Organization Stalwarts Dan Lipson and Hilly Panovka Cited for their Service
ATLANTA and NEW YORK, Nov. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The ORT Atlanta Chapter
will present Georgia Power President and CEO Michael D. Garrett with the
Chapter's Community Achievement Award at its annual Tribute Dinner on
Thursday, December 14, 2006 at the InterContinental Hotel, Buckhead.
Also being honored are venerable ORTists and Atlanta community leaders
Daniel Lipson and Hilly Panovka, who have been chosen as the Chapter's Man
of the Year and Woman of the Year.
"On behalf of the ORT Atlanta Chapter, we proudly salute Mike Garrett
by presenting him with our Community Achievement Award for the significant
contributions he has made to education," said ORT Atlanta Chapter Co-
Presidents Susan Gerstel and William Klineman. "This award acknowledges the
key role Mike has played in promoting and ensuring brighter, stronger
futures for our children."
The Community Achievement Award is presented annually to individuals
who have made a unique contribution to the greater community and
established new directions for society.
"Georgia Power's motto is 'A Citizen Wherever We Serve,'" said Garrett.
"Our company strives to improve the lives of Georgians in many ways.
Partnering with community leaders, parents and organizations such as ORT
allows us to address Georgia's educational challenges in meaningful,
measurable ways. Our long-term commitment to educational excellence pays
dividends that ensure Georgia's future-one student, one school, and one
community at a time."
Garrett began his Southern Company career in 1968 with Georgia Power.
Previously, he was President and CEO of Mississippi Power. Before that, he
was at Alabama Power where he served as Vice President of Finance;
Birmingham Division Vice President; Senior Vice President of External
Affairs; then later, Executive Vice President of External Affairs.
Garrett is 2006 Chairman of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
(MACOC) and was Chairman of the 2005 MACOC campaign. Garrett is a Morehouse
College Board Trustee and is on the Executive Committee and Board of the
Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education.
In 2005, Mr. Garrett was appointed by Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue to
a five-year term as a member of the state Board of Economic Development. He
serves on the boards of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Central Atlanta
Progress (CAP), the Georgia Cancer Coalition, and the United Way of
Metropolitan Atlanta. A life-long member of the Southern Christian
Leadership Conference, Garrett was recently cited by Atlanta Mayor Shirley
Franklin for leading the fund-raising campaign to build a new SCLC
headquarters.
The Georgia Power President and CEO is on the Board of Directors of the
United States Chamber of Commerce, the Southeastern Electric Exchange, and
is also a member of the Edison Electric Institute. His advisory board
memberships include The Georgia Conservancy and The Salvation Army.
Garrett earned a bachelor of business degree with a concentration in
management from Georgia College. In addition, he graduated with an
associate degree in mechanical engineering technology from Southern
Polytechnic State University. He has also attended the Oxford University
Advanced Management Program. Garrett and his wife, Karen, have three
daughters and five grandchildren.
The Man and Woman of the Year Awards are presented annually to
individuals who have made significant contributions and provided
outstanding leadership to both the Atlanta Chapters of American ORT and
Women's American ORT (recently united as the ORT Atlanta Chapter) by
demonstrating vision and creativity in furthering ORT's mission through
education, programming and/or fundraising.
"Hilly and Dan are dynamic individuals who have marshaled their energy
and zest for life to make a difference for Jews and non-Jews in our
community and the world. Working individually and together, they have taken
seriously the concept of giving back to help others," William Klineman
noted.
Daniel Lipson is First Vice-President of the Atlanta Chapter of
American ORT and serves on the organization's National Board. He was Vice
President of the Next Generation and in 2002 was awarded with The Paul
Bernick New Leadership Award for embracing a leadership position in ORT
activities. In addition to ORT, the Lipson's actively supports numerous
charities including the High Museum of Art, the Georgia Aquarium and the
Atlanta Jewish Federation, where he has chaired the major gifts campaign
and currently serves on its executive committee and chairs the marketing
committee.
Lipson is the President and co-founder of Camp Jam LLC, a company that
facilitates people of all ages playing rock n roll music. Based in Atlanta,
Camp Jam operates day camps for children and teens in sixteen cities in the
United States as well as camps for adults and corporations.
