WellStar Chamber Luncheon Series: Georgia Transportation Update, From Port to Perimeter – Sen. Brandon Beach, Rep. Kevin Tanner, and Griff Lynch, Georgia Port Authority

Kevin Tanner has spent 27 years in public service. He is serving in his fourth term as a State Representative for District 9, which includes Lumpkin County and parts of Dawson and Forsyth counties.

Kevin currently serves as the chairman of the House Transportation Committee and has been a member of several other committees in the House, including Appropriations, Education, Special Rules, Natural Resources and Intergovernmental Coordination committees. In 2019, he was appointed to serve as the co-chair of the joint Georgia Commission on Freight & Logistics. He has previously served as chairman of the House Commission on Transit Governance & Funding and has served on several special study committees, including chairman of the House Unmanned Aircraft Study Committee.

Each year of his service, Kevin has successfully passed meaningful legislation in the General Assembly. During his first term, he authored legislation that lead to the successful passage of a constitutional amendment relating to brain and spinal injuries. He also worked to create a mental health study committee to begin addressing this critical issue in our state. Additionally, he authored and passed legislation that made it a crime to commit the offense of revenge pornography. During his legislative career, he authored legislation that reformed and increased the level of transparency at the Georgia Parole Board and legislation to create an incentive for employers to assist their employees in obtaining a GED. He also passed legislation that ensures that municipal court judges are able to carry out their duties without political interference and legislation to ensure that local schools involve parents in the adoption of curriculum and textbooks used in schools. Kevin has authored legislation that was signed into law to address the opioid epidemic facing our state. Kevin also authored a major education reform bill designed to help low-performing schools. In doing so, he was able to build a coalition of support from members of both the Democratic and Republican parties and the education community.

A committed family man, Kevin has been married to the former Stacie Pickering for more than 20 years. Stacie is a first grade public school teacher, and they are the proud parents of three beautiful daughters, Kaitlyn, Abbie and Chloe. All three of their daughters attend public school. A man of faith, Kevin serves as a deacon and adult Sunday school teacher at Bethel Baptist Church, where his family has attended church for seven generations.

Griff Lynch has been Executive Director of Georgia Ports Authority since 2016.

At the Georgia Ports Authority, they are laying the foundation for a future in which Georgia’s deepwater ports are even more powerful engines for economic development.

Infrastructure investment is a vital facet of their mission to accommodate growing trade, empower entrepreneurs and strengthen industries.