Deal appoints 27 to boards

William “W.T.” Henry Sr., State Board of Education

Henry retired as headmaster of Deerfield-Windsor School in Albany after serving 45 years in public and private education. He has served on the Georgia Accrediting Commission since 1997 and is a former Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Board of Trustees member. Henry earned a bachelor’s degree from Troy State University and master’s degrees in Physical Education and Administration Supervision from Florida State University. He and his wife, Ruth, have three children and three grandchildren. They reside in Albany.

John Coleman, Board of Commissioners of the Georgia Student Finance Commission

Coleman is the head of strategy and business planning at Invesco. He serves on the board of directors of the National Monuments Foundation and the Berry College Board of Visitors. He recently concluded a term on the DeKalb County Board of Education. Coleman earned a bachelor’s degree from Berry College, a master’s degree in Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School. He and his wife, Jackie, have two children. They reside in Brookhaven.

Linda P. McWhorter, Board of Commissioners of the Georgia Student Finance Commission

McWhorter handles public relations and marketing for NG Turf. She previously worked for Unimin Corp. as manager for the sales and traffic departments. McWhorter serves on the Whitesburg Elementary School Council and the Georgia Fine Arts Committee. McWhorter is the treasurer of the Georgia Commission on Women and the chair for the resource development committee of the Carroll County Court Appointed Special Advocate Board. She and her husband, Aaron, have three children and five grandchildren. They reside in Whitesburg.

Roy C. Kilpatrick, Board of Commissioners of the Georgia Student Finance Commission (reappointment)

Kilpatrick is the retired owner and chief executive officer of Kilpatrick Realty & Insurance Agency in Swainsboro. He is a past president of the Middle Georgia Independent Insurance Association, Altamaha Basin Board of Realtors, Swainsboro/Emanuel County Chamber of Commerce, Swainsboro County Club, Swainsboro Rotary Club and Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia. He has also served on the board of the Georgia Associations of Realtors, the Independent Insurance Agents of America and Forest Heights Country Club in Statesboro. He is the recipient of the Rotary Paul Harris and Will Watt Fellow Awards. He and his wife, Thelma, reside in Statesboro.

Ulester V. Douglas, State Commission on Family Violence

Douglas is the executive director of Men Stopping Violence. He lectures at Emory University and has extensive training and experience working with individuals, families and communities affected by violence. He serves on the board of directors of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence. He is a National Institute of Mental Health fellow and is the recipient of the National District Attorneys Association’s Stephen L. Von Riesen Lecturer of Merit award. Douglas completed undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He resides in Decatur.

Bobby L. McLemore, State Commission on Family Violence

McLemore has been the sheriff of Ben Hill County for the past 10 years. He has 31 years of experience in the field of technical education and 23 years of experience in law enforcement. He is a past president of the Georgia Sheriff’s Association. McLemore earned an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice from South Georgia College and a bachelor’s degree in Education from Valdosta State University. He and his wife, Wanda, have one child, three stepchildren and nine grandchildren. They reside in Fitzgerald.

Katora Y. Printup, State Commission on Family Violence

Printup is the executive director of the Northwest Georgia Family Crisis Center in Dalton. She serves on the board of directors of Whitfield County Family Connection. She is a member of the Conasauga Family Violence Alliance, the Georgia Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc. She was the 2014 recipient of the Women of Achievement award and the 2013 Women of the Year award, both from the Dalton Business and Professional Women’s Group. Printup earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Jacksonville State University. She and her husband, Jeremy, have one child. They reside in Adairsville.

D. Victor “Vic” Reynolds, State Commission on Family Violence

Reynolds is the current district attorney of Cobb County. He serves on the advisory board of Kennestone Hospital, is chairman of the Cobb Elder Abuse Task Force and is a member of the Marietta Kiwanis Club. Reynolds earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern University and a law degree from Georgia State University. He and his wife, Holly, have two children. They reside in Marietta.

Vanessa E. Wilkins, State Commission on Family Violence

Wilkins is the executive director of Promise Place, a nonprofit shelter program providing services in Fayette, Spalding, Pike and Upson counties. She serves on the board of the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence and is chair of the Griffin Judicial Circuit Domestic Violence Task Force. She and her husband, Charlie, have four children. They reside in Griffin.

