Taylor County Commissioner Clinton Perry was sworn in as President of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) after being selected by his peers to serve on the organization’s Board of Managers.  The installation ceremony was conducted by Department of Corrections Commissioner Brian Owens during the “Celebrating Leadership Luncheon” at the 2012 ACCG Annual Meeting, which took place at the Savannah Civic Center on April 30, 2012.

ACCG is a membership services association that works on behalf of Georgia’s county governments.  Formed in 1914 with 19 charter county members, today ACCG represents all 159 county governments in the state.  ACCG provides programs and services in the areas of public policy and legislative advocacy, leadership enhancement, civic and community engagement and cost-efficient services such as insurance and retirement on behalf of Georgia’s county officials and their local communities

“I am proud to serve as the first ACCG President from Taylor County,” said Commissioner Perry.  “I stand on the shoulders of great individuals who came before me and encouraged me to get involved with ACCG.  I appreciate the leadership development opportunities and the many programs and services that this organization offers to county officials.”

Clinton Perry earned his degree in psychology from Tuskegee University. He served eight years in the United States Army and was honorably discharged as a Captain in the Intelligence Branch in 1992.  He is a member of several civic, social and professional organizations such as Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Freerun 518^th Masonic Lodge and the Georgia Prison Wardens Association (GPWA).  He is also a licensed insurance agent and funeral director with his family’s firm, Bentley’s Chain of Funeral Homes of Middle Georgia.

In addition to his service on the Taylor County Board of Commissioners, Perry serves as Vice-Chair for the River Valley Regional Development Commission and is a Board Member of the Valley Partnership.  Chairman Perry was also appointed by Governor Perdue to serve on the Public Defenders Supervisory Panel for the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit in February 2010.  Last year, Chairman Perry served as ACCG’s Second Vice President.

“Chairman Perry is a dedicated public servant, serving as an elected official as well as a Superintendent at the McEver Probation Facility for the Department of Corrections,” said Ross King.  “He understands the importance of encouraging county officials to get involved in our legislative advocacy, leadership development and membership services programs, and I look forward to working with him in the coming year.”

The Central State University Board of Trustees announced today Dr. Cynthia Jackson Hammond as the 8th President of the University.

Dr. Hammond has built a distinguished career in higher educational leadership. Under her guidance as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Coppin State University, she guided six prominent initiatives: the reformation of the General Education core curriculum, establishment of the Center for Undergraduate Research, 2010 strategic planning, development of the First Year Experience program, designed and received external funding for the Advisement and Retention Center for the School of Education, and development of tenure criteria. Most recently Dr. Hammond served as a lead consultant for H&H Educational Consultants specializing in strategic planning, curriculum design, accreditation, and standards-based assessments.

We are very excited about our selection,” said Gary Dowdell, Chair of the Central State University Board of Trustees. “Dr. Cynthia Jackson Hammond has a demonstrated leadership background and comes to Central State University at a time when we are poised to make great strides in building for the future.”

Cynthia Jackson Hammond holds a Doctorate of Education from Grambling State University, a Masters of Education from University of Louisiana in Monroe, an Education Specialist degree from University of Louisiana in Monroe, and an undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree also from Grambling.  Dr. Hammond is an outstanding and sought after speaker on issues related to cultural competency, the unique contributions of HBCU’s, and global education.  She has a number of publications to her credit and is a Harvard Fellow and a 1987-89 Louisiana State Board of Regents Fellow.

“I am extremely thrilled and honored to be named the next President of Central State University. This institution has a 125-year history of academic excellence and transforming the lives of students. I look forward to joining the campus community of administrators, faculty, staff, alumni, and students to continue this great legacy and lead the University toward meeting the needs of an ever-changing society and a global future,” said Dr. Hammond.

“From a total of 51 candidates, Dr. Hammond was one of four presented to the Central State University Board of Trustees in late April by the Presidential Search Advisory Committee.  The Committee was comprised of faculty, students and alumni,” according to Dowdell.  “Our goal was to select a leader who would build on the accomplishments of John W. Garland who led the University for 15 years.”  Garland announced his retirement from his alma mater last September and will leave Central State University June 30.

