Board of Directors

Mr. Dan Carmichael (Chairman)
Cobb EMC Cobb Electric Membership Corporation

  • Manager of Corporate Security for 38 years
  • Founder/President of Cherokee County Gridiron Club
  • P.O.S.T Mandated
  • Past Cherokee Sheriff’s Reserve Unit 8 years

Mr. Kevin Amason (Vice-Chair)
Cherokee Sheriff’s Office Reserve

  • Commander of Cherokee Sheriff’s Reserve Unit
  • Coordinates the Sheriff’s Office Christmas Joy Program.

Captain Jay Baker

  • Director of the Office of Community Affairs for the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office

  • Cherokee Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer

  • 32 + years in law enforcement

Mrs. Vicki Benefield (Treasurer)
Entrepreneur

  • City of Ball Ground City Council
  • Retired Professional Grant Writer and fundraiser
  • Graduate of Leadership Cherokee and Leadership Cherokee Steering Committee
  • Previous Board Member of Trustee Sequoyah Library System and Cherokee County Library System

Mrs. Jo Ellen Wilson
City of Canton

  • Retired Vice President of Reinhardt University.
  • She currently serves as a member of the Canton City Council.

Mrs. Pam Carnes
Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce

  • Has been with Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce since 1991, President and CEO of Cherokee Chamber of Commerce, a Certified Chamber Executive.
  • Past-Chair of the Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce, named their Executive of the Year in 2010.

Mrs. Elaine Bell
Retired Banking 

  • Retired from United Community Bank, Vice President
  • Business Development Officer
  • Graduate Leadership Cherokee
  • Georgia President of Financial Women International

Mr. Kevin Fleming
The Beam Team Construction, Inc

  • Vice President of Business Development

Mrs. Dale Morrissey
Community Bank of Pickens County

  • Business Development Officer
  • Member Rotary Club of Jasper 
  • Member Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce – past chair 
  • Member Pickens County Chamber of Commerce – past chair 
 
 

Mr. Chris Wilbanks
President – NJ Wilbanks

  • President N.J. Wilbanks Contractor
  • VP of K.C. Equipment Company, for over 36 years.
  • A third generation resident of Cherokee County.

Mrs. Debra Williams (Past Chair)
Synovus Bank

  • Retail Market Leader – Vice President
  • Consumer Bank – Lending, Deposits and Branch Management
  • Board Member Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce
  • Graduate of Leadership Cherokee and Past Steering Committee Member

Mr. Justin Webb
Owner/Producer J.Clark Productions, Inc.

  • Masters degree in Global Communications
  • Content Producer CNN Newsource Affiliate Content Center
  • Founder of National Criminal Enforcement Association – non-profit
  • Cherokee Sheriff’s Office Reserve Unit Lieutenant 1989-2012

Captain Richard Ricketts – Cherokee Marshals Office

  • Captain Ricketts is a graduate from Columbus State University Professional Management Program.

  • Oversees the daily operations of Code Enforcement and Animal Control Divisions in Cherokee County

Naceo Denney (Georgia Power)

    • Georgia Power Area Manager
    • Board Member Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce
    • Board Member Pickens County Chamber of Commerce
    • Georgia Certified Economic Developer

Amy Upchurch (Northside Hospital)

 

Amy Upchurch is the Manager of Patient Relations, Interpretation Services, and Spiritual Health & Education for Northside Hospital Cherokee. Additionally, Amy coordinates Medical Staff Services for the hospital, where she has been instrumental in enhancing communication between medical staff and administration, managing provider onboarding, ensuring operational efficiency and compliance, and analyzing patient satisfaction data to improve processes.

Amy’s leadership journey is marked by contributions to both healthcare and community service. She served on the Northside Hospital Cherokee Ethics Committee, and was a Board Member of the National Breast Cancer Coalition from 2013-2017. Her dedication to education is evident through her long-term involvement in school councils at Creekview High School and Macedonia Elementary School, where she also served as PTA Co-President and was recognized as the 2014 Volunteer of the Year.  

Amy’s earned a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Maryland at College Park, and she is currently working toward obtaining her M.B.A. in Healthcare Administration. Amy loves to spend time with her husband, Ken, and their four grown children. She also loves to travel and go running with her dog, Jack.