Coosa Valley Technical College Announces 2008-2009 Board of Directors
Coosa Valley Technical College (CVTC) has announced the members of their 2008-2009 board of directors. Robert L. Berry, senior partner of Brinson; Askew; Berry; Seigler; Richardson; and Davis, has been named chairman and Randall Fox, president and general manager of Fox Systems, Inc., has been named vice chairman.
CVTC’s 2008-2009 Board of Directors includes Mary Sib Banks; Robert L. Berry; Paul Ferguson, M.D.; Randall Fox; Cathy Harrison; Carl Herring, M.D; James L. Lester; Todd Murphy; and Richard Strawhorn.
"I am honored to be serving as the chairman on the Coosa Valley Technical College Board,” stated Berry. “The college, under Dr. Craig McDaniel's leadership, plays such an important role in the lives of its students, as well as in the region's economic development.”
CVTC’s board serves both in a community advisory capacity and in a limited administrative capacity, performing certain oversight responsibilities as designated by state board policy. The local board is comprised of members from the business and industrial communities from three counties in the service area (Floyd County, Gordon County, and Polk County). State board policy defines the role and responsibilities of the local board. Board members are selected because of their experience, ability, and dedication to deal with issues that relate to the mission of occupational education and are without contractual, employment, or personal financial investment in the school.
Berry added, “We are fortunate to attract a number of experienced and highly respected individuals who serve on the board and provide invaluable advice and direction to the college.”
“So much of what we have been able to accomplish at CVTC has been due to the support and influence of our local board of directors,” said CVTC President Dr. Craig McDaniel.
Coosa Valley Technical College 2008-2009 Board of Directors
Mary Sib Banks
Mary Sib Banks joined CVTC’s board as a Floyd County representative in 2006. She is a native Roman. She graduated with honors from Thornwood School for Girls, attended Vanderbilt University, received a bachelor of science degree in textiles and design from the University of Alabama, and has done graduate work in textile design at the University of Georgia. Since 1988, she has been employed by News Publishing Company as vice president for community relations. Banks has been active in community organizations in Rome for 30 years. A graduate of both Leadership Rome and Leadership Georgia, she was a founding director of First Rome Bank, now Regions Bank. She is a former member of the Girl Scout Council of Northwest Georgia Board of Directors and served on the Executive Council as second vice-president for six years, the Darlington School Board of Trustees, the United Way of Rome/Floyd County, the Shorter College Board of Visitors, past member of the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and the Open Door Home Board. Currently she serves on the following boards: Coosa Valley Technical College, Atlanta Steeplechase Board of Stewards, Redmond Regional Medical Center, Mercy Senior Care, River City Bank, Communities in Schools, YMCA, and Harbor House. Banks was a finalist for the 1984 Woman of the Year award and the recipient of one of the 1995 Heart of the Community awards. In addition, she is a member of the Rome Rotary Club, serving as one of the trustees for the Rotary Mentoring Program and as a mentor.
Robert L. Berry, Chairman
Robert L. Berry joined CVTC’s board as a Floyd County representative in 2003. He is a senior partner of Brinson, Askew, Berry, Seigler, Richardson & Davis, LLP. His specialties include medical malpractice and insurance defense. Berry received a bachelor of arts degree from Emory University and earned a juris doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law. He is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, served on the executive committee of the State Bar of Georgia from 1994-96, and was recognized as a Georgia Super Lawyer, a joint project of Law & Politics Magazine and Atlanta Magazine. Berry’s professional affiliations include Rome Bar Association, State Bar of Georgia, American Bar Association, Georgia Academy of Healthcare Attorneys, American Academy of Healthcare Attorneys, American College of Trial Lawyers, Georgia Defense Lawyers Association, Institute of Continuing Legal Education, and Joseph Henry Lumpkin American Inn of Court. Active in many local organizations, he has served as president of the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce, president of the Exchange Club of Rome, and as a board member of the Rome-Floyd County Development Authority, Redmond Regional Medical Center, Darlington School, and Greater Rome Bank. He is currently the chairman of Coosa Valley Technical College’s Board of Directors. Berry has been extensively involved in industrial and business development, and in promoting a regional emphasis for recruitment and an awareness of industrial, business, and educational concerns throughout the area.
Paul Ferguson, M.D.
Paul Ferguson joined CVTC’s board as a Floyd County representative in 2007. He is a retired neurological surgeon and the former president and CEO of the Harbin Clinic. Ferguson has a long history of community service having served on the advisory board of directors for the National Creative Society, SunTrust Bank of Northwest Georgia, and the Rome History Museum. He was on the boards of the Northwest Georgia Housing Authority, the Rome-Floyd YMCA and the Rome-Floyd County Planning Commission. He currently serves on the board of directors for Coosa Valley Technical College, the South Rome Redevelopment Commission, and the board of trustees of Berry College. Dr. Ferguson has been recognized for his volunteer work, receiving the Distinguished Service award from the Rome-Floyd YMCA and a Heart of the Community award. He is a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Foundation and a Will Watt Fellow from Georgia Rotary Foundation. He is an honorary lifetime member of the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce and past-president of the Rome Rotary Club, the Floyd-Polk-Chattooga Medical Society, the Georgia Neurosurgical Society, and the Neurosurgical Society of America.
