Governor Nathan Deal - Georgia’s 82nd Governor (2011-2019)

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Deal appoints eight to boards

February 10, 2012

George Benjamin “Benjy” Thompson IV, Board of Trustees of the Herty Advanced Materials Development Center
Thompson currently serves as chief executive officer for the Development Authority of Bulloch County and the Statesboro-Bulloch Chamber of Commerce. He serves as chair of the Coastal Georgia Regional Water Council, chair of the Middle Coastal Unified Development Authority and on the board of directors of the Rotary Club of Statesboro. He is an alumnus and former trustee of Leadership Georgia, an alumnus of the Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership and was named to Georgia Trend’s 2004 “40 under 40” list of young business professionals. He earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree at Georgia Southern University and attended law school at the University of South Carolina. He and his wife, Delaine, have two children. They reside in Statesboro.

Charles J. Miller, Department of Transportation Roadside Enhancement and Beautification Council
Miller retired from the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company after 44 years of service. He is currently an active member of Georgia Wildlife Federation where he serves as the at-large director. He is a volunteer member of DeKalb County Master Gardeners and is a member of the Georgia Master Gardener Association Groups, where he serves as board photographer. Miller is a longtime member of the Georgia Native Plant Society. He and his wife, R. Lease, have two sons and four grandchildren. They reside in Tucker.

Judy B. Neal, Board of Early Care and Learning
Neal has worked in numerous areas within Georgia government. She retired as the executive director of the Children and Youth Coordinating Council. Prior to the council, Neal served as the executive director of the Georgia Agrirama Development Authority. She is a member of the board of directors of McDonough Arts and a member of McDonough Presbyterian Church. Neal has two sons and four grandchildren. She resides in Stockbridge.

Bobby R. Holton, State Board of Registration of Used Car Dealers and Motor Vehicle Parts Dealers
Holton is the senior director of claims for the Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance Companies. He has more than 35 years of experience in property and casualty insurance claims. He has held positions with Cotton States Mutual Insurance Company, Grange Mutual Insurance Company and the American International Group. Holton is also a graduate of the University of Georgia. He currently resides in Jackson with his wife, Gloria. Together they have two children.

Laura R. Morgan, Board of Commissioners of the Georgia Student Finance Commission
Morgan served as a volunteer for the Governor’s Gubernatorial Inaugural and Transition Committee. Early in her career, President George H.W. Bush appointed her as a director of congressional relations for the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Morgan is also a former board member of Young Audiences of Atlanta, which focuses on art education for children of all ages. She received a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Penn State University. She and her husband, Jay, have three children. They reside in Atlanta.

Frank Faison Middleton IV, Board of Commissioners of the Georgia Student Finance Commission (reappointment)
Middleton began his legal career with three Atlanta law firms. He left the partnership of McKenna, Long & Aldridge and now works with Watson Spence where he serves as managing partner. He is a member of the Dougherty County Rotary Club and has served on the board of trustees of Leadership Georgia and the nonprofit Lily Pad SANE Center, Inc. Middleton has also served on the Young Executive Board of Regions Bank in Albany, the board of directors of the Albany Chamber of Commerce and its executive committee, the board of trustees of the Albany Museum of Art, the board of directors of First Tee of Albany and the Corporate Gifts Committee of the Albany Community Hospice Campaign. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Emory University and a law degree from Georgia State University. He and his wife, Kari, have two sons. They reside in Albany.

Kathy B. Howell, Board of Early Care and Learning
Howell retired after 30 years in education as principal of Carrollton Elementary School. During her tenure in education she started a public school Pre-K program that became the model for the current Georgia Pre-K and, in conjunction, was awarded a grant to develop a parenting program, Preschool Parent Partners. Howell was also selected to participate in Georgia’s Education Leadership Academy. She received the Sertoman of the Year award for her involvement with the Carroll County Empty Stocking Fund. She is a past president and current member of the Carroll County Master Gardener Association. Howell attended the University of West Georgia where she received her bachelor’s, master’s and educational leadership degrees. She and her husband, David, have three children, two step-children and nine grandchildren. They reside in Carrollton.

Janice M. Gallimore, Board of Early Care and Learning (reappointment)
Gallimore retired as director of operations from the PruCare Division of the Prudential Insurance Company of America. She has also served as chairman of the Board of Education in Greene County and on the board of directors of Saint Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital. Gallimore is a scholar for the Coverdell Leadership Institute and is a graduate of Clark College with a bachelor’s of arts in French and Secondary Education. She has one son and resides in Greensboro.