Dr. Jason L. Branch, Board of Trustees of the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia
Branch is the superintendent of Oconee County Schools. He has more than 20 years of experience in education including roles as a teacher, coach, athletic director and principal. Branch earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the University of Georgia, as well as a specialist degree and a doctoral degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. He and his wife, Catherine, have two children and reside in Oconee County. 

Chris Swanson, Board of Trustees of the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia (reappointment)
Swanson is an AP Economics teacher at Newnan High School and the chair of the Social Studies department in Meriwether County. He and his wife also co-own an art gallery. Swanson earned a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University, a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Columbus State University and a master’s degree in Finance from Georgia State University. He and his wife, Sarah, have one daughter and live in Hogansville.

Jackie Brown, Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists
Brown is a school social worker and a homeless liaison for Effingham County Schools. She is the chair of the mentoring committee for the School Social Workers Association of Georgia. Brown sits on the boards of the Effingham County Family Connection Commission and Family Promise of Effingham. She also sits on the advisory board for the Department of Social Work at Savannah State University. Brown is a graduate of Leadership Georgia, Leadership Southeast Georgia and Leadership Effingham. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Social Work, a master’s degree in Educational Leadership, an education specialist degree, and a doctoral degree in Education Administration from Georgia Southern University, as well as a master’s degree in Social Work from Savannah State University. Brown resides in Savannah.

Kathryn Klock-Powell, Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists (reappointment)
Klock-Powell is the program director for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at South University in Savannah and owns a private practice in Pooler. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist and a registered play therapist. Klock-Powell previously sat on the board of directors for the Georgia Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. She earned a doctoral degree in Child and Family Development from the University of Georgia. Klock-Powell and her husband, Will, have two children and live in Springfield.

Endsley Real, Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists (reappointment)
Real is a professional practice specialist for the Social Work Service Line at the Atlanta VA Health Care System. She has more than 20 years of experience as a social worker in Georgia. Real earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University, a master’s degree in Social Work from Clark Atlanta University and a master’s degree in Public Health from Emory University. She resides in Atlanta.

Charles Edward “Eddie” Whitted, State Veterans Service Board (reappointment)
Whitted began his career in building construction for Orr International and Brown & Root construction companies. He then started his businesses, B&W Construction and Door Company, which he operated until his retirement. Whitted is the president of Waycross Chapter 1010 of the Vietnam Veterans of America and has been a member of the local Masonic Lodge for 40 years. He is also a member of First Baptist Church in Blackshear. Whitted and his wife, Brenda, live in Blackshear.

Raymond Wilke, State Well Water Standards Advisory Panel (reappointment)
Wilke is a civil engineering consultant. He is a former president of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Georgia Section. Wilke was named the 2015 Georgia Engineer of the Year in Government by the Society of Professional Engineers and the 2004 Civil Engineer of the Year in Georgia by ASCE. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Georgia State University. Wilke resides in Johns Creek.