Hussey Gay Bell President Gets Key Appointment by Governor

• July 15, 2011

On July 1, Governor Nathan Deal announced the appointment of Eric Johnson, President of Hussey Gay Bell to Board of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “Eric Johnson has spent most of his adult life giving his time and energy to our state,” Deal said. “He represented Savannah in the legislature, but he served the whole state. Eric brings experience and dedication to the task of bringing jobs to Georgia, and he’s a perfect fit for the board.”

The Georgia department of Economic Development (GDEcD) markets Georgia to the world by encouraging business investment and trade, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a go-to location for film, music, digital entertainment, and the arts. State Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah), the Chairman of the House Economic Development Committee said, “It’s one of the biggest appointments you can get from the governor.”

Johnson is an architect and received his Master’s Degree in Architecture from Tulane University and is a member of the prestigious College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects. Johnson served 17 years in the Georgia Legislature, in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. He was Senate Republican leader for four years and the President Pro Tem of the State Senate for six years. He served on Gov. Deal’s transition team and currently serves on the board of directors of the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA), the Georgia Health Sciences University’s Planning and Development Committee, the Georgia Cities Foundation and Union Mission.