Deal appoints 11 to boards

Janace A. Harding, Board of Architects and Interior Designers
Harding is the founder and president of jh IDEAS, an interior design firm in Gainesville. She is the president of the Georgia Alliance of Interior Design Professionals and is currently serving on the National Legislative and Codes Advisory Council. She has served on the board of directors of Commercial Real Estate Women of Atlanta and is a past officer of the American Society of Interior Designers. She is also a past member of the Buckhead Rotary where she was a Paul Harris fellow, a Will Watts fellow and the recipient of the International Service Award. Harding earned a bachelors degree in Interior Design from the University of Memphis. She resides in Gainesville.

William Bagwell, Jr., Board of Natural Resources
Bagwell is a managing member of Homestead Investments. In addition to Homestead Investments, he currently manages property for Northeast Georgia Real Estate and is involved in a family timber operation. He previously owned and operated Homestead Farms in Canon. While employed at the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce in Gainesville, he held the offices of vice president of economic development, vice president of existing industry and vice president of government affairs. Bagwell is a deacon of the First Baptist Church in Gainesville and a member of the Gainesville and Hall County Economic Development Council. He also serves on the board of directors of the First Century Bank and the Lanier Technical College Foundation. He is a graduate of Presbyterian College. He and his wife, Jennifer, have two children. They reside in Gainesville.

J. Mark Mobley, Jr., Board of Natural Resources
Mobley is the owner and president of Mobley Gin Co. in Doerun. He serves on the board of directors of the Georgia Development Authority, the board of directors of the Ameris Bank, the board of trustees of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, and the Colquitt County Hospital Authority. Mobley attended the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Judy, have four children, John Mark, Matthew, Tyler, and Daniel. They reside in Moultrie.

George Bill Myers IV, Board of Public Safety
Myers was appointed fire chief of the Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services in 2009. He began working with Gwinnett County in 1983 after serving in the U.S. Navy. He is a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Georgia Fire Chiefs Association, and the Georgia Association of Emergency Medical Services. Myers earned a bachelors degree in Safety Engineering from Kennedy-Western University, a masters degree in Public Administration from Madison University, and is a graduate from the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program. He and his wife, Jami, have two children. They reside in Lilburn.

Brian M. Rickman, Board of Public Safety
Rickman is the district attorney for the Mountain Judicial Court Circuit. Prior to his appointment, Rickman served as an assistant district attorney and partner in the law firm Stockton & Rickman. He serves on the board of trustees of Piedmont College and is the recipient of the Piedmont College Alumni Pacesetter Award. He is a graduate of the 127th Session of the Northeast Georgia Police Academy and P.O.S.T certified Georgia Peace Officer. Rickman earned a bachelors degree from Piedmont College and a juris doctorate from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Maggie, have two children, Henry and Molly. They reside in Tiger.

Gary C. Vowell, Board of Public Safety
Vowell is the sheriff of Tift County. Prior to becoming sheriff, he served 20 years with the Georgia State Patrol. He is a member of the National Sheriffs Association and the Georgia Sheriffs Association. He previously served on the Traffic Safety Committee and the Crime Prevention Committee for the National Sheriffs Association. Vowell attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and is a graduate of the 51st Trooper School. He and his wife, Beth, have three children and one grandchild. They reside in Tifton.

Jessie I. Pennington, Board of Public Safety
Pennington is the chief of police for Thunderbolt. Prior to becoming chief, she served as a major for the Chatham Metropolitan Police Department. She has a worked for over 37 years in law enforcement. Pennington is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the 168th Session and Session 19A of the Georgia Law Enforcement Academy. She earned a bachelors degree from Columbus University and a masters in Public Administration from Command College. She and her husband, Frank, have two children and one grandchild. They reside in Savannah.

Ellis G. Wood, Board of Public Safety (reappointment)
Wood is the president of Ellis Wood Contracting, Inc. He is chairman of the Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport Committee, on the board of trustees of the Guido Evangelistic Association, and a member of the board of deacons of the First Baptist Church of Statesboro. He previously served on the State Board of Corrections. Wood earned a bachelors degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Kathy, have two children and four grandchildren. They reside in Statesboro.

Kathleen A. Bennett, Child Fatality Review Panel
Bennett is the disabilities and mental health specialist for the Central Savannah River Area Economic Opportunity Authoritys Head Start Program. She has been with Head Start for 32 years. She currently serves as treasurer for the Georgia Head Start Association and is the staff representative from the Georgia Head Start Association to the Region IV Head Start Association. She is a member of the Consolation Ministry, the Rosary Ministry, and St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church. Bennett earned a bachelors degree in Home Economics from Georgia Southern College. She resides in Augusta.

Felker W. Ward, Jr., Board of Economic Development
Ward is a retired corporate lawyer and Army veteran. He retired after 20 years of service in the U.S. Army with the grade of lieutenant colonel. He has been awarded the Legion of Merit award and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry Medal. Ward currently serves on the board of trustees of Tuskegee University and on the board of trustees of the Morehouse School of Medicine. He is also chair of the Fort McPherson Implementing Redevelopment Authority and serves on the Georgia Research Authority. He has previously served as the chair of the Georgia Human Relations Commission, on the Judicial Nomination Commission, the Board of Natural Resources, the Georgia Board of Offender Rehabilitation, and the board of trustees of Emory University. He and his wife, Mary, have four children and five grandchildren. They reside in Riverdale.

J. Rayburn Saunders, Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council (reappointment)
Saunders is a county commissioner for Colquitt County and the owner and operator of Saunders Brothers Farms. He serves as chairman of the Colquitt County Recreation Department. Saunders is the past state chairman of the Farm Service Agency. He and his wife, Marie, have two children. They reside in Doerun.