EntreFest Speaker Biographies
Dr. Sonny Perdue
Chancellor
University System of Georgia
The Board of Regents named Dr. Sonny Perdue the 14th chancellor of the University System of Georgia effective April 1, 2022. He oversees 26 public colleges and universities with a more than $11.5 billion annual budget, 48,000 faculty and staff and more than 344,000 students.
The Georgia Public Library Service and the Georgia Archives are also part of USG, which has been recognized nationally for its efforts in cost savings and student attainment. The number of students annually earning degrees has increased 36% since 2011. And through support from initiatives such as Affordable Learning Georgia, students save over $49 million annually using no-cost and low-cost online educational resources.
Prior to becoming chancellor, Perdue was the 31st Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from 2017 to 2021. He also served two terms as the governor of Georgia, from 2003 to 2011, and was a member of the Georgia Senate from 1991 to 2001, where he chaired the Senate Higher Education Committee and eventually became Senate President Pro Tem.
As Agriculture Secretary, Perdue managed a workforce of 110,000 employees with the stated objective of being the most efficient, effective and customer-friendly agency in federal government. This included stabilizing the food supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic and launching the Farmers to Families Food Box program to ensure the most vulnerable Americans were fed.
As governor, he reformed the state budget and focused on eliminating wasteful spending while Georgia faced unprecedented twin recessions. His fiscal management during those eight years prepared Georgia to excel when revenues returned and allowed Georgia to maintain its Triple-A bond ratings. During his term, high school graduates in Georgia posted the highest graduation rates and SAT scores in state history.
His tenure in the state Legislature came at a time when lawmakers worked with Georgia Gov. Zell Miller to craft one of the most innovative higher education programs in the nation, the HOPE Scholarship. Perdue in his role as higher education chairman also helped recruit USG Chancellor Stephen Portch to Georgia. This work reinforced a passion for higher education that continues today, including a commitment to maintaining the connection between a world-class university system and economic success for the benefit of the state and all Georgians.
Born in Perry, Georgia, on Dec. 20, 1946, and raised on a farm in Bonaire, Perdue is a veterinarian and agribusiness owner who graduated from Warner Robins High School and earned his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the University of Georgia. He is also a veteran, serving four years in the U.S. Air Force. He is married to the former Mary Ruff, also a UGA graduate. They have four children, 14 grandchildren and have served as foster parents for eight children awaiting adoption.
Greg Dozier
Commissioner
Technical College System of Georgia
In January 2020, Governor Brian Kemp appointed Greg Dozier as the sixth Commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). As Commissioner, Dozier is responsible for the 22 technical colleges of TCSG and leads a team of more than 12,000 employees across the system. Dozier manages an annual budget of more than $1.1 billion.
Before joining TCSG, Dozier was Chief Financial Officer for the State of Georgia from January 2019 to January 2020. Dozier also served as Commissioner of the Department of Corrections, overseeing the supervision of nearly 52,000 felony state offenders and leading a team of almost 10,500 employees. In 2005, Dozier was appointed as Commissioner of the Department of Driver Services (DDS) and guided a team of approximately 900 employees. During his appointment, DDS celebrated many customer service improvements and, in 2008, Dozier was presented with the Governor’s Award for Customer Service – Leadership.
Dozier began his career in state government in 1995 as an Analyst for the Legislative Budget Office. A few years later, he transferred to the State Board of Pardons and Paroles where he held the position of Director of Accounting. In 1999, he joined the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget (OPB) where he initially served as the Policy Coordinator and was later promoted to the Division Director of the General Government and Public Safety Division. Dozier has served in leadership capacities under Governors Perdue, Deal, and Kemp.
Dozier received his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and his MBA in Finance from Georgia State University. Dozier is a graduate of the Basic Law Enforcement Training Course, Regional Police Academy in Athens, and was the recipient of the Frank Thornton Academic Award for Excellence.
Commissioner Dozier resides in Covington with his wife and two daughters
Harold Reynolds
CEO BankSouth
Chair, Board Of Regents
University System of Georgia
Harold Reynolds is the Chief Executive Officer of the privately held BankSouth Holding Company headquartered in Greene County, Georgia. The company owns and operates BankSouth, BankSouth Mortgage headquartered in Atlanta, Coldwell Banker Lake Oconee Realty, and other subsidiaries. He is a Georgia Tech graduate, earning his bachelor’s degree in industrial systems engineering, and was inducted into the Council of Outstanding Young Engineering Alumni.
During the early 1980s, Reynolds was among the first developers of property near the newly impounded Lake Oconee. He was General Manager of Greensboro Lumber Company, a local, innovative pine and hardwood timber product manufacturer. The company operated a steam-powered electrical generating plant fueled by waste and byproducts of milling and logging operations. The facility was one of the first in Georgia to export excess generation capacity to the electrical grid.
From 1987 through 1992, Reynolds was a founding partner, the President, and the Chief Operating Officer of Linger Longer Development Company. The company owned, developed, and operated Reynolds Plantation, now known as Reynolds Lake Oconee. Reynolds served on Savannah-based Coastal Bankshares Board of Directors. He was a founder and director of Specialty Surgery Center Partners.
