AASU's Student Leadership Program Names Advisory Board

Savannah, GA—November 6, 2003—The Nick Mamalakis Emerging Leader Program, a yearlong leadership development program for first year students at Armstrong Atlantic State University, has named eight members of the Savannah community to its Community Advisory Board. The board will assist the university with strategic planning for the leadership program.

James C. McCurry, Jr., national sales specialist for Brassler USA, Inc., will serve as chair of the advisory board. At Brassler USA, he is responsible for managing government sales throughout North America and defines business objectives and sales strategies for the government market. He was named one of the "40 Business Leaders Under 40" by the Savannah Business Report and was a member of Leadership Savannah's Class of 2000. McCurry graduated from Furman University with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.

Larry W. Branson is captain and E-911 Communications Center Commander with the Savannah Police Department and adjunct professor at Armstrong Atlantic State University. He is a member of Leadership Savannah, American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers, and Hostage Negotiators of America. Branson graduated from Georgia Southern University with a Master of Public Administration and the Southern Police Institute at University of Louisville.

Julie T. Gerbsch is president and CEO of Parent and Child Development Services, Inc., where she provides a variety of direct services to children and families. She is a member of the Savannah Fund for Excellence in Public Education Board of Directors, Leadership Savannah's Class of 2000-2002, and the Rotary Club of Savannah. Gerbsch graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Susan M. Hancock is vice president of Resource Development for the United Way of the Coastal Empire, where she oversees the planning and implementation of the annual campaign for the tri-county area of Chatham, Bryan, and Effingham counties. She is on the board of trustees for Leadership Georgia, a graduate of Leadership Savannah, and a member of the Junior League of Savannah. Hancock graduated from Georgia Southern University with a degree in public relations.

Tom Kohler is the coordinator for the Chatham-Savannah Citizen Advocacy. In this role, he encourages people to become voluntary citizen advocates and works to build and strengthen relationships between people with disabilities and members of the larger community. He participates in the Savannah Plant Swap, Savannah Fund for Excellence in Public Education, and Jim Collin’s Bar Alumni Association. Kohler is a graduate of the University of Georgia.

Julian A. Pafford, Jr. is the governmental relations manager for Savannah Electric and Power Company, a subsidiary of Southern Company. He is currently the vice chairman of the Chatham Youth Futures Authority and vice chair of the Family Connections Partnership, a state-wide board, and chairman of the Savannah Chamber’s Governmental Affairs Council. Pafford graduated from Georgia Southern University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.

Joseph R. Ross is the senior vice president and general counsel for Memorial Health, Inc., where he practices commercial and health care law. He was the first on-site attorney for Memorial Health University Medical Center in 1987. He is a member of the American Bar Association, State Bar or Georgia, South Carolina Bar, and the Florida Bar. He is also a member of the American Health Lawyers Association and Georgia Academy of Healthcare Attorneys. Ross graduated from the University of Georgia with Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration degrees.

Trip Tollison is the vice president of Governmental Affairs and Existing Industry for the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, where he represents over 2,000 businesses and organizations on federal, state, and local issues. He is a volunteer for the United Way and American Heart Association fundraising campaigns. He is an advisory board member for H. John Heinz Center for Science, Economics and the Environment, and Coastal Zone Management. Tollison graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.

AASU's emerging leader program is highly interactive with opportunities for participation in mini-lectures, skill-building workshops, and human potential exercises that focus on effective leadership strategies. For more information about the advisory board, contact Joe Buck, vice president of student affairs, at 912.927.5271.