Deal appoints 25 to boards

Marjorie J. “Betts” Berry, Center for Rural Prosperity and the Georgia Rural Development Council
Berry owns and operates Huntland Farms with her family. She is also the young farmer advisor for the Walker County School System. Berry sits on the board for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and serves as vice chair of the Georgia Beef Board. She is a former president of the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association and a former member of the advisory council for the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Berry also served on the Agricultural Advisory Commission. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and a master’s degree from Berry College. Berry and her husband, Charlie, have two children and reside in Chickamauga.

Jim Matney, Center for Rural Prosperity and the Georgia Rural Development Council
Matney is the president and CEO of Colquitt Regional Medical Center. Under his leadership, Colquitt Regional Medical Center has twice been named a “Top Rural Hospital in the United States” by the Leapfrog Group. Matney is a member of the Moultrie-Colquitt County Development Authority. He was named the 2015 “Man of the Year” by the Moultrie-Colquitt County Chamber of Commerce. Matney earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Berea College and a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. He and his wife, Jill, have three children and live in Moultrie.​

Jim Pannell, Center for Rural Prosperity and the Georgia Rural Development Council
Pannell is an attorney with Gray Pannell & Woodward LLP. He represented the 122nd District in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1985 through 1990. Pannell is a member of the State Bar of Georgia, the American Bar Association, the Savannah Bar Association, the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and the National Association of Bond Lawyers. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia and a law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law. Pannell and his wife, Karen, have two children and six grandchildren. They reside in Chatham County.

Dr. Stuart E. Rayfield, Center for Rural Prosperity and the Georgia Rural Development Council
Rayfield is the Vice Chancellor for Leadership and Institutional Development for the University System of Georgia. She has two decades of experience in higher education, including serving as interim president of Gordon State College and Bainbridge State College. Rayfield also has experience at the University of Alabama, Middle Tennessee State University, Vanderbilt University, Auburn University, Columbus State University and Total System Services. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Rhodes College, a master’s degree from the University of Alabama and a doctoral degree in Education from Vanderbilt University. Rayfield and her husband, David, have two children and live in Columbus.​

Dr. Tracy W. Gay, Georgia Board of Dentistry (reappointment)
Gay has been practicing dentistry with Middle Georgia Family Dentistry since 2001. He sits on the board of directors for Trinity Christian School in Dublin. Gay is a graduate of Georgia Southern University and the Medical College of Georgia. He and his wife, DeLynn, have two children and reside in Dublin. 

Dr. Parag Soni, Georgia Board of Dentistry
Soni is an orthodontist. He is affiliated with the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Georgia Dental Association and the American Board of Ophthalmology. Soni graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry. He completed residencies at the University of Florida and at Saint Barnabas Hospital, an affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College. Soni and his wife, Ashley, have two children and live in Dalton.​

Dr. Clayton Brent Stiehl, Georgia Board of Dentistry
Stiehl operates a private dental practice in Newnan. He is a member of the Hinman Dental Society and the Georgia Dental Association. Stiehl is a member of the assisting advisory committee for West Georgia Technical College. He is also a fellow with the Academy of General Dentistry. Stiehl earned a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from the University of Georgia and a doctoral degree in Dentistry from the Medical College of Georgia. He and his wife, Dawn, have one child and reside in Newnan.

Henry Bert Yeargan, Georgia Board of Dentistry (reappointment)
Yeargan is a practicing dentist in Brunswick. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and a doctoral degree in Dentistry from the Medical College of Georgia. Yeargan and his wife, Frances, have two children and five grandchildren. They live in Jesup.

Brian Dill, Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission
Dill is the vice president of external affairs for Tanner Health System and the executive director of the Tanner Medical Foundation. He has 17 years of experience in corporate and industrial business development and recruitment. Dill is the vice president of the University of Georgia (UGA) Alumni Association and sits on the Leadership Georgia Board of Trustees. He is a graduate of Leadership Georgia and a Leadership Georgia J.W. Fanning Fellow. Dill is a member of the Carrollton Dawnbreakers Rotary Club and attends First Baptist Church of Carrollton. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from UGA and is a candidate for the 2019 UGA Executive MBA Program. Dill and his wife, Carmen, have one child and reside in Carrollton.