Dr. Hammond is a native of Monroe, Louisiana and is married to Dr. James Eric Hammond Sr.  The couple has three children; James Eric Jr. married to Sylvia Woodard, Christopher Adam, and Erin Jenea.  The Hammonds are the proud grandparents of Alexander age 6 and Franchesca age 2.  Dr. Cynthia Jackson Hammond’s appointment as President of Central State University is effective July 1, 2012.

William Savage Regional Legal Counsel

Occasio Gee Director of Publicity

JR Reeves Director of Social Action

Dr. Gerald Weatherspon Director of Education

Dumisani Solwazi Director of Bigger & Better Business

Devon Henry Regional Vice-Director

Leonard Lockhart Regional Director

Charles Holt Secretary

 Brad Leak Treasurer

McDonald’s Corp. CEO Jim Skinner is retiring and will be succeeded by the company’s No. 2 executive, President and Chief Operating Officer Don Thompson.

The Oak Brook-based fast-food company said this evening that Mr. Skinner, 67, will leave the company and the board on June 30 after 41 years. Mr. Thompson, 48, will take the helm on July 1.

“Jim’s stellar leadership has driven unprecedented momentum at McDonald’s,” McDonald’s Chairman Andy McKenna said in a statement. “Jim has brought to the table exceptional knowledge of McDonald’s restaurant operations and a keen sense of business know-how. As we look to the future, the board has every confidence that Don’s strategic leadership and global business insight make him the ideal CEO.”

Credited as one of the players in the company’s 2003 “Plan to Win” turnaround strategy, Mr. Skinner, who also was vice chairman, touted “being better, not just bigger” through remodeled restaurants, longer hours, a broader menu and a global marketing message that highlighted balanced and active lifestyles.

“Doing what’s right for our customers and our business has driven my passion as CEO of McDonald’s,” said Mr. Skinner in a statement. “I’m honored to have served and earned the trust of the board, our shareholders, franchisees, suppliers and the men and women of this great company.”

He added that under Mr. Thompson’s leadership, “I am extremely confident in the future of McDonald’s.”

Mr. Thompson is a 22-year McDonald’s veteran who hired on in 1990 as an electrical engineer. Born in Chicago and raised in Indiana, he moved into operations and management and was president of McDonald’s USA from 2006 to 2010 before moving into his current post. He was widely considered the frontrunner for CEO and has been credited with the success of the company’s McCafe beverage expansion.

“I’m humbled to take the baton as CEO of McDonald’s,” Mr. Thompson said in a statement. “Our management team is strong and will remain focused on the Plan to Win and on our three global priorities—optimizing the menu, modernizing the customer experience and broadening our accessibility to even more customers.”

Mr. Thompson is the first African-American to head McDonald’s, the world’s biggest restaurant company measured by revenue. He also is the only African-American CEO of a public company in Chicago and a new addition to the half dozen in the entire Fortune 500.

Mr. Thompson joined McDonald’s board in January 2011. He also is on the boards of Chicago-based Exelon Corp. and Northwestern Memorial Hospital and is a trustee of his alma mater, Purdue University.

McDonald’s has been roll for almost a decade. Its share price jumped 31 percent in 2011, the most of any of the 30 stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Index. The stock closed at $96.72 Wednesday, after topping $100 in late December and as recently as March 7.

By market capitalization, McDonald’s is the biggest company in Illinois. By revenue, which rose to $27 billion last year, it is in the Top 10.

The announcement came just weeks before McDonald’s hosts its biannual worldwide franchisee convention.

Earlier this month, McDonald’s said its February sales missed analysts’ targets due to economic woes and Europe’s brutal winter. The company also surprised analysts by warning that the economy could hurt profits. Up till now, the company has been prospered and stolen market share from rivals.

Winston Myers II, currently director of the South DeKalb YMCA, has been named executive director of the new 57,000 square foot Wade Walker YMCA under construction and slated to open in late summer 2012.

