawrence has served as sheriff of Chatham County since 1992. Prior to his election as sheriff, he was the chief of police for Chatham County for 21 years and served more than 33 years with the department. He was the recipient of the Georgia Chiefs of Police Association's Outstanding Chief of the Year Award in 1990 and the Georgia Sheriffs' Association's Sheriff of the Year Award in 1995. He is a 1966 graduate of the FBI National Academy. He and his wife, Pat, have six children, 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. They reside in Savannah.

Martin W. Smith, Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council

Smith is chairman of the Carroll County Commission. He previously served in positions with Carroll County Farm Bureau, J. Smith Lanier Insurance Co., and with a local grading and development business, achieving certifications in Erosion Control and Wetlands Mitigation. Smith earned a bachelor's degree in Management from the University of West Georgia. He is a member of Rotary and a deacon at the First Baptist Church of Carrollton. He and his wife, Pamela, have three children. They reside in Carrollton.

Thomas J. McMichael, Georgia Peace Officer Standards Training Council (reappointment)

McMichael retired from Bank of America with 40 years of banking experience. He has served as a Houston County commissioner for 18 years. He serves on the board of directors of Central Georgia Technical College, Middle Georgia State College, as chairman of the Museum of Aviation at Robins Air Force Base, Middle Georgia Community Action Agency and Christ United Methodist Church Council and is past president of the Association County Commissioners Georgia. McMichael earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia and is a graduate of the Louisiana State University School of Banking. He and his wife, Dianne, have two children and four grandchildren. They reside in Warner Robins.

Ronald M. Heckman, Georgia Real Estate Appraiser's Board

Heckman is vice president and chief review appraiser for SunTrust Bank. Prior to employment with SunTrust Bank, he co-owned and managed Heckman and Associates, a family real estate and appraisal firm. He holds a Georgia certified appraiser's license and is an affiliate member of the Appraisal Institute. He is an organizing member of the Georgia Real Estate Fraud Prevention and Awareness Coalition and is a past board member. Heckman earned a bachelor's degree in Real Estate from Georgia State University. He and his wife, Beth, have two daughters, two son-in-laws and three grandchildren. They reside in Stone Mountain.

D. Scott Gibbs, Board of Community Affairs

Gibbs has been the owner and operator of Gibbs Grading and Utilities, Inc. for 20 years. He has been District 3 commissioner for Hall County since January 2011. Gibbs earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from North Georgia College and State University. He and his wife, Jennifer, have one son. They reside in Gainesville.

Tommy M. Rouse, Board of Corrections (reappointment)

Rouse retired from the Georgia Department of Corrections as a regional director. He is a former chairman of the Ware County Commission. He also served as chief deputy with the Ware County Sheriff's Department and is a member of the Fraternal Order of Police and the Peace Officers' Association of Georgia. He and his wife, Pat, have two children, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren. They reside in Waycross.

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