Governor Names 25 Appointments to State Boards

Staff Report

Monday, November 30th, 2020

Today Governor Brian P. Kemp announced 25 appointees to serve on various state authorities, commissions, and boards.

Lake Lanier Islands Development Authority

James (Jim) Keller Syfan, III and his sons founded Turbo Logistics, Inc. in 1984. It grew to over $100 million, and in 2006, it was sold to OHL and has since been bought by XPO. He also serves as the CEO of Turbo Truck Center, Inc. and Turbo Truck & Auto Sales, Inc. Syfan and his wife, Gloria, have two sons, five grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. They reside in Gainesville.

J. Randall Frost and Alan C. Gravel were reappointed.

Jekyll Island State Park Authority

Joe Wilkinson and William H. Gross were reappointed.

Subsequent Injury Trust Fund Commission

Robert M. Weaver represents union clients in all aspects of traditional employment law, including collective bargaining, arbitration, and contract enforcement. He serves as Communications Workers of America District 3 Counsel. He earned his bachelor's degree from Bowdoin College and law degree from the University of North Carolina. Weaver and his wife live in Atlanta, and they have one son.

Georgia Board of Healthcare Workforce

Dr. Michael Groover owns Groover Family Dentistry in Savannah. He earned his bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Georgia and Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Louisville School.

Amy Owen Reeves is a physician's assistant for Wellstar Pediatrics at Brookstone. She earned a bachelor's degree in Nursing from the University of Florida and Master of Physician Assistant Studies at the University of Florida. Reeves and her husband, Bert, have two children and live in Marietta.

Georgia Seed Development Commission

Ben Copeland, Jr. and Kent Fountain were reappointed.

Georgia Board of Examiners of Dietitians

Rashelle Centor Berry is a nutrition manager at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. She has been a licensed dietitian since 2008. She earned a bachelor's degree and MPA from Emory University and MS degree from Georgia State University.

Georgia Board of Pharmacy

Cecil Cordle has held various management positions in both retail chain and independent pharmacies - as well as in hospital settings - during more than thirty-five years of working in Georgia's pharmacy industry. He is a graduate of Mercer University's College of Pharmacy and currently employed by CVS Health. Cordle is a preceptor for the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy and PCOM's School of Pharmacy. He is also a member of the Georgia Pharmacy Association and served on the 2016 Opioid Abuse Senate Committee. Originally from McDonough, he now lives in Tifton with his wife, Angie. They are members of Tifton First United Methodist Church and have three children.

Chuck Page has worked with The Kroger Company in pharmacy since 1986 and currently serves as the Director of Pharmacy for The Kroger Company in Atlanta. He graduated from the University of Georgia College of Pharmacy in 1986. He and his wife, Chandra, live in Woodstock, and they have three children.

State Properties Commission

Jay Lin is the president, founder, and CEO for Pacific Venture, Inc. He earned a degree in Banking and Insurance from Chungyu Technical Institute in Taiwan. Lin and his wife, Ming, have two children, and they live in Johns Creek.

State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia

Calder Clay is the Vice President of Operations for Trimax Medical Management. He earned a bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Kathy, have three adult daughters and two grandchildren.

State Workforce Development Board

The following members were appointed: Chris Wells, Executive Director for the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency; Tyrone Cooper, Commissioner for the Department of Juvenile Justice; and Greg Dozier, Commissioner for the Technical College System of Georgia.

Georgia All-Player Claims Database Advisory Committee

Ryan Loke currently serves as Deputy Chief Operating Officer for Governor Brian P. Kemp's administration. Prior to this role, Ryan served as the Governor's Health Policy Advisor. Before joining the Governor's office, he worked in the private sector advising several Georgia based companies on legislative strategy. He received a bachelor's degree in Political Science, and is currently pursuing graduate level work at the Emory University Rollins School of Public Health. Ryan was also appointed by Governor Kemp to serve as Director of Health Strategy and Coordination.

Capitol Arts Standards Commission

Tyler Adams works for the office of Governor Brian P. Kemp. He is a graduate of Georgia College and State University. Tyler lives in Atlanta.

Rachel Dodsworth is CEO and manager for Adsworth Media, LLC. She earned bachelors degrees in real estate and finance from the University of Denver in 2009, and a MPS in Alternative Dispute Resolution from the University of Denver in 2010. Rachel lives in Marietta.

Veterans Service Board

John Kubinec is the President and CEO of the 21st Century Partnership, a Georgia non-profit corporation that serves to ensure the long-term viability and sustainability of Robins Air Force Base and economic development across Middle Georgia. He is also the owner of Carbon Road Consulting, LLC., an aerospace and national defense consulting company. Kubinec retired from the United States Air Force in 2020 as a Brigadier General after 28 years of service. He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and The George Washington University. His wife, Tanya Kubinec, is a Brigadier General in the United States Air Force Reserves. John and Tanya have one daughter, Hanna (8), and they live in Houston County.

Certificate of Need Appeal Panel

Brooke Pettis Newby serves as in-house counsel for the City of Perry. Brooke received her bachelor of arts degree in Rhetoric from Georgia College and State University in 2007. She received her law degree from Mercer University and was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 2010. Brooke is a native of Allentown and grew up in the Middle Georgia area. She and her husband, Dane, live in Perry with their two daughters. When Brooke is not working at the office, she enjoys reading running, baking, and quail hunting.

Opie Dean Bowen serves as Senior Counsel for Cherokee County, where he provides in-house legal services for all County departments, as well as advising the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners and the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office on various matters. In this role, Opie serves as an active member of the Cherokee County Retirement Plan Committee and the Cherokee County Executive Leadership Team. Opie earned a bachelor's of science degree in Chemistry from Valdosta State University in 2007. He received a Juris Doctorate Degree from Mercer University in 2010. Opie lives in Canton with his wife Sarah and their two children, Elijah Dean and Whitley Elise.

Wright McLeod is a managing partner with McLeod & Murdock in Evans. Wright earned a bachelor's of science degree in political science from the United States Naval Academy in 1982, and a master of arts degree from the Walsh School of Foreign Policy, National Security Studies, from Georgetown University in 1994. Wright earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Georgia in 2000. He and his wife, Sheri, live in Augusta and they have three adult children.