Board of Directors
Mr. Larry Kludt, Board Chair
Business/Industry Representation: GE and Copier Industry
Business/Industry Title: VP Human Resources, Retired
Years in Community: 13
Mr. Kludt grew up in Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Upon graduation, Larry spent 2 ½ years in the Army Signal Corp. including a tour of duty in Vietnam as the officer in charge of a crypto logistics unit. Upon discharge from the army, Larry joined General Electric in the Human Resource Training Program in Milwaukee at the Medical Systems Division. Larry’s 16 years at GE included four different assignments in four different business units of GE. In 1989, Larry accepted an assignment as the VP of Human Resources for what became IKON Office Solutions, a $4 billion office products and document management company spending 10 years at IKON. Additionally, Larry has done management consulting work with various entrepreneurial companies.
In 2013, Larry moved to Reynolds Lake Oconee on a full time basis. In 2017, he was asked to form a steering committee to apply for a grant offered by the state to create and fund a College and Career Academy. In competition with other counties, Greene did win a $3 million grant used to provide upgraded classrooms and labs for Greene County High School including a new façade on the front of the high school. The College and Career Academy has created a unique program called, “ The Career Coaching Program” utilizing community volunteers to council with all high school students regarding appropriate and rewarding careers. Under this program all high school students will have an opportunity to prepare a career plan in accordance with their interests and skill set which will include the necessary academic courses combined with technical courses in their area of interest and also associated work based learning assignments.
Mr. Dwaine Evans, Vice Chair
Business/Industry Representation: UPS – Industry - Logistics and End to End Supply Chain Management
Business/Industry Title: Director Business Development
Years in Community: Life-long resident
Dwain Evans is currently employed by UPS in Atlanta Georgia, where he serves as the Director of Enterprise Accounts, Retail Sector, developing “Direct to Consumers” sales strategies for National and Global accounts. In addition, he serves as the Director of Sales and Operations for the “House of Jack” (HOJ). The HOJ is a multi-purpose venue, with a team of professionals, providing End to End event planning solutions. He also serves as the Chief Financial Officer and Analyst of the Historic Springfield Baptist Church. Previously, Dwain served as a Process Improvement and Human Resource consultant for Prestige Foods Corporation (PFC). Prestige Foods specialized in Institutional Food Service and Professional Catering. PFC served a clientele which included county governments, federal agencies, K-12 public schools, K-12 private academies, colleges and universities. Prior to beginning his career with UPS, Dwain served as the Area Operations Manager for the KFC Corporation, directly responsible for the P&L’s of six locations.
Education and Personal History: Mr. Dwain Evans holds a Bachelor Degree of Business Administration from Georgia College and State University with a concentration in Marketing and Logistics. He also received his Strategy Formulation Certification from Georgia State University, specializing in Strategy Development and Execution. He is also Serv-Safe Certified by the National Restaurant Association.
Community Outreach/Service: Mr. Evans served on the board of the Institute for Community and Organizational Development (ICOD) where he was the VP of Business Development. He also served on the Advisory board of the Greensboro Dreamers from its inception until its successful completion. He served on the Boswell Hospital Board, where he helped to prevent closure of this critical service in the community. He served on the Pete Nance Boys and Girls Club board. He served on the Greene County Development Authority. He served as the Vice Chairman of the Greene County Georgia ELOST Committee (Educational Local Option Sales Tax Committee) providing vital oversight to the Board of Education regarding the disbursements of collected taxes. In 2008, Dwain was chosen by the Greene County Chamber of Commerce as its Citizen of the Year for outstanding contributions to Greene County. Currently, Mr. Evans serves as the Vice Chairman of the Greene College and Career Academy and a member of the Historic Springfield Baptist Church Deacon Board. He is also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.
Mr. Mike O'Neal, Treasurer
Business/Industry Representation: Retired Educator (Gwinnett, Clayton, and Rockdale counties and GADOE
Business/Industry Title: Associate Superintendent for Instruction (Rockdale County); Assessment Specialist, School and District Effectiveness (Georgia Department of Education) Retired
Years in Community: 15
Personal Information: Mike and his wife, Donna, currently reside in Reynolds Landing, Greene County, Georgia.
Mike earned four degrees from the University of Georgia.
- Bachelor of Science: Mathematics
- Masters of Education: Supervision
- Educational Specialist: Educational Administration
- Doctor of Education: Educational Administration
He is involved in a number of community initiatives including:
- Member, Steering Committee, Greene College & Career Academy
- Member and Treasurer, Board of Greene College & Career Academy
- Member and Past Chair, Board of Pete Nance Boys & Girls Club, Greene County
- Member, Board of Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central Georgia
- Member, Fellowship and Events Committee, First Methodist Church of Greensboro-Lake Oconee
- Volunteer, Second Harvest Food Distribution, Greene County
Mike and Donna are members of First Baptist Church of the Islands in Savannah and of First Methodist Church of Greensboro-Lake Oconee. They have three children and four grandchildren.
