Three NE Georgians named to Georgia's Stakeholder Advisory Board

ATLANTA - Governor Sonny Perdue has named 13 people to the Stakeholder Advisory Board, including one each from Suwanee, Buford, and Ellijay.

The purpose of the board is to work with the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to establish education and training programs for professionals in the erosion and sedimentation field. The Board is administered by the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission.

The appointees are:

Karim Shalahee, Ph.D., 59, Snellville, Soil and Water Conservation Commission Representative-Shalahee is the Urban Water Resource Program Manager for the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission.

Connie Wiggins, 53, Buford, Soil and Water Conservation District Representative-Wiggins is the Executive Director of Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful, a position she has held since 1985.

James K. Magnus, 47, Hapeville, Department of Transportation Representative-Magnus is the Assistant State Construction Engineer for the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Alice Jeanne M. Champagne, 43, Marietta, Environmental Community Representative-Champagne has served as a Watershed Protection Specialist for the Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper since 1994.

James R. Hamilton, 51, Duluth, Erosion and Sedimentation Overview Council Representative-Hamilton is the President and owner of Southern Civil Engineers, Inc.

Mark Steven Byrd, 33, Bonaire, Development Community Representative-Byrd is the owner of Byrd and Company, a construction, development, and property management corporation.

Aaron Varner, 56, Covington, County Government Representative-Varner is the Chairman of the Newton County Board of Commissioners.

George B. "Ben" Thompson, IV, 37, Statesboro, Educator Representative-Thompson is the Director of the Coastal Rivers Water Planning and Policy Center at Georgia Southern University.

Robert J. Ringer, 45, Stone Mountain, Environmental Protection Division Representative-Ringer is an Environmental Specialist in the Erosion and Sedimentation Control Unit with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, Water Protection Branch.

Jo Ann J. Macrina, Suwanee, Engineering and Design Community Representative-Macrina is the Southeast Regional Water Resource Manager for Manhard Consulting.

Burns Wetherington, III, 37, Douglasville, Public Utilities Representative-Wetherington is the Senior Environmental Specialist for the Georgia Power Company, where he works with local, state, and federal officials to shape environmental policy.

Gregory D. Teague, 30, Ellijay, Municipal Government Representative-Teague is the Public Works Director for the City of Marietta. He oversees five divisions employing 114 workers.

Douglas L. Easter, 66, Lilburn, Construction Community Representative-Easter is a Consultant and Instructor for H B Training and Consulting, where he teaches OSHA construction standards.