Gov. Zell Miller appointed Reynolds to the State Board of Technical and Adult Education, now known as the Technical College System of Georgia. He served for ten years as the chairperson of the capital outlays committee and a two-year term as board chairman during the thirteen years that he was a board member.
Reynolds and his wife, Lesley, reside on Lake Oconee. They have an adult daughter, Chandler, and a son, Jackson, attending Southern Methodist University. Reynolds represents the 10th Congressional District on the Board of Regents.
G. Christopher Nunn
Commissioner
Georgia Department of
Community Affairs
Christopher Nunn was appointed Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) in 2017. He leads the State’s community development efforts to support local leaders in building strong, vibrant communities. DCA has a broad reach, including comprehensive planning, safe and affordable housing, downtown development, community infrastructure, and economic development finance.
Before DCA, Commissioner Nunn led a regional professional services firm as Chief Operating Officer. In this role, he was responsible for all business aspects of the 150-person firm, including strategic planning and growth. Previously, he spent 15 years as a business consultant with two global firms, Arthur Andersen and Russell Reynolds Associates, focused on strategic planning, operational improvement, leadership development, and executive recruiting.
A native of Perry, Georgia, he graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Emory University with a B.A. in Political Science. He earned his Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Commissioner Nunn serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors at Wesley Woods, and he serves on the Boards of Advisors for the Robert T. Jones, Jr. Scholarship Trust at Emory University and the Center for Family Business at Kennesaw State University. He and his family are also active members of Peachtree Road United Methodist Church.
Commissioner Nunn and his wife, Nancy, have two children and live in Atlanta
Rosemarie A. Drake
Georgia Deputy District Director
U. S. Small Business Administration
Office of Field Office Operations
Rosemarie is the Georgia Deputy District Director managing the day-to-day operations for U. S. Small Business Administration Office of Field Office Operations. She supports the implementation of SBA HQ initiatives, including but not limited to outreach and marketing to underserved communities such as minority, women, veteran, and rural firms, also outreach to market segments such as manufacturing and exporters. Outreach for recruitment for government contracting certifications as well as focused assistance to 8(a) program participants.
Formerly, Rosemarie served as the 7(a) Program Division Chief at the U S Small Business Administration in the Office of Capital Access. Her role as Chief included development and recommendations on policies and procedures that govern the SBA’s 7(a) loan program.
Rosemarie has 30 years of experience in commercial lending, complex credit and financial analysis, entrepreneurship, and serving on advisory boards for nonprofit entities focused on lending to underserved markets. She has worked with various financial institutions including Bank of America as SVP Sr. Business Development Officer, CIT as a S. Regional Account Manager, Wachovia Bank (now Wells Fargo) as a Syndication Specialists, etc.
Rosemarie also served on numerous nonprofit Boards.
She is a graduate of Temple University’s school of Business and attended Kentucky State University in the Whitney Young Honors Program. Rosemarie is an active member of the Beulah Missionary Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia serving on the Genie Jackson Mission Ministry and Health Resource Ministry. She is a native of Philadelphia, PA (Fly Eagles Fly!)
Lisa P. Rawls
Evergreen CFO
Founder and Principal
Lisa P. Rawls is the founder and principal of Evergreen CFO, an outsourced CFO company, based in Georgia and Florida. Evergreen CFO, created in 1995, provides the full range of Chief Financial Officer services on an outsourced basis to start-up, rapidly growing or troubled companies who require the expertise and experience of a high-level financial officer but are not yet ready for a full-time CFO.
A native of Atlanta and a Georgia Tech Industrial Management graduate, Lisa Rawls’ 30+ year financial career in commercial banking, executive management, angel investment management, and financial consulting enables her to bring highly customized solutions to her clients in the areas of:
Cash flow management
Strategic planning
Banking &
Finance
Accounting
Risk management
Equity, mergers &
Acquisitions
HR management, employee benefits
Wealth and estate planning
CEO coaching
Experience and Engagements by Area include:
Manufacturing
Wholesale
Distribution
Technology
Medical
Non-Profit
Lisa Rawls is continually active in numerous civic, non-profit, economic development andentrepreneurial organizations throughout the southeastern United States.www.evergreencfo.net
Jamie Hood
Chief Marketing Officer
Jamie Hood Creative Marketing
Jamie Hood is a seasoned marketing strategist and creative director with over 35 years of experience in both digital and traditional marketing. As the owner and CMO of Jamie Hood Creative | Marketing in Madison, GA, he provides comprehensive marketing solutions that help businesses scale and thrive. His expertise spans digital strategy, brand development, and integrated marketing communications.
Prior to founding his own agency, Jamie played a pivotal role in growing a transportation and logistics company from $3M to $40M in annual revenue before exit. His diverse experience includes leadership positions at AGCO Corporation and Argus Business Press, where he managed multi-million-dollar budgets and large creative teams.
Today, Jamie helps entrepreneurs and established businesses navigate the complex landscape of modern marketing, combining strategic thinking with creative excellence. His approach blends proven traditional marketing methods with cutting-edge digital strategies to deliver measurable results for his clients.
A graduate of the University of Georgia's School of Journalism & Mass Communications, Jamie remains actively involved in the community through his work with the Fare Thee Well Foundation and various charitable organizations. When not developing marketing strategies, you might find him sharing his other creative outlet - music - with audiences throughout Georgia.