Mr. Samuel Young, Voting Member
Business/Industry Representation: Local Governance & Economic Development
Business/Industry Title: Retired
Years in Community: 19
Sam Young, is a native of Rebecca, Georgia in Turner County and a graduate of Turner County High School. Sam has served on the Greene County College and Career Academy Board of Directors for three years. After graduating from Middle Georgia College and Georgia Southern University, Sam worked and served Cobb County, Georgia Board of Commissioners, the third largest County in Georgia, for thirty one years in a variety of positions including Budget Administrator, Purchasing Director, County Clerk and Assistant County Manager.
After his first retirement, Sam moved to the Greensboro/Lake Oconee area and served as Business Manager for Calvert & White Custom Homes for eight years and, later, as the Economic Development Director for the Greene County, Georgia Board of Commissioners for five years. After his retirement, Sam has been blessed to serve as a volunteer with a variety of Board positions including the Greene County Development Authority, the Greene County College and Career Academy, the Greene County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Athens Technical College Foundation. Sam lives in Greensboro/Lake Oconee with his wife Susan.
Mr. Rabun Neal, Voting Member
Business/Industry Representation: Reynolds, Lake Oconee
Business/Industry Title: President
Years in Community: Worked in Greene County 38 years and lived in Greene full time the past 30 years.
Since joining Reynolds in 2002, and serving as its President since 2006, Rabun has guided the strategic vision for the community and its nationally acclaimed development for over twenty years.
During his tenure, Reynolds has achieved both national and international acclaim among the leading golf communities in the United States. Rabun’s leadership has also directed numerous county and state economic initiatives insuring the broader community impacts borne from the success of Reynolds that has included development of blue-ribbon awarded schools, regional hospital, and economic enterprise zones.
Prior to joining Reynolds, Rabun held an impressive array of positions with the Georgia Power Company for over twenty years in areas that included Engineering, Construction, Customer Service and Public Relations in the Lake Oconee Region.
Throughout his career Rabun has served as Chairman of the Board of several community organizations including Athens Technical College, Greene County Development Authority, Greene County Chamber of Commerce, Greene College & Career Academy, Lake Oconee Area Development Authority and Greensboro Better Home Town Program. He currently serves as a Board Member on the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and serves as a Regional Chair on the Board of Governors. Rabun holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Georgia.
Mr. Gary Pierotti, Voting Member
Business/Industry Representation: Camden Homes- Lake Oconee
Business/Industry Title: Owner/Operator Lakeside Custom Builders LLC dba Camden Homes.
Years in Community: 31
After graduating from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania Gary taught high school in Beaver Falls PA for one year. For the next 30 years he pursued careers in Software Development, Technical Support, Sales and Sales Management all leading up to owning and then selling a software company in 2002. At this point Gary started Camden Homes a residential custom home construction company. This was a natural decisions and passion as he grew up working in my fathers’ construction business during high school and college summers. They assist their clients in designing and building custom homes to the highest standards of quality and craftsmanship. Additionally, they are proud to be in a select group of builders authorize to build homes featured in the Reynolds Signature Home Collection.
Their success in the home building business has given them many new opportunities. Gary is a member of our Local, State and National Home Builders Association. He has served as President twice and now help coordinate our support activities between the Greene College & Career Academy and our local Home Builders Association. Gary is a proud member of the Greene College & Career Academy Governance Board.
Mr. Harold Reynolds, Voting Member
Business/Industry Representation: Banking & Finance
Business/Industry Title: Chairman & CEO of BankSouth
Years in Community: Life-long resident
With more than 30 years in the banking industry, Harold serves as Chairman and CEO of BankSouth. Harold is also a member of the Board of Regents of The University System of Georgia representing the 10th Congressional District and serves as Past Chairman of the State Board of Georgia Technical Colleges. He is also a member of Georgia Tech Young Engineers Hall of Fame.
Ms. Tia Stroud, Voting Member
Business/Industry Representation: Post-Secondary Education
Business/Industry Title: Executive Director for Secondary Initiatives for Athens Technical College
Tia Stroud is the Executive Director for Secondary Initiatives at Athens Technical College. In that role, Tia oversees the dual enrollment program and the dual achievement program. Tia has been working in higher education as an administrator for 15 years. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of West Georgia and a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from Georgia Southern University. Tia is honored to serve on the Board and looks forward to assisting the students of Greene County.
Ms. Jannah Zinker, Voting Member
Business/Industry Representation: Post-Secondary Education
Business/Industry Title: Career Academy Coordinator for Dual Enrollment for Athens Technical College
Jannah Zinker is the Career Academy Coordinator for Dual Enrollment at Athens Technical College. In that role, Jannah works closely with high schools in the Athens Technical College service area. Jannah received her Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology from the University of Georgia. Jannah enjoys working with the board and looks forward to making student’s time at the Greene County Collage & Career Academy memorable and impactful.