Dr. Dawn Cartee, president of Ogeechee Technical College, recently announced the appointment of three new members to Ogeechee Tech’s local Board of Directors. Rachel C. Edwards, Ray Lynes McKinney, Jr., and Hoke Reeves, III, were recently installed by Superior Court Judge Gates Peed at a meeting on the College campus. 

     “We are honored to have these three fine individuals devote their time and talents to Ogeechee Technical College,” Cartee said.  “They will certainly add an even greater depth to our group of board members.  Collectively our board represents a diverse cross section of strong community leaders from Bulloch, Evans, and Screven Counties.”

     Edwards is an attorney in the firm of Wright and Edwards, P.C. in Statesboro. Her community affiliations include serving as chair of the Leadership Bulloch Class of 2008, graduate of the Leadership Bulloch Class of 2004, member and Board of Directors of the Bulloch County Exchange Club Family Skills Center, member of the Homebuilders Association of Statesboro, member of the Joseph’s Home for Boys Board of Directors, including serving as Board president in 2007, member of the Statesboro Board of Realtors, and Board of Directors member of the Statesboro-Bulloch Chamber of Commerce.

     “Ogeechee Tech is a vital part of our community, and anything I can do to enhance the opportunities of the students attending the College is time well spent,” Edwards said.  “Ogeechee Tech serves so many local citizens that it is hard to imagine what our area would be like without the College and the work it does.” 

     McKinney is a financial consultant with Wachovia Securities, and prior to holding that position, was owner of Old South Agricultural Services, Gin Manager for Gold Kist, Inc., and held other agriculture related positions in Kentucky and Tennessee. A graduate of Furman University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history, McKinney has been very active in the local community, including serving as Chair of the Board for the Statesboro-Bulloch Chamber of Commerce in 2007, being a Dean Day Smith Service to Mankind recipient in 2007, and serving as Joseph’s Home for Boys Board Chair in 2005/2006.  He is also a graduate of Leadership Southeast Georgia class of 2001, is a member of the Statesboro Rotary Club, Leadership Bulloch, Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, Gamma Sigma Delta-Honorary Agriculture Society, and is an Eagle Scout. 

     “With such a great mix of programs at Ogeechee Tech, the college really is an anchor in our educational community,” McKinney said. “I believe now, more than ever, that having the availability of training and education is important to the success of our local economy.” 

     Reeves is a director and executive vice president with Farmers and Merchants Bank of Sylvania.  A graduate of Georgia Southern University, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in finance, economics, and management, Reeves has an extensive work history with financial institutions, including serving as a loan officer/appraiser with the Federal Land Bank, as a corporate banker with Trust Company Bank (SunTrust), as vice president of Farmers and Merchants Bank, as president of First Liberty Bank (BB&T), and from 2001 to 2007 as executive vice president and president of Eagle Bank and Trust in Statesboro (now Park Avenue Bank).

     “Ogeechee Tech is a vital component in the success of our region when it comes to attracting business and industry,” Reeves said. “All of the counties in the College’s service delivery area look to OTC for help in providing a well trained workforce.”

     In addition to Edwards, McKinney, and Reeves, other Ogeechee Tech Board of Directors members are Chair, Dr. Dale Grant, Mike Anderson, and Billy Hickman, all representing Bulloch County, Rosalind Ivey and Roger Moore representing Evans County, and Emelyn Hunter representing Screven County.