Myers starts his new job April 1.

In a press release announcing his new position, Myers said: “This new Y is an exciting, healthy living collaboration with DeKalb County and will provide many options for families and individuals to get more active and connect with their community. The Wade Walker Park Y will positively impact local residents in many ways.”

“The Y is committed to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. We want to be sure everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has an opportunity to join, play, volunteer, and enrich their lives. Children, teens and adults can get involved in so many ways, like school break camps, teen leadership programs, family nights, events for active older adults, and community volunteer activities,” said Myers, who lives in Conyers with his wife and three children.

According to the release, Myers began his career with the YMCA of South Hampton Roads. He went on to work at four different Ys in Norfolk, Chesapeake and Portsmouth, Virginia, where he served as a program director in child care, summer camp, youth sports, and wellness.

Myers has been with the YMCA of Metro Atlanta for 15 years, since 1997, first working at the Covington Family YMCA as the senior program director. He came to the South DeKalb Y in 2000, according to the release.

He was the associate executive director there before moving up to executive director in 2008. Myers is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and a graduate of Leadership Newton County, the release said.

According to the release, an on-site, membership office will open in May; more than 200 local residents will be hired for various positions this summer; and through the partnership with DeKalb County, residents in the 30058, 30083, 30087, and 30088 zip codes will be exempt from paying joining fees.

Cox Louisiana human-resources executive Rhonda Taylor has been named the Cox Communications chief people officer, effective immediately, succeeding Mae Douglas, who announced her retirement recently.

Taylor has served as the senior human resources executive in Cox’s Louisiana system since 2008, where she planned, led and implemented numerous organizational changes and realignments including the consolidation of Cox Greater Louisiana and New Orleans systems. Under her leadership, the Cox Louisiana Diversity Council received the 2011 Human Resources Management Association Commitment to Diversity Award.

“Cox’s success is dependent on acquiring, retaining, motivating and fully utilizing the brightest employees in the marketplace,” Esser said in a release. “Our structure is shifting to support broader business transformation and Rhonda is well-qualified to equip our workforce to deliver outstanding results.”

Prior to joining Cox, Taylor served for 21 years at Citigroup in various human resources leadership roles, including senior vice president of human resources in the company’s Coppell, Texas office. She was also assistant director, human resources for ITT Commercial Finance Corp. in St. Louis, Mo.

Taylor holds a bachelor’s degree from Columbia College in Columbia, Mo. She currently serves on the board of the Baton Rouge Junior Achievement organization and is active in the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications and the Society of Human Resource Management. Taylor is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

Zaldwaynaka “Z” Scott, a former federal prosecutor and head of the governor’s inspector general’s office, has been appointed chairwoman of the Chicago Housing Authority board, the mayor’s office said Tuesday.

Scott, most recently a private attorney specializing in white-collar criminal work, replaces James Reynolds, who last week was appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel to the board of the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority.

Along with the CHA’s new CEO, Charles Woodyard, Scott will try to steer the agency amid a struggling economy that has undermined its $1.6 billion Plan for Transformation, an effort to create vibrant mixed-income housing developments where crime-ridden high-rises once stood.

“The Chicago Housing Authority’s board will play a crucial role in completing the Plan for Transformation and tackling the important challenges facing Chicagoans with affordable housing needs,” Emanuel said in a statement. “Z Scott has the track record of innovation as well as the experience needed to deftly lead this board.”

Scott brings to the CHA post years of public agency management experience, as well as a formidable record as an assistant U.S. attorney. That included prosecuting former Oakbrook Terrace Mayor Richard Sarallo in a bribery case that led to his guilty plea to income tax evasion in 1994.

She was head of the governor’s inspector general’s office from 2003 to 2005.

But Scott acknowledged in an interview Tuesday that her experience in dealing with often complex housing market issues is limited. Scott was first appointed to the CHA’s board in July.

“There is a learning curve,” she said. “It’s new. The issues are new, which is why I think it’s important to me to take the time to become familiar with the challenges and the issues and the concerns.”