Stephanie D. Woodard, State Commission on Family Violence

Woodard is the current solicitor-general of Hall County. She has taught at John Marshall Law School and Brenau University, as well as served as a lecturer for the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council. She is a member of the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council, serves as board president for the Edmonson-Telford Center for Children, is a founding member of WomenSource and the local YMCA. She has served as president of the Solicitor-General’s Association, the Northeastern Judicial Bar Association and as chair of the Hall County Domestic Violence Taskforce. Woodard earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics and law degree from Georgia State University. She and her husband, Tom, have two children. They reside in Gainesville.

Peggy M. Wilson, State Commission on Family Violence

Wilson has been the director and legal advocate for the Brooks County Victim Assistance Program for the past 21 years. She is a member and former board member of the Brooks County Family Connections and the Lowndes County Children’s Advocacy Center Multi-Disciplinary Team. She was recipient of the 1996 National Association of Counties Achievement award and was named the 1997 Georgians for Victim Justice Advocate of the Year. Wilson earned a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from LaSalle University. She and her husband, Robert, have two children and three grandchildren. They reside in Quitman.

Terry E. Barnard, State Commission on Family Violence (reappointment)

Barnard currently serves as chairman of the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles. Barnard served as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives for more than 16 years. With more than 18 years of experience in the financial industry, he also served as vice president and manager of First Citizens Bank of Reidsville and as a regional marketing director for Green Tree Acceptance. Barnard is a graduate of Atlantic Community College. He and his wife, Susan, reside in Shellman Bluff.

Melissa D. Carter, State Commission on Family Violence (reappointment)

Carter is a clinical professor of Law and director of the Barton Child Law and Policy Center at Emory University School of Law. She has authored several publications on child welfare topics, contributed to the drafting and passage of multiple pieces of state legislation and is a frequent presenter on juvenile law topics. She serves on Gov. Deal’s Child Welfare Reform Council and is an adviser to the Supreme Court of Georgia Committee on Justice for Children. Carter earned a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from the University of Illinois. She and her husband, Theo, have one child. They reside in Decatur.

Rachel M. Lazarus, State Commission on Family Violence (reappointment)

Lazarus has worked for the Atlanta Legal Aid Society since 2007 as a staff attorney and director of the Gwinnett Pro Bono Project. She previously worked for the San Diego-based Center for Community Solutions representing family violence survivors. She is an active member of Congregation Beth Shalom and teaches in the religious school. She and her husband, Jeffrey, have two children. They reside in Dunwoody.

Amanda H. Mercier, State Commission on Family Violence (reappointment)

Mercier was appointed in 2010 and re-elected in 2012 to the Appalachian Judicial Circuit Superior Court. She is currently the presiding judge for the Appalachian Judicial Circuit’s Mental Health Court. She is a past president of the Appalachian Judicial Circuit Bar Association and is a member of the 2014 Leadership Georgia Class. Mercier earned degrees from University of Georgia and Syracuse University College of Law. She and her husband, Joe, have one child. They reside in Blue Ridge.

Juanita Stedman, State Commission on Family Violence (reappointment)

Stedman has served as a Cobb County Juvenile Court judge since 2000. She has practiced law in Cobb County since 1988, following distinguished service as a special education teacher in Mitchell and Baker counties. She was recognized as the 2012 Jack Vaughn Cobb County Humanitarian of the Year and Marietta’s 2009 Citizen of the Year. She received the Extension’s 25th Anniversary Community Leadership award, the 2013 Juanita Stedman Celebrating Families award and the 2013 Judicial Council and Administrative Office of the Courts Hero award. Stedman holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree and law degree from Georgia State University. She and her husband, Hugh, have two children. They reside in Marietta. 

Marla S. Moore, State Commission on Family Violence (reappointment)

Moore is the director of the Judicial Court/Administrative Office of the Courts. She currently serves as the judicial council representative on the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, a trustee of the board of the Institute of Continuing Judicial Education and is a member of the advisory committees of the National Center for State Courts Consulting Services Division and the Conference of Chief Justices and State Court Administrators Language Access. Moore earned a bachelor’s degree in History and a master’s degree in Political Science from Pittsburg State University. She is also a fellow of the Institute for Court Management and a graduate of the Judicial Education Leadership Institute from Memphis University. She and her husband, Richard, have one child. They reside in Atlanta.

Mike Kraft, State Commission on Family Violence (reappointment)

Kraft is the director of Probation Operations with the Georgia Department of Corrections. Kraft earned a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the Columbus State University/Georgia Law Enforcement Command College. He is a POST certified instructor, holding certifications as a general and firearms instructor. He and his wife, Maureen, have two children. They reside in Bogart.