Mary Ellen Imlay, Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission (reappointment)
Imlay is the chairman of Imlay Investments, Inc. and the Imlay Foundation. She previously worked for Georgia State University and Management Science America. Imlay sits on the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation Board of Trustees and the Georgia Tech Arts Advisory Board. She attended Furman University and Georgia State University. Imlay has three children and eight grandchildren. She lives in Atlanta.

Scott Justus, Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission
Justus is the assistant superintendent of White County Schools. He has more than two decades of experience in education as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, athletic director and principal in Hall County. Justus is a member of Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC) and serves as chairman of the GaPSC Educator Ethics Review Committee. He is also a member of the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals and the Professional Association of Georgia Educators. Justus earned a bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education from Georgia Southwestern State University, a master’s degree in Health and Physical Education from the University of North Georgia and a specialist degree in Leadership from Lincoln Memorial University. He and his wife, Dawn, have two children and reside in Gainesville.

Camila Knowles, Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission
Knowles is senior vice president and counsel at Cornerstone Government Affairs. She previously served as the commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and as chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss. Knowles is a member of the State Bar of North Carolina and sits on the Georgia 4-H Foundation Board. She is a graduate of Leadership Georgia and a visiting instructor at the University of Georgia School of Law. Knowles also serves as an alumni interviewer for the Harvard University admissions office. She attends Peachtree Road United Methodist Church and teaches kindergarten Sunday school. Knowles earned a bachelor’s degree in History, cum laude, from Harvard University and a law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center. She and her husband, Sean, have four children and live in Atlanta.

Jerald Mitchell, Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission
Mitchell is the director of economic development for The Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. He has more than a decade of experience in economic development and previously worked in the telecommunications industry for 13 years. Mitchell sits on the Georgia Institute of Technology Alumni Board, the Leadership Georgia Board of Trustees and the Georgia Workforce Investment Board. He is also a member of the Georgia Complete Count 2020 Census Committee and sits on the Edna Lewis Foundation board. Mitchell earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Armstrong Campus of Georgia Southern University and a master’s degree in Global Business from Georgia Tech. He and his wife, Stephanie, reside in Decatur.

Hala Gaines Moddelmog, Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission (reappointment)
Moddelmog is the president and CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber. She was previously the president of Arby’s Restaurant Group, president and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and president of Church’s Chicken. Moddelmog earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern University and a master’s degree from the University of Georgia. She also received an honorary doctoral degree from Georgia Southern University. Moddelmog and her husband, Steve, have two children and live in Atlanta.

Dr. Grant Rivera, Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission
Rivera is the superintendent of Marietta City Schools. He was previously the chief of staff for the Cobb County School District and the principal of South Cobb High School, Campbell High School and Westlake High School. Rivera has also served as an adjunct professor of Educational Law at the University of West Georgia. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Education and Social Policy from Northwestern University, a master’s degree and a doctoral degree from the University of Alabama, as well as an education specialist degree from the University of West Georgia. Rivera and his wife, Jenn, have two children and reside in Marietta.

Victoria Agyekum, Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission
Agyekum is a co-founder of Dominion Health Care Solutions, a proprietary school that provides training in nurses’ aide, patient care and phlebotomy. She was previously the director of the nursing program at Savannah Technical College. Agyekum earned a master’s degree in Nursing from the Medical College of Georgia. She has three children and four grandchildren. Agyekum resides in Savannah.

Ryan Blythe, Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission
Blythe is the founder of the Georgia Trade School. He was previously a member of the Go Build Georgia Advisory Council and sat on the boards of the Kennesaw Business Association and the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia. Blythe is a graduate of Oglethorpe University. He has one child and lives in Smyrna.

