Deal appoints 11 to boards
Wendy Johnson, Board of Dentistry
Johnson is a retail pharmacist for Rite Aid Corporation. She is a member of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy and the Georgia Society of Health System Pharmacists. Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in Risk Management and Insurance and a doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of Georgia. She and her husband, Travis, reside in Atlanta.
Dale Mayfield, Board of Dentistry
Mayfield is the chief dental officer of Kool Smiles. He previously spent 10 years in private dental practice in Decatur. Mayfield is a member of the American Dental Association, the Georgia Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Physiology from Brigham Young University and a dental degree from the Medical College of Georgia. Mayfield has four children and resides in Fayetteville.
Lisa Colbert, Board of Juvenile Justice
Colbert is a juvenile court judge in Chatham County. She was previously an assistant county attorney for Chatham County and staff attorney to the Chatham County Superior Court. Colbert sat on the board for the Savannah/Chatham County Court Appointed Special Advocates, Inc. and chaired the Savannah Chatham Public School Systems Internal Audit Committee. She also served in the Georgia Air National Guard. Colbert earned a bachelor’s degree from Savannah State University and a law degree from the University of Georgia. She and her husband, Eldries “E.J.”, have three children. They reside in Savannah.
Kathy Cooper, Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) State Advisory Board
Cooper is a Hall County Commissioner. She and her husband operate a cattle and chicken operation and Cooper’s Christmas Tree Farm. Cooper is a member of Chestnut Mountain Presbyterian Church. She and her husband, John, have three children. They reside in Flowery Branch.
Toni Oliver, Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) State Advisory Board
Oliver is the president of the National Association of Black Social Workers. Prior to this position, she was the founder and executive director of Roots Adoption Agency, director of training and consultation for the Child Welfare Institute and the Associate Director of Exchange Services for the National Adoption Exchange. Oliver earned a bachelor’s degree from Bennett College and a master’s degree in Social Work from Temple University. She has two children and resides in College Park.
Michelle Zeanah, M.D., Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) State Advisory Board
Zeanah is a partner at the Bulloch Pediatrics Group and an adjunct professor of Pediatrics at the Medical College of Georgia. She sits on the board of directors of the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and is a member of the finance and legislative committees of the Medical Association of Georgia. Zeanah is a graduate of the Georgia Physicians Leadership Academy. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Birmingham-Southern College and a doctorate of medicine from Mercer University. Zeanah and her husband, Derek, reside in Statesboro.
Tracey Blalock, Georgia Board of Nursing
Blalock is the chief nursing executive for Navicent Health and the chief nursing officer for the Navicent Health Medical Center. She is a member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives, the American Nurses Association and the Georgia Organization of Nurse Leaders. Blalock earned master’s degrees in Nursing and Business Administration from Georgia College and State University. She and her husband, Richard, have four children. They reside in Warner Robins.
Emily Myers, Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Authority (reappointment)
Myers is the president and CEO of Myers McRae Executive Search and Consulting. She served as senior vice president of University Advancement and External Affairs at Mercer University for more than 29 years. She sits on the board for the Rome Chamber Music Festival. Myers earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University. She has one son and resides in Macon.
Jeff Van Note, Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Authority
Van Note is a retired Atlanta Falcons player. Following his NFL career, Van Note worked in sports commentary for college and professional football games for more than 25 years. Van Nolte is a trustee on the NFL Pension Board. He and his wife, Mary Dawn, have three children and five grandchildren. They reside in Roswell.
Earl Wright, Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Authority
Wright is a pharmacist and former owner of Surrey Center Pharmacy. He sits on the board of Good Neighbor Ministries and attends Trinity on the Hill United Methodist Church. Wright was honored as a University of Georgia Distinguished Alumnus in 2013. He and his wife, Carole, have two children and two grandchildren. They reside in Augusta.
Rafael Salazar, State Board of Occupational Therapists
Salazar is an occupational therapist at the Charlie Norwood Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Augusta. He is the clinical education coordinator for the department of Occupational Therapy at the VA. Salazar earned a master’s degree in Health Sciences and Occupation Therapy from the Medical College of Georgia. He and his wife, Natalie, have one child and reside in Augusta.