His career began at ESPN where he successfully launched the company's
home entertainment division. Until recently, Lipson was CEO of Leading Edge
Promotions, Inc., a sports promotions agency. Prior to that, he was the CEO
of the internet company Causelink.com, an Internet auction for nonprofit
fundraising. In 1992, he founded and was president of ExL Corp, a sports
catalog and promotions company including the Official NASCAR catalog, which
is now a division of QVC. He recently served on Atlanta's committee for the
NASCAR Hall of Fame bid and is a member of Young President's Organization.
A graduate of American University with a degree in International
Studies, Lipson resides in Atlanta with his wife, Sue, and their four
children, Christopher, Andrew, Mimi and Michelle.
"I am privileged and honored to contribute to my family's longtime
legacy of support and service to ORT." Lipson said. My father has taught me
there is no better gift than the ability to give. What better gift than to
be able to change someone's life through education. I dedicate this award
to my parents, my wife and my children. "
Hilly Panovka's service to the Atlanta Community spans over 25 years. A
native of South Africa, she moved to Israel in 1964 and came to Atlanta in
1979. Since her arrival in Atlanta, Panovka has been very involved in ORT
and served as chapter president and region board president of Women's
American ORT. During her tenure as regional president, she started Oasis
(ORT Atlanta School for Immigrant Studies) and was the liaison officer
between Women's American ORT and American ORT. She has chaired many
successful Women's American ORT fundraising campaigns and has held every
leadership title in the organization.
"In her almost three decades as a Women's American ORT leader, Hilly
has tirelessly worked to advance the guiding principles of the
organization," said Chapter Co-President Susan Gerstel. "She is a true
visionary, always eager to tackle new projects. Her energy and affability
make her an inspiration to those of us who aspire to carry on her legacy of
leadership."
Panovka has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Jewish
Federation of Greater Atlanta for many years, serving on numerous
Federation committees including Campaign Cabinet, Hunger Walk, Super
Sunday, the Israel National and Overseas Allocation Committee and the
Developmental Disabilities Task Force. She is presently on the Board of
Jewish Family & Career Services and has served as Vice President and on the
Executive Committees. At JF&CS, she is chairing the Bregman Series this
year. She was the founding President of The Women's International Zionist
Organization (WIZO) in Atlanta in 1991.
The recipient of numerous honors, Panovka received the Federation's
Women of Achievement Award for Women's American ORT (1988, 1991 and 2003),
for WIZO in 1993 and Jewish Family & Career Services in 2006. She was also
the first recipient of Women's American ORT Bea Camhi Award for Excellence
in 1990. She received the Vital Service Award from the Atlanta Alliance on
Developmental Disabilities in 1999.
"ORT is synonymous with excellent and diverse education. We all believe
in learning and strive to see that our children receive the finest
education. It is our duty and our obligation to help those not as fortunate
attend schools that will ensure them a good education. Our support will
allow more students the opportunity to lead self-respecting and successful
lives and enable them to become self-sufficient and responsible members of
their respective communities. I am humbled and proud to accept this honor,"
said Panovka.
Panovka and her husband Gerry have three children, Alon married to
Sheri, Robin married to Alexandra, and Tamar married to Mark. They enjoy
and are very proud of their seven grandchildren.
Serving as Chairmen of the ORT Atlanta Chapter Tribute Dinner are Asher
Benator, The Honorable Liane Levetan and Lynda Walker. Honorary Chairs are
Charles Ackerman, Thomas D. Bell, Jr., U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, William
H. Linginfelter, James B. Miller, Jr., and Stephen and Linda Selig.
The Tribute Dinner will be at the InterContinental Hotel in Buckhead on
Thursday, December 14, 2006 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets begin at $250 per person.
Proceeds will benefit ORT's programs to help students Climb the Educational
Ladder. For more information on the Tribute Dinner please contact the ORT
Atlanta Chapter, 404-327-5266 or atlanta@aort.org.
American ORT and Women's American ORT, both members of ORT America,
Inc., support a global network of schools and training programs that boast
more than 3 million graduates to date. ORT educates 270,000 students in 60
countries annually. Worldwide Jewish and secular communities are
strengthened in those towns and cities in which ORT programs exist. The
cutting edge education acquired at ORT schools, colleges and international
programs provide marketable skills that enable students to attain
successful careers, become community leaders and live with dignity. For
more information, please visit http://www.AmericanORT.org or http://www.waort.org.
SOURCE ORT Atlanta Chapter
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Related links:
http://www.AmericanORT.org
http://www.waort.org http://www.georgiapower.com
CONTACT:
Sarina Roffe, National Communications
Director of Women's American ORT, +1-212-547-9159, or
sroffe@waort.org
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