Mollie Cohen, Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission
Cohen is a founding partner of Pecan Ridge Plantation, where she serves as the director of marketing and sales. She also has more than 10 years of experience as an educator. Cohen is a graduate of Leadership Georgia and previously served as a program chair. She is a member of the Grady County Historical Society, the Grady County Archway and the Whigham Volunteer Council. Cohen is a Grady County 4-H adult leader and volunteers with Brookwood School, South Georgia Ballet and Tired Creek Church. Cohen earned a bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Georgia. She and her husband, Eric, have two children and live in Whigham.

Karen Gilbert, Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission
Gilbert is the associate vice president for human resources at Agnes Scott College. She has more than 35 years of experience in human resources as a human resources generalist and as an employment director in the retail and technology industries. Gilbert was previously the chapter secretary of the Georgia College and University Professional Association for Human Resources. She is a member of the National College and University Professional Association for Human Resources and the Society for Human Resources Management. Gilbert earned a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and holds a senior professional in Human Resources designation and a certified professional designation from the Society for Human Resources Managers. Gilbert has two children and resides in Jonesboro.

Toby R. Hinton, Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission
Hinton is the vice president of financial services at Brenau University. He is a member of the National Association of College and University Business Officers and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Hinton earned a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Business Administration from Presbyterian College. He is licensed as a certified public accountant. Hinton and his wife, Suzanne, have two children and live in Suwanee.

Holly Kirbo, Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission
Kirbo is an attorney. She previously worked as associate general counsel for Flowers Foods. Kirbo is a published author and a member of the State Bar of Georgia. She is also a member of the committee overseeing her local YMCA gymnastics team. Kirbo earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a law degree from the University of Georgia. She and her husband, Cliff, have three children and reside in Moultrie.

Norma Nunez-Cortes, Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission
Nunez-Cortes is the Title I Federal Program Director for the Appling County Board of Education. She is a former president and current vice chair of the Baxley-Appling County Chamber of Commerce. Nunez-Cortes is a member of the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional Commission, the Appling County Hospital Authority and the Appling County Family Connection Collaborative.  She is also a member of the Lions Club International, Kiwanis International, the Appling County Board of Health and Telamon HSEAC. Nunez-Cortes earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a  master’s degree in School Counseling from Georgia Southern University. She also earned a specialist degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Lincoln Memorial University. Nunez-Cortes is a graduate of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development. She and her husband, Juan, have two children and live in Baxley.

Amanda Shailendra, Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission
Shailendra oversees an economic and community development consulting practice. She previsouly led site selection and expansion initiatives in North Carolina and Georgia for Google, Inc. Shailendra worked in economic development for the City of Atlanta and the State of Georgia, where she supported projects for Mercedes-Benz, KIA Motors, athenahealth and AT&T Mobility. She is a member of the advisory board for the Alliance Theatre and the honorary board for the Atlanta Ballet. Shailendra was named a MacArthur Fellow. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University and a master’s degree from Georgia Tech. Shailendra and her husband, Paul, have two children and reside in Atlanta.

Robert Lee Todd IV, Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission
Todd is a general practice attorney in Greenville. He has more than 25 years of experience as local counsel to the Meriwether County School District. Todd is a member of the Meriwether County Department of Public Safety and a former adjunct instructor of Business Law at LaGrange College. He previously served as a station chief for the Meriwether County Volunteer Fire Department and as the chief of the City of Greenville Volunteer Fire Department. Todd earned a bachelor’s degree from Emory University and a law degree from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. He and his wife, Martha Ann, have two children and two grandchildren. They live in Greenville.

Dr. Arthur D. Vaughn, Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission
Vaughn is an associate vice president for business and finance at Morehouse College. He sits on the board for the March of Dimes of Atlanta and North Central Georgia. Vaughn also sits on the Northwest Atlanta advisory board for BB&T. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Syracuse University, a master’s degree in Public Administration from Clark Atlanta University, a master’s degree in Accounting from Southern Polytechnic State University and a doctoral degree in Higher Education Management from the Institute of Higher Education at the University of Georgia. Vaughn and his wife, Octavia, have three children and reside in Marietta.