Governor Kemp Announces Fourteen Appointments

Atlanta, GA – Today Governor Brian P. Kemp appointed fourteen people to various boards, commissions, and authorities.

Board of Commissioners of the Judges of the Probate Courts Retirement Fund of Georgia

The Judges of the Probate Courts Retirement Fund of Georgia was created to provide retirement benefits to probate judges through the state.

Jeff Avant holds a bachelor's degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Georgia. He is President and CEO of Atlanta Sand and Supply Company. He and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Macon and have three adult children.

Board of Juvenile Justice

The Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice is a multi-faceted agency serving the state's offenders aged twenty-one and younger.

Danny L. Blackmon and his wife, Karen, live in Georgetown, and they have four children. Danny is President, Owner, and Operator of EBM Office Solutions in Georgetown, Georgia.

Board of Public Health

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is the lead agency in preventing disease, injury, and disability; promoting health and well-being; and preparing for and responding to disasters from a health perspective.

Dr. Sangmin Shin is the Physician Program Director of Research and an Orthopedic Surgeon with Kaiser Permanente in Atlanta. He obtained his medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine in 2008. He and his wife, Weonhee, and their children live in Decatur.

Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia

The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia is composed of nineteen members, five of whom are appointed from the state at-large, and one from each of the state’s fourteen congressional districts. The Board oversees the public colleges and universities comprising the University System of Georgia with oversight of the Georgia Archives and the Georgia Public Library Service.

Jose Perez is the retired president of Target Market Trends. He obtained his master's degree in Economics from Florida Atlantic University. Perez and his wife, Yolanda, have three children and live in Peachtree Corners.

Samuel Holmes is Vice Chairman of CBRE, Inc. He obtained his bachelor's degree in Finance from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Lara, have three children and live in Atlanta.

Dean Alford is President and CEO of Allied Energy Services. Previously, Alford has served as a consultant to the U.S. Congressional Office of Technology Assessment on energy policy issues. Alford earned his bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

He is a member of the Board of Trustees and Chairman of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association, a member of the Georgia Tech Foundation, and an inductee of the Academy of Distinguish Engineers, and he is a recipient of the Dean Griffin Award for Community Service. Former Governor Nathan Deal appointed him to the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia in January 2012, and he is being reappointed to the Board of Regents by Governor Kemp.

Board of Trustees of the Georgia Firefighters Pension Fund

The mission of the Georgia Firefighters’ Pension Fund is providing a supplemental pension benefit to Georgia’s firefighters and their beneficiaries through prudent stewardship of the assets held in trust.

Don T. Floyd is a retired fire chief with the City of Covington. After serving in the Coast Guard, Floyd served in various roles with the Covington Fire Department from 1983 to 2012. He and his wife, Marcia, have two children and reside in Covington.

Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission

The Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission is composed of five commissioners appointed by the Governor. Each commissioner is appointed for a term of four years and until his or her successor is appointed.

Vic Reynolds was appointed the Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation on February 18, 2019 by Governor Brian Kemp. In this position, he leads an agency of over 900 employees.

Vic is the former District Attorney of Cobb County, where he was elected twice. He has also served as a police officer, as the former Chief Magistrate Judge of Cobb County, and he was a partner in the law firm of Berry and Reynolds. He has been published in both local and national print, and he is the author of Georgia Objections at Trial, which is currently in its second edition.

Vic and his wife, Holly, have been married over 30 years and they have two grown daughters. He is involved in numerous civic and charitable organizations, and he and his wife are members of the Marietta First United Methodist Church.

Georgia Board of Examiners for the Certification of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators and Laboratory Analysts

The Georgia Board of Examiners for the Certification of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators and Laboratory Analysts was created by legislation enacted in 1969 for the purpose of protecting the public health, safety, and welfare by establishing minimum qualifications for persons who operate wastewater treatment plants, wastewater collection systems, water distribution systems, public water supply systems, or who conduct certain tests of water or wastewater samples in conjunction with the operation of public water system or wastewater treatment plants. The Board is comprised of six members appointed by the Governor. Five are active in the profession, and one is a member from the public at-large. All members are appointed for terms of four years.

Debra J. Wright is Director of Utilities with the City of Cordele and has over thirty years of experience in the water and wastewater industry. She and her husband, James, have a daughter and live in Cordele.

Kartik H. Bhatt has been appointed as a consumer member for the Georgia Board of Examiners for the Certification of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators and Laboratory Analysts. Bhatt and his wife, Twisha, have a child and live in Marietta. Bhatt is a property manager with Laxminarayan 108, LLC.

Georgia Board of Pharmacy

The Georgia Board of Pharmacy is an eight-member board appointed by the Governor to protect, promote, and preserve the public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Georgia. The Board is composed of seven licensed practicing pharmacists and one consumer member. They are responsible for the regulation of pharmacists and pharmacies in Georgia. The Board reviews applications, administers examinations, licenses qualified applicants, and regulates the practice of licensees throughout the state.

Dean Stone received his bachelor's degree in Pharmacy from the University of Georgia in 1993. Since 1998, he has been the owner, president, and pharmacist for Innovative Health Systems, Inc. in Metter. He and his wife, Krista, live in Metter and have five children.

Georgia Ports Authority Board of Directors

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) maintains and operates the Port of Savannah, Port of Brunswick, and other inland port operations throughout the state. As a quasi-state agency, a thirteen-member Board of Directors governs the activities of the GPA. The Board is appointed by the Governor, from the state at-large, to serve four-year, staggered terms.

Kent Fountain serves as the President & CEO of Southeastern Gin & Peanut, Inc. in Surrency. Fountain attended the University of Georgia where he obtained a degree in Agricultural Economics. In 1995, Fountain began Southeastern Gin, Inc. and in 2004 built a peanut buying point, and the firm became Southeastern Gin & Peanut, Inc. In 2015, Fountain was instrumental in starting Premium Peanut, LLC, where he currently serves as Chairman. The recipient of numerous awards, Fountain received the Southeastern Ginner of the Year award in 2001 and the Horace Hayden National Ginner of the Year award in 2016. He and his wife, Missi, live in Screven and have two sons attending the University of Georgia.

Georgia Student Finance Commission Board of Commissioners

As the state’s single education finance agency, the Georgia Student Finance Commission promotes increased access to education for Georgians by serving as a premier provider of student financial aid and educational services.

The Georgia Student Finance Commission Board of Commissioners establishes standards, regulations, and policies for the operation of the Commission. Board members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The term of each member is six years.

Richard Mant worked in management for over thirty-five years until his retirement. Mant serves on the Board of Directors for Henry Council for Quality Growth and Eagles Landing Research Committee. He and his wife, Cathy, reside in McDonough.