The Early Years
I was the first born of four kids.  We moved to Marietta when I was 6 months old, so Dad could be close to his job at Lockheed.  Shortly after the youngest child was born, my Dad unexpectedly passed away.  My mom raised the four of us by herself and as I have looked back over my years as a father and husband, I have come to realize her courage and wisdom.  One of the main messages Mom drilled into us was to work hard and be excellent in everything we did, especially our schoolwork. 

I am proud to say that I am a product of Cobb County Schools.  I attended Powers Ferry Elementary, East Cobb Junior High, and Wheeler High School.  While in high school, I was active in sports, music, and academics.  I played point guard on the basketball team and was drum major of the marching band.  I graduated with honors, was voted “Most Talented” by my class, and was inducted into the Wheeler High School Hall of Fame. 

My mom entrusted us all into the experienced and trustworthy hands of our school teachers.  They poured their lives into each of us and we are all results of their investment.

 

College Years
I was fortunate to attend the University of Georgia.  I continued to take leadership roles at UGA.  At the end of my sophomore year, I was selected as Drum Major of the UGA Redcoat Marching Band.  I was the first non- music major Drum Major in the school’s history.  I also served on the Executive Cabinet of Student Government and was named a Senior Superlative at graduation.  I graduated cum laude with a BBA in Industrial Relations. 

 

My Business Experience
After graduating from UGA in March 1978, I began my career with Georgia Power and later worked for the parent company, Southern Company.  I have been with Southern Company for 30 years.  Three areas of business experience that will help me as a School Board member are:

• Georgia Power Budget Manager
• Directed the department responsible for coordinating the company’s $1billion/year operations budget. 

• Georgia Power Cash Planning and Operations Manager
• Directed the department responsible for short-term investments and borrowings.

• Manager, Leadership and Professional Development
• Currently lead the department that manages the leadership training for the 4,000 leaders in Southern Company.  This includes employing the latest learning technology and teaching methods.

 

During my early professional career, I earned an MBA in Finance from Mercer University.

 

My Family
I married former Redcoat Band Georgette Pam Godfrey from McCaysville, Georgia, in November 1978.  We will celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary this year!  We are blessed with two fine boys, David, 24 and John, 21.  This fall, David will enter his third year of Law School at the University of Georgia.  He also holds a B.S. in Political Science and a Masters in Social Study Education from UGA.  John, a biology major at UGA, was accepted into the Veterinarian School of Medicine at the University of Georgia and will be a member of this fall’s class.    

Both our boys were raised in Cobb County schools.

• Dowell Elementary School, Cheatham Hill Elementary School
• Smitha Middle School
• McEachern High School. 

Both boys were active in academic, music and athletic activities.  We were proud when both boys were named “Most Likely to Succeed” by their respective classes. 

Pam and I were very involved in their school activities.  It is critical that parents invest themselves in their children’s school experience.  It was well worth the many evenings and weekends spent with them and their fellow band members, academic bowl teammates and tennis players.  A few of my activities include:

• Smitha Middle School PTA Fathers Breakfast
• McEachern Band Booster Club Vice President
• McEachern Parents Advisory Council
• Hillgrove High School “School Naming Committee”
• Cobb County School District Parents Advisory Council

 

These experiences will be very valuable to me as a School Board Member.

 

Community Leadership
The following are some of the recent and past leadership activities:

• Overall Program Chair, Leadership Cobb- Class of 2005/2006
• Assistant Program Chair, Leadership Cobb- Class of 2004/2005
• Member, Leadership Cobb Class of 1998
• Vice President, Lorings Square Homeowners Association
• Vice President, Club of Hearts Georgia Power Charity
• Youth baseball, basketball and soccer coach
• Youth Praise Band director

These experiences have allowed me an opportunity to form solid relationships with community and government leaders who are instrumental in supporting education in Cobb County.

 

My Faith
My faith is very important to me and is the basis for the values which my family and I hold today.  It is what drives me to be honest, truthful and to act with integrity. 

 

I currently serve as Deacon at Burnt Hickory Baptist Church.  I also play guitar on Sunday mornings in the praise band.  I recently returned from Kiev, Ukraine, where I led a group from our church to teach Human Resource principles to business people in that city.

Pam is in charge of the Greeter Ministry and the boys are very active in Christian praise bands at College.  David plays keyboard and John plays drums.   

 

So What About Now?
I am ready to take the experience that I gained as an involved parent along with my leadership experiences at work, in the community and at church to make a positive impact for education in Cobb County.