Gov.-elect Brian Kemp has named 14 senior staffers who will work in the Governor's Executive Office, including three with ties to the North Georgia area.
Cody Whitlock, who calls Gainesville his hometown, will be the Deputy Chief Operating Officer for the Kemp administration. Press Secretary Cody Hall, who grew up and still lives in Dawsonville, will serve as Kemp's Press Secretary. Martha Zoller of Gainesville takes over a newly-created position in the administration. She will be the Director of State Regional Offices.
New staff begins working for the administration upon Kemp's inauguration on Monday, Jan. 14.
Names and brief biographies of each staff member are listed below:
Tim Fleming, Chief of Staff
Hometown: Covington, Georgia
Tim Fleming holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Georgia. Fleming resides in Covington with his wife, Lacey, and three children, Jackson, Colby, and Hannah. Fleming previously served as Deputy Secretary of State within the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office and Campaign Manager for the Kemp for Governor Campaign. A lifelong resident of Covington, Fleming served as a Newton County Commissioner from 2009 to 2013.
Charles Harper, Deputy Chief of Staff
Hometown: Carrollton, Georgia
Charles “Chuck” Harper holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of West Georgia. Harper resides in Carrollton with his wife, Ginger, and four children, Hayden, Greer, Greyson, and Rilyn. Harper is a business owner with companies involved in agriculture and construction, and served in the Georgia General Assembly representing State House District 88 (R – Carrollton) from 2003 to 2005.
Greg Dozier, Chief Financial Officer
Hometown: Covington, Georgia
Greg Dozier holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Georgia State University. Dozier resides in Covington with his wife, Stephanie, and two daughters, Kinsley and Payton. Dozier has extensive background in law enforcement and state government, most recently serving as Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections, the fifth largest department of its kind in the United States.
Lorri Smith, Chief Operating Officer
Hometown: Covington, Georgia
Lorri Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Georgia College & State University and a master’s degree in Accounting and Financial Management from the Keller Graduate School of Management at DeVry University. Smith resides in Covington with her husband, Tim, and their two children, Carson and Riley. Smith previously served as Assistant Deputy Secretary of State in the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office. Smith will serve as Georgia’s first female Chief Operating Officer for the Governor’s Office.
Cody Whitlock, Deputy Chief Operating Officer
Hometown: Gainesville, Georgia
Cody Whitlock holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Georgia. Whitlock resides in Decatur with his wife, Jackie, and dog, June Carter. Whitlock previously served as Government Affairs Liaison and Budget Analyst for the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office.
David Dove, Executive Counsel
Hometown: Athens, Georgia
A proud “Double Dawg,” David Dove holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia. Dove resides with his family in Marietta where he is Chairman of the City's Ethics Committee. Most recently, Dove worked as an attorney at the Robbins Firm where his practice focused on business litigation, regulatory law, and campaign finance. He was also a founding member of Robbins Government Relations.
Candice Broce, Director of Communications and Deputy Executive Counsel
Hometown: Cartersville, Georgia
Candice Broce holds a bachelor’s degree in Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology and Juris Doctor from Georgia State University College of Law. Broce resides in Atlanta with her husband, Jason, and toddler son, Beau Walker, along with three rescue dogs. She previously managed communications and served as legal counsel for elections and legislative affairs for the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office.
Cody Hall, Press Secretary
Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia
Cody Hall holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Georgia. Hall resides in Dawsonville with his wife, Taylor, and daughter, Vera. Hall previously served as Press Secretary for the Kemp for Governor Campaign.
Patrick Farr, Director of the Governor’s Office of Planning & Budget
Hometown: Martinez, Georgia
Patrick “Kelly” Farr holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Augusta University. Farr resides in Cumming with his wife, Jennifer, and two children, Trey and Sydney. Farr offers significant expertise in business development from his work at Lucent Technologies, Capgemini, and most recently, SAS Institute. In these capacities, Farr worked extensively with various state agencies to implement technological advances and improve constituent service. Farr also previously served as Deputy Secretary of State for the Georgia Secretary of State's Office, responsible for budget management and oversight of daily operations.
Mark Hamilton, Director of External Affairs
Hometown: Kingsville, Texas
Mark Hamilton holds a bachelor’s degree in Engineering Business from Texas A&M University. Hamilton resides in Atlanta with his wife, Sandy, and previously served in the Georgia General Assembly representing State House District 24 (R – Cumming) from 2007 to 2015. During this time, Hamilton served as Chairman of the House Industry and Labor Committee.
Stuart Wilkinson, Deputy Director of External Affairs
Hometown: Sandy Springs, Georgia
Stuart Wilkinson holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Georgia College & State University. Wilkinson resides in Brookhaven with his wife, Kathleen. Wilkinson currently serves as Deputy Director of Transition for Governor-Elect Brian Kemp. He previously managed legislative and external affairs for the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office after serving six years in Governor Nathan Deal’s Office.
Amelia Hawkins, Director of Executive Operations
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Amelia Hawkins holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Georgia State University. Hawkins resides in Atlanta with her rescue dog, Milly. She previously served as Campaign Coordinator for the Kemp for Governor Campaign.
Lisa Durden, Director of Appointments & Licensing
Hometown: Jackson, Georgia
Lisa Durden holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Legal Assistance Studies and master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA) from Georgia College & State University. She resides in Jackson with her son, Luke, and two dogs. She previously served as Division Director of the Professional Licensing Boards Division for the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office.
Martha Zoller, Director of State Regional Offices
Hometown: Columbus, Georgia
Martha Zoller holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Georgia, and she is currently pursuing a master’s degree and Ph.D. in Political Science, focusing her research on women’s electoral success in the Republican Party, from UGA’s School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA). She resides in Gainesville with her husband, Lin. After working in journalism and media for many years, Zoller worked for U.S. Senator David Perdue and most recently served as Director of Outreach and Surrogates on the Kemp for Governor Campaign.
