Elder named to post at Lanier Tech
Lanier Technical College has a new vice president of administrative services.
Laura Elder of Demorest has been promoted from her post as director of administrative services.
Current vice president Lake Gibson will retire in January.
Elder, a Decatur native and 1984 University of Georgia graduate with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, worked as a certified public accountant in a public firm for four years.
She was first hired by the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education as an accounting supervisor at Athens Technical College, where she worked for seven years. She later served as the vice president of administrative services at North Georgia Technical College in Clarkesville for three years.
In 1999, Elder began a six-year stint at Habersham Bank, serving as an internal auditor and then controller.
Elder joined Lanier Tech as a budget analyst in May 2005 and became director of administrative services in October 2005.
“We’re very pleased to have someone with such an outstanding background filling this very important leadership role,” said college president Mike Moye. “Laura will be well-prepared to take the excellent operational base established by Lake Gibson and move it to the next level.”
Dillard joins GB&T as vice president
David Dillard has joined Gainesville Bank & Trust as senior vice president and commercial lender. Dillard comes to GB&T from Branch Banking & Trust in Gainesville.
“David brings with him years of relationship banking experience in our local market,” said bank president Mike Whitmire. “He knows this market and is well-respected in the banking community, and we are fortunate to have him join our team here at GB&T.”
A graduate of the University of Georgia, Dillard is also a graduate of Leadership Athens and a member of the Gainesville Rotary Club, the board of advisors at Brenau University and Lakewood Baptist Church, where he serves as deacon.
He and his wife, Patti, reside in Hall County.
Habersham Bank building new branch in South Hall
Habersham Bancorp has started construction on a new facility on Spout Springs Road in Flowery Branch. The office will be completed by the end of 2008.
The plans for the new building include a full-service Habersham Bank branch with additional capacity for operational and administrative functions. Habersham Bank began serving the area on Thursday from a temporary location at Spout Springs Center. The Spout Springs location will expand Habersham Bank’s branch network to a total of 12 branches in eight counties throughout North Georgia.
Fockele Garden Co. earns national safety award
The Fockele Garden Co. has been awarded the STARS Award in the Professional Landcare Network annual Safety Recognition Awards Program. The program is dedicated to creating and maintaining safe work environments in the green industry.
“One of my most important business goals is to complete my career without anyone having received a serious injury,” said Mark Fockele, company founder and president.
Kudyba named to board of national dental group
Gigi Kudyba of Buford recently was installed as a member of the board of directors of the Alliance of the American Dental Association during the annual convention in San Francisco.
She has been a member of AADA for 18 years.
Gigi Kudyba is married to Paul S. Kudyba Jr., a Buford dentist, and is past president of the Alliance of the Georgia Dental Association.
AADA is the organization of more than 6,000 American Dental Association member spouses committed to supporting the ADA through public oral health education, legislative advocacy and the well-being of the dental family.