“I think that given that all public entities are faced with a terrific amount of work to do with limited resources, we really have to take a hard look at what we have to do,” she said.

Robert Whitfield, an attorney who represents CHA tenants and who has been critical of the agency, said he was encouraged by Scott’s law enforcement background. There has been some upheaval in CHA leadership in recent years, including the resignation of former CEO Lewis Jordan last summer amid questions over his use of an agency credit card.

Those who deal with the agency look forward to moving on, Whitfield said.

“We’re all taking the attitude of let’s wait and see what the new regime will bring,” he said.

Virginia State University has announced the hiring of Ivana Rich as their new head volleyball coach on Aug. 9.

Rich comes to Virginia State University after serving as the Volunteer Assistant Women’s Volleyball Coach at Chowan University, helping lead them to a CIAA championship in 2010.

In addition to her assistant coaching experience, Rich also coached club volleyball at MidAtlantic Volleyball Club in Midlothian, Virginia and various camps at Virginia Commonwealth University and Tusculum College.

Rich’s philosophy is based on the core goal of using volleyball as an instrument to become a better student-athlete as well as a better person.

Rich played four years as a part of the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) women’s volleyball program playing both middle blocker and right-side hitter.

As a senior and captain of the VCU team, she help lead the Lady Rams to their first regular season conference championship in school history and 65th best RPI in the nation. During her tenure at VCU, she was awarded All CAA First Team (2008), All CAA Second Team (2009), All CAA Tournament Team (2009) and COBRA Magazine All-National Third Team (2009). Rich also broke two school records, the VCU all-time blocks record, finishing with a total of 384 blocks in 117 career matches and the single season hitting percentage record charting .332.

Rich received a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University. Rich is currently pursuing a Master of Education in Counselor Education from Virginia State University.

Rich, a native of Cumberland County, Virginia, comes from a family “rich” in athletics. Her oldest brother, Diamand Rich played football for Shenandoah University and her youngest brother, Jule Rich is entering his sophomore season on the track team at North Carolina State University. Her father, Alfonso Belle, coached football for over twenty years at Cumberland High School and semi-professional football. Rich is also the daughter of Dr. Michelle Belle, the recipient of the first Doctoral degree from Virginia State University. Rich is a legacy member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

Bro. Cleare brings proven leadership, relevant experiences and real passion for fraternal life in The Bahamas. With the theme “Rekindling the spirit of the Seven Jewels”, he plans to lead the Fraternity for the next two years using the examples of their founders. The inauguration of President Cleare took place on July 5th, 2011 at the British Colonial Hilton.

Bro. Cleare is a 1980 initiate of the Fraternity, and a proud Life Member since October 2000. During his years as a member of the Fraternity, he has held key positions including undergraduate president of the Delta Psi Chapter at Florida Memorial University, Assistant Director of the Florida State Convention. Locally he has served as director of ritual and ceremonies, historian and recording secretary.

He is a certified teacher and a certified human resource professional. Cleare holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biological Science from the Florida Memorial University and a Masters in Business Administration with specialization in Human Resource Management, from Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale Florida.   He is currently a Human Resource Manager with The Public Hospitals Authority deployed at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Center.

His dynamic executive leadership team includes the following distinguished Brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.: Bro. Jaydian Miller – Vice President, Bro. Steven Strachan – Recording Secretary, Bro. Christian Pratt – Corresponding Secretary, Bro. Ethrin Zonicle – Treasurer, Bro. Dr. Valentine Grimes – Director of Education, Bro. Dr. Ricardo P. Deveaux – Director of Membership Intake and Associate Editor of the Sphinx, Bro. Terrance L.B. Fountain -Parliamentarian, Bro. Andrew Pinder – Sergeant at Arms, and Bro. Rev. Ellis Peet, Jr. -Chaplain.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. was founded in 1906 on the university campus of Cornell University, the Fraternity develops leaders, promotes brotherhood and academic excellence, while providing service and advocacy for our communities” The local Chapter Iota Epsilon Lambda Chapter was established May11th, 1977.