Deal appoints three to boards

David Sims, Private Colleges and Universities Authority
Sims worked for 13 years as a claims counsel for Nationwide Insurance in Atlanta before retiring. He is currently of counsel with the Atlanta law firm of Insley and Race and has emeritus status with the State Bar of Georgia and in Vinings. He also practiced law in Savannah for 20 years where he was president of the Trial Lawyers Club and president of the Savannah Bar Association. Sims is a graduate of the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University, where he served as president of the Student Bar Association. He and his wife, Joyce, reside in Suwanee.

Martha Owens, State Use Council
Owens is the volunteer director of Randy and Friends. She was instrumental in the formation and development of Challenged Child and Friends, Heritage Academy, My Sister’s Place, Our Neighbor Inc. and Randy and Friends, Inc. She is past-president of Rotary, and has served as member and officer of several boards. She has been honored as Gainesville Woman of the Year and Hall County Life Changer. Owens earned a bachelor’s degree from Houghton College. She has eight children and 14 grandchildren. She resides in Gainesville.

Ben Bryant, Technical College System of Georgia Board
Ben Bryant is an assistant general counsel of Financial Services with InComm. He serves on the Artemis Guild board for the Fernbank Museum of Natural History and on the board of directors of the Chamblee Charter High School Blue & Gold Foundation. Bryant earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Economics from Washington & Lee University, a master’s degree in Legislative Affairs from George Washington University, and a law degree from Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law. He and his wife, Kristen, have two children. They reside in Atlanta.