GEORGIA WORLD CONGRESS CENTER AUTHORITY REAPPOINTS CURRENT BOARD OFFICERS

ATLANTA – (January 16, 2013) The Georgia World Congress Center Authority Board of Governors, the governor-appointed group that oversees the operation of the Georgia World Congress Center, Georgia Dome and Centennial Olympic Park, announced today that its current officers have been reappointed for a second term, serving the GWCCA for an additional two years. Leadership positions are voted on by all 15 Board members.

“We are pleased that our current slate of officers will carry forward into 2013 and are confident that with their guidance the Authority will continue to prosper,” GWCCA Executive Director Frank Poe said. “The experience of this group will no doubt help guide us though the many challenges we will face over the next 5-10 years.”

Tim Lowe, Chairman of the board of Lowe Engineers, has been a member of the GWCCA Board since 2008 and will now serve as chairman for the second consecutive term. Lowe Engineers’ clients are both government and private with projects located throughout the United States, Europe, Southwest Asia and the Far East. Lowe has a BA from Auburn University and an MBA from Emory University. He served thirty years active and reserve duty in the U.S. Navy. Lowe serves on the boards for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Buckhead Coalition.

Lee Hunter, a member of the Board since 2006 was appointed as vice-chair for his second term. Hunter is owner of Midtown Vending, a distributor of coin-operated amusement equipment with offices in Mableton, GA, Albany, GA and Houston, TX. Hunter has a bachelor degree in Business Management from the University of Alabama. He serves on the Alumni Board of The Lovett School in Atlanta.

Anne Hennessy, will serve as Board secretary for the second term and has been a member of the Authority Board since 2003. Anne Hennessy is the founding principal of Hennessy Investments, an Atlanta-based investment firm focused on early-stage technology companies. She is also a member of two Atlanta-based angel investing groups: The Southeastern Investor Group and the Atlanta Technology Angels. Hennessy also serves on the Boards of The Georgia Healthcare Foundation and Trinity School in Atlanta. She is a graduate of Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia and a graduate of Trinity University.

Doug Tollett, a commercial real estate developer and property manager joined the Board in 2008 and will serve as treasurer for his second term. Tollett’s past projects have included the development of the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park, GA, the development of Resurgens Park in Alpharetta, GA and the development of Resurgens Plaza in Atlanta, GA. He serves on the State of Georgia’s Transit Implementation Board and has been a past director of the Archdiocese of Atlanta’s Facilities Advisory Board, the State of Georgia’s Transit Planning Board, North Atlanta National Bank, the Golf Club of Georgia and the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The Georgia World Congress Center Authority generated almost $30 million in direct profit to the State of Georgia in FY12 as well as a total economic impact of $1.2 billion for the local economy.

-GWCCA-