Deal appoints 20 to boards

Lowery May, Board of Commissioners of the Georgia Student Finance Commission
May sits on the boards of Open Door Children’s Home and Young Life of Rome-Floyd County. She volunteers at Darlington School and previously sat on the board of directors for the United Way of Rome-Floyd County. May is a graduate and former chair of Leadership Georgia. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia. May and her husband, Charlie, have two children and reside in Rome.
 
Natalie S. Jones, Bona Fide Coin Operated Amusement Machine Operated Board
Jones is the chief operating officer of Convenience Stores, Inc., a subsidiary of Jones Petroleum Company. She sits on the boards of directors for the Georgia Association of Convenience Stores and the Butts County Humane Society. Jones also sits on the Georgia Lottery Retailer Advisory Board. She was named one of the 2017 Top Women in Convenience by Convenience Store News. Jones earned a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and a law degree from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. She lives in Jackson.
 
JaNice Van Ness, DFCS State Advisory Board
Van Ness is the founder and CEO of Peachtree Academy. She is a former member of the Georgia State Senate and served on the Education and Youth, Economic Development and Tourism, Health and Human Services, State Institutions and Property and MARTOC committees. Van Ness is a graduate of the Regional Leadership Institute and previously sat on the board of directors for the United Way of Greater Atlanta. She earned an associate degree from Oxford College of Emory University and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Relations from Auburn University. She and her husband, Ken, have three children and reside in Conyers.
  
Steven Kitchen, M.D., Georgia Board for Physician Workforce
Dr. Kitchen is the chief medical officer of Phoebe Putney Health System. Prior to his appointment, he was a practicing obstetrician/gynecologist for 25 years. Dr. Kitchen is a member of the Dougherty County Medical Society, the Medical Association of Georgia, the South Central Obstetrical and Gynecological Society and a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Kitchen earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Emory University, a master’s degree in Chemistry from Georgia State University and a medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. He and his wife, Kay, and they have three children and live in Albany.
 
Phyllis Kozarsky, M.D., Georgia Board for Physicians Workforce
Dr. Kozarsky is a professor of medicine and infectious diseases at Emory University and an expert consultant for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She sits on the boards of the International Society of Travel Medicine and the Jewish Home Life Communities in Atlanta. Dr. Kozarsky previously sat on the boards of Agnes Scott College and the Temple. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and a medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Kozarsky and her husband, Eliot, have four children and three grandchildren. They reside in Atlanta. 

Kelly Teague, Georgia Board of Massage Therapy
Teague works in commercial real estate and manages commercial properties. She is a member of the Georgia Arthritis Foundation. Teague earned a bachelor’s degree from Furman University. She and her husband, Ryan, have two children and live in Atlanta. 

Jimmy Andrews, Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (reappointment)
Andrews is the mayor of Sandersville. He retired from Imerys Kaolin Company and previously served on the Sandersville City Council. Andrews is active with the Washington County Board of Health, the Washington County Chamber of Commerce and the Central Savannah River Area Regional Commission. Andrews is a life member of the Georgia Municipal Association and sits on the Southern Municipal Conference board of directors. He was voted the “Washington County Citizen of the Year” in 2004 and the “Best Local Official” in 2003, 2004, 2009, 2013 and 2014. Andrews attended Middle Georgia State University. He and his wife, Sara, have two children and one grandchild. They reside in Sandersville.

George McIntosh, Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (reappointment)
McIntosh is a builder and developer in southwest Georgia. He is a member of the Flint River Basin Committee. McIntosh previously sat on the Joint Comprehensive Water Plan Study Committee from 2001-2004 and the local, state and national boards of directors for the National Association of Home Builders. He was named a Life Director and “Builder Member of the Year” by the Home Builders Association of Georgia. McIntosh earned a bachelor’s degree from Valdosta State University. He and his wife, Judy, have two children and live in Lee County.

Jason Winters, Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (reappointment)
Winters is the sole commissioner of Chattooga County and a member of the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. He is a former chairman of the Chattooga County Chamber of Commerce and a former vice chairman of the Georgia Rural Development Council. Winters is a past president of the Summerville-Trion Rotary Club. He is a member of the Summerville-Trion Optimist Club and sits on the board of directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Chattooga County. Winters earned a bachelor’s degree from Berry College. He and his wife, Abby, reside in Lyerly.

Jeff Stepakoff, Georgia Film Music and Digital Advisory Board
Stepakoff is the founding executive director of the Georgia Film Academy. He has two decades of experience as a Hollywood film and television writer-producer, and is known for his work on Emmy-winning productions including “The Wonder Years,” “Dawson’s Creek” and Disney’s “Tarzan.” Stepakoff is also a tenured professor at Kennesaw State University. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University. Stepakoff has three children and lives in Marietta. 