Randall Fox, Vice Chairman
Randall Fox joined CVTC’s board as a Gordon County representative in 2005. Fox is the president and general manager of Fox Systems, Inc. Prior to that, he was employed by North Georgia Electric Membership Corporation. Fox graduated from Calhoun High School and attended Dalton College and Coosa Valley Technical College. He currently serves on the board of directors for Citizens Against Methamphetamines and Coosa Valley Technical College, where he is vice chairman. He is also a member of the Independent Electric Contractors Association. Fox has many real estate developments and holdings and is involved with several joint venture companies. Fox is a supportive member of the Calhoun and Gordon County community. He takes an active role in community education and numerous youth organizations.
Cathy Harrison
Cathy Harrison joined CVTC’s board as a Gordon County representative in 2002. She retired in December 2007 after serving 33 years as the city administrator and finance officer for the City of Calhoun. Prior to working with the City of Calhoun, Harrison worked as a vice president and loan officer at Calhoun First National Bank. Harrison graduated with honors from Calhoun High School. She earned her degree in banking and a certification in municipal finance and administration from the University of Georgia. In addition, she did further studies in accounting and business law at Dalton College. She has been a tireless community volunteer for the majority of her working years. Harrison was a vital part of the committee that worked to have the Gordon County Campus of Coosa Valley Technical College built. Harrison is a member of the Coosa Valley Technical College Board of Directors. She was the past president and director of the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Existing Industries Committee, past director of the Georgia Municipal Association, past president of the Georgia Municipal Clerks and Finance Officers Association, past chairman for the Gordon County Heart Fund, member of the Georgia City/County Manager’s Association, graduate of the first class of the Gordon County Leadership Association, and member of the Calhoun Rotary Club.
Carl Herring, M.D.
Carl Herring joined CVTC’s board as a Floyd County representative in 2004. Herring is a neurosurgeon with the Harbin Clinic. He received his undergraduate education at Emory University where he obtained a bachelor of arts in chemistry. He earned his doctor of medicine degree from Tulane University School of Medicine. After receiving his medical degree, Herring completed his general surgery internship and his neurosurgery residency at Emory University Affiliated Hospitals. He obtained board certification from the American Board of Neurological Surgery. Herring is a member of many professional organizations including the American Medical Association; Medical Association of Georgia; Floyd, Polk, Chattooga Medical Society; Georgia Neurosurgical Society; American Association of Neurological Surgeons; and Congress of Neurological Surgeons. He is currently a member of Floyd Health Care’s Management Board, advisory member of the dean’s board at Tulane University, a member of the board of directors at Coosa Valley Technical College and a past member of Seven Hills Rotary Club. Herring has given presentations to many organizations including the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Society for Neurological Surgeons, Georgia Neurosurgical Society, Georgia Neurological Society, and the American Association of Pediatric Neurosurgeons.
James L. Lester
James L. Lester joined CVTC’s board as a Polk County representative in 2008. He is president of J. L. Lester & Son, Inc., an investment company, and was vice president of sales for Eby-Brown, a food distributorship, located in Rome, Georgia from 1998-2003. In addition to serving on the Gainesville Bank & Trust Bancshares board and Coosa Valley Technical College’s board, Lester is chairman of the board at United Bank & Trust. He currently serves as President of the Rockmart Kiwanis Club.
Todd Murphy
Todd Murphy joined CVTC’s board as a Polk County representative in 2006. Murphy is a native of Rome, Georgia. He earned his bachelor of science degree in Engineering in 1993 and his master of business administration in 1998 from Berry College. Murphy joined The HON Company in 1995 as an industrial engineer at the Cedartown, Georgia facility. He has held various engineering and manufacturing management positions and was promoted to vice president and general manager of the Cedartown, Georgia facility in 2002. In 2007, he was promoted to vice president of manufacturing for The HON Company. Murphy has responsibility for The HON Company’s Cedartown, Georgia; Florence, Alabama; and Los Angeles, California facilities. He is a speaker on lean manufacturing principles and has authored publications on various lean manufacturing tools and initiatives. Murphy is actively involved in the community serving on several councils and boards including the board of directors for the Polk County Chamber of Commerce, Coosa Valley Technical College, and the 11th Congressional District Manufacturing Advisory Board. He is also a member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, the Association for Manufacturing Excellence, and is a 2008 participant in Leadership Georgia.
Richard P. Strawhorn
Richard P. Strawhorn joined CVTC’s board as a Gordon County representative in 2000. Strawhorn was born and raised in Abbeville County, South Carolina. He graduated from Abbeville High School, Abbeville, South Carolina; Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina; and The Financial Management Program of Stanford University, Palo Alto, California. Strawhorn has spent his entire career in the carpet Industry. He started as an accounts payable clerk at the Rocky River Plant of Bigelow Sanford in Calhoun Falls, South Carolina, and went on to become a member of the senior management teams at Bigelow, Fieldcrest Cannon, and Mohawk Industries, Inc. He served as vice president of finance for each of those organizations. As he was trying to retire a few years ago, Mohawk asked him to stay on and revitalize their risk management program. He successfully did that until his retirement in June, 2006. Strawhorn has been active in numerous organizations all of his working life. He served on the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce Board for a number of years and completed his tenure as chairman. He served on the board of Georgia Traditional Manufacturing Association and finished his duties there as chairman of the Textile Education Foundation. He is also a member of the board of directors at Coosa Valley Technical College. Strawhorn has been active in numerous professional organizations during his career.
