Kemp Names 21 Appointments

Atlanta, GA – Today Governor Brian P. Kemp announced his selection of twenty-one appointees to serve on various state boards and commissions.

Georgia State Board of Architects and Interior Designers

Kathy Cooper is appointed as a consumer member. She was first elected to the Hall County Board of Commissioners in 2014, and she is now serving her second term. Cooper and her husband, John, operate Cooper's Christmas Tree Farm and a cattle business in Chestnut Mountain. They are members of Chestnut Mountain Presbyterian Church and have three children: Donnie, Tyler, and Lindsey.

State Board of Dispensing Opticians

Angelic Moore is appointed as a consumer member. She received a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Georgia State University and has spent the last thirty years serving our community and state in government and public relations. Moore is the founder and president of A Georgia Company, focusing on government and public relations, political and business consulting, and special events. She is a founding member and serves on the Board of Visitors for the Georgia State University Honors College and is a parishioner of The Cathedral of Christ the King. She resides in Atlanta.

Gloria Jean Ethridge and Dave Meldrum, ABOM were reappointed.

Georgia Real Estate Commission

Jerry Warshaw was reappointed.

Georgia Board of Real Estate Appraisers

Jeanmarie Holmes was reappointed.

State Board of Examiners of Psychologists

George Douglas Bratcher is appointed as a consumer member. He is a retired U.S. Army Intelligence Officer and combat veteran. Bratcher is currently employed as an intelligence analyst with Advanced Technology Leaders at the Army's Cyber Center of Excellence at Fort Gordon. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Austin Peay State University and a master's degree in Business Administration from Touro University. He lives in Evans and has three adult children and one granddaughter.

Georgia State Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies

Timothy Michael Smith is a senior investigator and forensic locksmith with Complete Fire Investigation, LLC. He was previously a national sales manager, forensic locksmith, and special investigator with United Investigations & Sciences, Inc., and he worked with Newton County Fire Services as a firefighter, engineer, and fire marshal/deputy chief. Smith holds numerous certifications, including Certified Fire Investigator, Certified Arson Investigator, Fire Investigator, Certified First Responder, and Certified Emergency Manager. He and his wife, Lorri, live in Social Circle, and they have two children: Carson and Riley.

Thomas Culpepper is appointed as a consumer member. He is a retired chief of police for the City of Cartersville, high school forensics teacher, and previous owner of Culpepper Safety and Security Consulting, LLC. He and his wife reside in Cartersville.

Tripp Mitchell and Anthony Biello were reappointed.

State Board of Veterinary Medicine

Dr. William Alexander Wright is an associate veterinarian with the Valdosta Animal Hospital. He earned his bachelor's degree in Biology from Valdosta State University in 2009 and DVM degree from the University of Georgia in 2016.

Georgia State Board of Funeral Services

Nancy Kennedy was reappointed as a consumer member.

State Board for the Registration of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors

Julianne Busbee was reappointed as a consumer member.

State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

Leigh Perdue Hunnicutt is a speech-language pathologist with ProCare Therapy. She earned a master's degree in Business Administration in Healthcare Management from Wester Governor's University as well as a bachelor's and master's degree in Education with a degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Valdosta State University. She has been a licensed speech-language pathologist in Georgia since 1997. Hunnicutt and her husband live in Clarkesville, and they have three children.

Kelley Luthi Claas serves as the manager of the Rehabilitation Department and as a practicing speech-language pathologist for Piedmont Athens Regional. She earned a MED and a BSED in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Georgia.

Amy Washinger Arnold is a speech-language pathologist at Kennedy Elementary School. After receiving her master's degree in Communications Disorders s from Auburn University, she served skilled-care facilities, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, homes, and schools. She later taught at Gray Elementary School and worked for Hubbard Primary before relocating to Athens, where she worked for the Clarke County School District. Within the district, Arnold served as a speech-language pathologist, AT coordinator, coordinator of speech pathology, and special education coordinator. In 2012, she returned to the classroom in Oconee County. Arnold, her husband, and her children live in Watkinsville.

State Board of Occupational Therapists

Casey Shaefer Vance is appointed as a consumer member. He is a partner with Government Tax Services, LLC - Government Tax Solutions. Vance earned his bachelor's degree in Sports Management from the University of West Georgia. He and his wife, Kristen, have one son and live in Carrollton. 

Georgia State Board for the Certification of Librarians

Alicia Brown Mackinney has been the director of the Hall County Library System since July 2015. Prior to that role, she served as the assistant director for eleven years. She
received her bachelor's degree from Piedmont College and her Master of Library and Information Studies from the University of Alabama. She has also served as a branch manager for the Chatooga County Library System, head of public services for the Lake Blackshear Regional Library System, and assistant director of the Bartow County Library System. Mackinney is a member of the Georgia Library Association, Public Library Association, and American Library Association. Currently, she serves on the Regents Public Library Advisory Committee. She lives in Forsyth County with her husband and son.

Dr. William Todd Groce is the president and CEO of Georgia Historical Society. He earned a PhD and MA degree from the University of Tennessee and his bachelor's degree from the University of Memphis. He and his wife live in Savannah, and they have one child.

State Board of Cemeterians

J. Thomas Lord is the owner of Lord and Stephens Funeral Home. He graduated from the Gupton Jones College of Funeral Service in 1977. Lord and his wife live in Watkinsville, and they have five adult children.