Bowling named to board of directors at Habersham Bancorp
Bonnie Bowling has been named to the board of directors of Habersham Bancorp. She currently serves as executive vice president of Habersham Bancorp and executive vice president and chief operating officer of Habersham Bank.

"We are very pleased that Ms. Bowling will be joining our board of directors," said David Stovall, president and chief executive officer of Habersham Bancorp. "She has a proven track record of success in our company and within the financial services industry. Her knowledge and experience will be an effective complement to our board."

Bowling has been with Habersham Bancorp since 1994. She has attended North Georgia College and the University of Georgia and has completed the GBA Banking School, ABA National Compliance School, ABA Graduate School of Compliance Management and the Financial Analysis and Credit Training School.

She is a board member of the Dahlonega Lions Club and is a committee member for Appalachian Community Enterprises. She has previously served on the Board of No One Alone and is involved with volunteer work in the community.

Bowling resides in Dahlonega with her husband, Archie.

Habersham Bancorp owns Habersham Bank, which has its headquarters in Clarkesville and has full-service offices located in Cornelia, Clarkesville, Baldwin, Braselton, Cleveland, Canton, Cumming, Eastanollee, Flowery Branch, Hickory Flat, Toccoa and Warrenton.

Physician Rich joins Braselton clinic
Christina Rich, M.D., has joined the practice of Northeast Georgia Physicians Group Braselton Clinic.
Rich earned her medical degree from Mercer University and completed her residency at Memorial Medical Center's Department of Internal Medicine in Savannah.

Most recently, she served as the medical director for Affinity Health Group in Tifton. Rich is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

The Braselton clinic provides a full spectrum of health care services, with a team approach to preventive health maintenance and chronic disease management.

The clinic is located on the second floor of Medical Plaza 1, on Northeast Georgia Health System's River Place campus in Braselton.

"I've already fallen in love with the community and the practice's new, state-of-the-art office," Rich said. "I'm ready to grow my patient base as River Place continues to grow."

Timpone receives 2008 Rock Howard Award
Andrea Timpone of Elachee Nature Science Center in Gainesville is the recipient of the Rock Howard Award, given annually to an individual who has made great contributions in support of the mission of the Department of Natural Resources.

"Through her vision, management skills, board development, and focus on core, quality environmental education values, Andrea has created both a model organization and preserved a significant natural area that Gainesville, Hall County and the entire state of Georgia can be proud of," said DNR board member Jim Walters, who nominated Timpone.

Elachee Nature Science Center is a private, nonprofit environmental education center.

Timpone was selected as the organization's first employee and education director in 1985 and was named executive director in 1987.

Elachee was Georgia's first nature center to be accredited as a supplementary education school by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.