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Holcombe serves as Chief of Staff to Governor Perdue. Prior to joining the Governor’s Office, Holcombe completed a distinguished career at Georgia Power, retiring as the vice president of governmental and regulatory affairs, where he was responsible for advocating company positions with the Georgia General Assembly, Georgia’s federal delegation and the Public Service Commission. He joined Georgia Power in 1967. He was in region operations for 15 years, where he worked with many local governments and authorities. In 1982, Holcombe joined the company’s economic development organization where he partnered with elected officials to attract new businesses to Georgia. He was tapped to assume responsibility for Georgia Power’s state legislative affairs department in 1987. Holcombe has served as chairman of the Rockdale Hospital Authority, chairman of the Rockdale Development Authority, president of the Rockdale County Chamber of Commerce, chairman of the Rockdale United Way, president of the Conyers Rotary Club and member of the Allocations Committee of Atlanta United Way. He served a 20-year term on the Rockdale County Trust Company of Georgia bank board and as a trustee for the Georgia 4-H Foundation. He is a graduate of DeKalb College, attended Georgia State University, and is a 1992 graduate of Leadership Georgia. |
| Jim Lientz, Chief Operating Officer
Lientz oversees the leadership, management, and supervision of state departments, agencies, and their respective boards and commissions. A native of Savannah, Lientz began his career in the financial services industry in 1968, following graduation from Georgia Tech and two years of service in the United States Army. He built a reputation as a widely respected executive, retiring as President of Bank of America's Mid-South Division in December 2000 and continuing his professional career as Chairman of the TriVeritas Group. He served as Chairman of the Metropolitan Atlanta Chamber in 2000 and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce in 1998. |
| Thomas Hills, Chief Financial Officer
From 1965-2001, Hills had a long and distinguished career at Wachovia Bank, N.A., gaining experience in corporate banking, retail banking, systems planning, loan administration and financial analysis and providing oversight of the bank's management development program. In his final position at Wachovia, Hills served as the bank's Executive Vice President and Atlanta City President. From 2002 to present, Hills served as Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Campaign Director for Coxe, Curry & Associates. His extensive civic and community involvement has included the Atlanta Historical Society, Georgia Council on Economic Education, YWCA of Greater Atlanta, Atlanta Business Community Development Corporation, Leadership Atlanta, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau. His professional memberships include the State Bar of Georgia, American Bankers Association Alumni Council and the Rotary Club of Atlanta. He is a graduate of Emory University's undergraduate and law schools. |
| Celeste Osborn, Deputy Chief Financial Officer
Osborn's primary responsibility is to assist Chief Financial Officer, Thomas D. Hills, in the development and administration of the state's fiscal policies and long-term financial strategies. Osborn has 28 years of financial, management, and executive experience in state government and the private sector. Most recently, she has served as Executive Assistant to the Chief Financial Officer. Her career highlights include Director of Administration for the Office of Education Accountability, Executive Director of the Office of School Readiness, and Vice-President for Financial Management of the Georgia Lottery Corporation. Osborn received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a minor in Accounting from Berry College in Rome, GA. She has previously been recognized by Atlanta Magazine as one of Atlanta's top chief financial officers. |
| Jud Turner, Executive Counsel
Turner serves as Executive Counsel – chief legal advisor to Governor Perdue. He first joined the Governor's Office as a Deputy Executive Counsel. Prior to joining the Executive Counsel’s Office, Turner served as general counsel for the Georgia Department of Education (DOE). Before that, he worked as an associate attorney at Bradley, Arant, Rose & White LLP in Birmingham, Alabama where he practiced general commercial litigation. He is a board member of the Griffin-Spalding County Educational Foundation and a staff member of the American Legion Boys’ State Program. Turner received his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law and his bachelor’s degree in economics and political science from the University of Georgia. |
| Josh Belinfante, Deputy Executive Counsel
Belinfante serves as a Deputy Executive Counsel. Before joining the Governor's Office, Josh Belinfante served as Legal Counsel to the Judiciary Committee of the Georgia House of Representatives and was an associate at Balch & Bingham LLP in Atlanta. Before joining Balch & Bingham, Belinfante served as a law clerk to Chief Judge J.L. Edmondson of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. His civic involvement includes service on the boards of the Atlanta Chapters of the Federalist Society and the Jewish National Fund, as well as the Pace Academy Alumni Board. Belinfante received his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law and his bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Pennsylvania. |
| Edward Tate, Deputy Executive Counsel
Tate, of Atlanta, was an associate with King & Spalding LLP before joining the Governor’s Executive Counsel’s Office. His prior governmental experience includes having served as a legislative assistant and a campaign manager for then U.S. Congressman Johnny Isakson. Tate received his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law and his bachelor's degree in government from Harvard College. |
| Pat Wilson, Director of Government Affairs
As director of federal affairs for the state of Georgia, Pat Wilson opened the Washington, DC office for Governor Perdue in 2005. In this position he worked to promote the state’s agenda with Congress and federal agencies as the Governor’s representative to the Georgia congressional delegation, and convey gubernatorial positions to the National Governors Association and other groups. Prior to joining the Perdue administration, Pat was director of governmental affairs at Greenberg Traurig, LLP, in Washington, DC. He also worked for the late U.S. Senator Paul D. Coverdell (R-GA), then Chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee of the Foreign Relations Committee, and U.S. Representative Nathan Deal (R-GA). Pat earned his undergraduate degree in political science with a focus on international relations and a minor in German from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Melissa, have one son. |
| Heather Teilhet, Director of Public Affairs
Teilhet, (previously Hedrick), began working for Governor Perdue as his press secretary and primary media spokesperson in 2004. She began her career at the state capitol in 1997 working for the Georgia General Assembly in the state Senate. She served as the director of public affairs for the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles, managing the agency's media communications and legislative affairs. Originally from Athens, Georgia, Heather graduated Cum Laude from the University of Georgia, where she earned a bachelor's degree in journalism and political science. She earned a master's degree in public administration from Georgia State University. Heather lives in Smyrna with her husband Rob. |
| Bert Brantley, Press Secretary
As Press Secretary, Brantley is charged with explaining the Governor’s programs and policies to the state’s media outlets. Before joining the Governor’s Communications Office, Brantley served as the communications manager for the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Prior to that appointment, Brantley completed six years in the communications office at the Georgia Department of Transportation, serving the last five as media relations coordinator. A native of Valdosta, Brantley earned a bachelor's degree in journalism with a minor in political science from the University of Georgia, as well as a master’s degree in public administration from UGA. |
| Hannah Heck, Director of Policy
Hannah Heck previously served as the general government and criminal justice policy advisor for Governor Perdue. In this role she advanced the Governor's legislative and policy agenda and advised the Governor on operational, budget, and policy direction for the state of Georgia, specifically on highway safety, corrections and technology issues, among others. Under the Governor's direction, Heck worked to develop CSI Georgia, a child internet safety initiative. She also spearheaded the Governor's Wireless Communities Georgia program, providing funding to rural communities to establish wireless broadband networks. Heck graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard University in Cambridge, MA with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She and her husband, Jeffery, live in Fulton County. |
| Frances Gatewood, Director of Executive Appointments
Gatewood serves as the Director of Executive Appointments for Governor Perdue. She joined the Governor's Office from the Perdue for a New Georgia campaign, where she served as deputy finance director. Raised in Americus, Georgia, she attended the University of Georgia, earning a bachelor's degree in fashion merchandising. She is an alumni member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority and the University of Georgia Alumni Association. |