Robert C. McBurney, State Commission on Family Violence (reappointment)

McBurney sits on the Fulton County Superior Court, where he has served since April 2012. Prior to his current position, he worked for 10 years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) in the Northern District of Georgia. As an AUSA, he focused on public corruption, child exploitation and counter-terrorism. McBurney earned degrees from both Harvard College and Harvard Law School. He and his wife, Courtney, have three children. They reside in Atlanta.

Asha F. Jackson, State Commission on Family Violence
Jackson is a Superior Court judge in DeKalb County. Prior to her appointment, she was a partner with Barnes & Thornburg, LLP in Atlanta. Jackson has served as district fundraising captain and law merit badge instructor for the Atlanta Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, as a board member for League of Women Voters of DeKalb County, Outstanding Atlanta Association and the City of Hope Ministries of the Ray of Hope. She is also the founder and past vice president of the Atlanta Urban League of Young Professionals Group. Jackson earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Rochester and a law degree from Tulane Law School. She and her daughter reside in Atlanta.

Holly L. Tuchman, State Commission on Family Violence (reappointment)

Tuchman has served as the chief executive officer and executive director of the YWCA of Northwest Georgia since 2007. She is currently the chair of the Georgia Commission on Family Violence, as well as president of the Kiwanis Club of Marietta. She serves as an honorary member of the board of directors of the Earl Smith Strand Theatre and is active in the Honorary Commanders Alumni Association, Leadership Cobb Alumni Association and the Cobb Chamber of Commerce’s CEO Roundtable. She and her husband, Robert, reside in Marietta.

J. Christopher Reed, Georgia Council on Lupus Education and Awareness

Reed has been a civil servant for more than 10 years. He previously worked as clerk of court for the Magistrate Court of Rockdale County and as a law clerk for the State Court of Fulton County. He has served on the board of the Council of Magistrate Court Clerks and the American Bar Association, Law Student Division. He is a member of the Rockdale Bar Association, Gate City Bar Association and the Lupus Foundation of America. He has volunteered for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Catholic Charities and the Tulane School of Law Children’s Reading Program. Reed earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University and a law degree from Tulane University. He resides in Conyers.

Kim J. Schofield, Georgia Council on Lupus Education and Awareness

Schofield serves as advocacy chair and lupus activist for the Georgia Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America and works as a patient-centered researcher and interviewer at Emory University, School of Medicine, Georgians Organized Against Lupus Initiative. She serves on the board of directors of 9 to 5 Atlanta Winning Justice for Working Women and is a 2015 graduate of the YWCA’s Georgia Women’s Policy Institute. She currently serves on the Federal Health IT Policy Committee. Schofield earned a master’s degree from Southwestern Christian University and is currently completing a doctorate at Oral Roberts University. She has one daughter and resides in Atlanta.

Patricia M. Ross, Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission

Ross is the director of Military Affairs for the Technical College System of Georgia. Prior to joining the Technical College System of Georgia, she was the vice commander of the 78th Air Base Wing at Robins Air Force Base, retiring at the rank of colonel after 25 years of active service in the Air Force. She serves as a council member for the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education and is a member of the Governor’s Returning Veterans Task Force. Ross earned a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Tampa, a master’s degree in Systems Engineering Management from St. Mary’s University in Texas and a master’s degree in Military Operational Arts and Science from the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB. She and her husband, Scott, have four children. They reside in Warner Robins.

Jim Laine, Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame

Laine recently retired after serving over 20 years within the Georgia state government, primarily in the human resources field. Prior to his state service, he was an Air Force and commercial pilot. A Vietnam veteran, Laine holds a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University. He and his wife, Cheryl, have two children and three grandchildren. They reside in Greensboro.

Alan Wayne, Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame Board

Wayne is a business entrepreneur and developer of business parks, marinas and real estate investment pools. He has served as a corporate secretary and member of the executive committee of a significant regional bank holding company. He served as an officer in the U.S. Army. Wayne earned a bachelor’s degree from North Georgia College and a master’s degree from Georgia State University. He and his wife, Dinah, have two sons and six grandchildren. They reside in Flowery Branch.

L. Chalmers “Cham” Watkins III, Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame Board

Watkins is the current vice president of Flournoy Development Co.-Information Technologies. He is the past president of Flournoy Aviation. He is past chairman of the Columbus Airport Commission, where he served for seven years. He and his wife, Kristi, have four children. They reside in Columbus.