Amor Kok, Ed.D., Immigration Enforcement Review Board
Dr. Kok is a licensed professional counselor with the Life Change Group. She sits on the Board of Exceptional Ops in Fayette County and is a member of Fayette FACTOR. Dr. Kok earned a bachelor’s degree in Economic Sciences and Commerce from Stellenbosch University in South Africa, a master’s degree in Guidance and School Counseling from the University of West Georgia and a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and School Improvement from North Central University. She and her husband, Andre, have three children and reside in Peachtree City. 

Bert Brantley, Small Business Environmental Assistance Program Compliance Advisory Panel
Brantley is the chief operating officer of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. He is a former commissioner of the Georgia Department of Driver Services. Brantley previously worked the State Road and Tollway Authority and the Georgia Department of Transportation. Brantley earned a bachelor’s degree in Journalism with a minor in Political Science and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Tonya, have two children and live in McDonough.

Robin Pasquale Alverson, Au.D., State Board of Examiners for Speech and Language Pathology and Audiology (reappointment)
Alverson is a practicing clinical audiologist with Otolaryngologist M. Edwin Davis, M.D. She previously worked as a medical advisor of audiology for the Social Security Office of Disability Adjudication and Review. Alverson earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia, a master's degree in Medical Science from Emory University and a doctoral degree in Audiology from A.T. Still University. She and her husband, Joey, have three children and three grandchildren. They reside in Fayetteville.

Melanie W. Hudson, State Board of Examiners for Speech Language Pathology and Audiology (reappointment) 
Hudson is a director of EBS Healthcare. She sits on the board of directors and is a fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Hudson is a past president of the Georgia Speech-Language-Hearing Association and a former adjunct faculty member at Georgia State University. She earned a bachelor’s degree from James Madison University and a master’s degree from George Washington University. Hudson and her husband, John, live in Canton.

Holly S. Kaplan, State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (reappointment)
Kaplan is a clinical professor of the Department of Communication Sciences and Special Education at the University of Georgia. She is a member of the UGA Program Review and Assessment Committee, the UGA College of Education’s scholarship committee, the Georgia Academy of Audiology and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Kaplan earned a bachelor’s degree from Bradley University, a master’s degree from Gallaudet University and a doctoral degree from the University of Florida. She and her husband, Ray, have two children and reside in Athens. 

Miranda Ross, Au.D, State Board of Examiners of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (reappointment)
Dr. Ross is a clinical audiologist with Augusta ENT. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Audiology and a member of the Georgia Academy of Audiology. Ross is certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Washington University and a doctoral degree in Audiology from the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Ross and her husband, Jason, have one child and live in Evans.

Alisa Norris Schultz, State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
Schultz is a clinical associate professor and clinic coordinator for the University of Georgia Department of Communication Sciences and Special Education. She instructs graduate students in speech-language pathology and assists in managing the UGA Speech and Hearing Clinic. She is a member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and the Georgia Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Shutlz holds national certification through ASHA and is credentialed as a Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Science Education and a master’s degree in Communications Sciences and Disorders from the University of Georgia. Shutlz resides in Athens.

Joseph Giovinco, D.P.M., State Board of Podiatry Examiners
Giovinco is the founder of Ankle and Foot Centers of Georgia. He also created the International Institute for Foot and Ankle Surgery, a nonprofit foundation that helps doctors volunteer in South America. Giovinco earned a bachelor’s degree from New York University and a doctoral degree from New York College of Podiatric Medicine. He has two children and lives in Peachtree City.

Leonard R. LaRussa, M.D., State Board of Podiatry Examiners (reappointment)
Dr. LaRussa is a practicing podiatrist in Americus. He represents Georgia’s podiatrists as the Carrier Advisory Committee Representative to Medicare. Dr. LaRussa is the president-elect of the Federation of Podiatric Medical Boards and a diplomat for the American Professional Wound Care Association. He is also a former president of the Georgia Podiatric Medical Association. Dr. LaRussa earned a bachelor’s degree from Montgomery College, a medical degree from the New York College of Podiatric Medicine and completed his surgical residency at the University of Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Nikki, have two children and reside in Americus.

Dr. Wm. Barry Turner BSN, DPM, CWS, State Board of Podiatry Examiners (reappointment)
Dr. Turner is a practicing podiatrist specializing in chronic wounds and limb amputation prevention. He previously served as a combat medic in the U.S. Army. Dr. Turner earned a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and completed his podiatric education at Barry University. He and his wife, Robin, have two children and ten grandchildren. They live in Hartwell.