
Frank Billue
U.S. Department of Transportation, Retired
Mr. Frank Billue has worked with the United States Department of Transportation for over 15 years, under the Federal Transit Administration. Conducting compliance and oversight reviews and evaluations; leading extensive workshops and training sessions; and receiving numerous nominations and awards for his service, Mr. Billue has been committed to national travel safety at both local and national levels. Mr. Billue’s extensive Title IX work and civil rights advocacy reflects Georgia Piedmont Tech’s dedication to equal opportunities for all. We are honored to have him serve on our board of directors.

Ted R.H. Cummings
President & CEO of Onyx MS
Mr. Cummings is a Board Member of the DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce. Since 2013, he has served as Chairman of the Minority Business Enterprise Input Committee (MBEIC) Professional Services Industry Group for the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council (GMSDC). As an advocate for education, he is currently President of the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and Chairman of the School Advisory Council at Liberty Middle School in Covington, Georgia. In serving as a member of the Board of Directors of Georgia Piedmont Tech, Mr. Cummings has worked to enhance the academic growth of students and expanding the college’s programs, now and well into the future. We are honored to have him serve on our board of directors.

Dr. Samantha M. Fuhrey
Newton County School System Superintendent
Dr. Samantha M. Fuhrey is Newton County School System’s superintendent and a member of the system’s Executive Leadership Team. Dr. Fuhrey’s responsibilities include overseeing the effective operation of the school system; advising the school board; advancing/implementing the strategic plan; developing strong community partnerships; and improving student outcomes. Her commitment to improving education and understanding of its importance in shaping the workforce of the future is a value shared by Georgia Piedmont Tech. We are honored to have her serve on our board of directors.

Albert Murray
Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles, Retired
Albert Murray is a resident of Conyers, Georgia and was recently elected by the Board to serve as Vice Chairman. Mr. Murray is a former state executive having served as Commissioner of the Department of Juvenile Justice and Chairman of the Georgia Board of Pardon and Paroles. He retired in 2016 after a distinguished career in criminal/juvenile justice. Mr. Murray served at the executive leadership level in the states of Tennessee, Kansas, and Alabama before moving to Atlanta in 2004. He is the recipient of many special awards for his service in government and is passionate about the development of youth and young adults. He has an undergraduate degree from Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee and a Masters degree in Counseling and Guidance from MTSU.

Imam Emeritus Plemon El-Amin
World’s Pilgrims
Imam El-Amin is Imam Emeritus of the Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam, one of the largest and most progressive Mosques in the United States. He is the former Director of the W. Deen Mohammed High School. He currently serves as the Director of World Pilgrims, which engages local Muslims, Christians, Jews, and other faith adherents in international travel to develop interfaith advocates and friendships. Imam El-Amin also serves on the Boards of Interfaith Community Initiatives, Truly Living Well Organic Gardens, Atlanta Majlis Ash-Shura, and the National Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council. He is a native Atlantan, a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School and Harvard University. We are honored to have him serve on our board of directors.

Neil Shorthouse
Communities in Schools, Co-Founder
Mr. Shorthouse is co-founder of the Communities In Schools (CIS) national network, whose mission is to surround students with a community of support and resources, empowering them to succeed in school and to achieve in life. Mr. Shorthouse has dedicated more than 50 years to improving educational opportunities, which has resulted in increased academic achievement, post-secondary school readiness and improved graduation rates. Like Georgia Piedmont, Mr. Shorthouse aims to make talented individuals with potential highly marketable, which in turn builds upward economic mobility, resulting in stronger families and more competitive companies, who grow from the skilled people they greatly need. We are honored to have him serve on our board of directors.

Dorian DeBarr
Interim President, Decide DeKalb Development Authority
Dorian DeBarr currently serves Decide DeKalb Development Authority as Interim President. He joined the Authority in 2016, developing robust programs and leading staff, resulting in a robust project pipeline, multi-agency collaboration, delivery of a five-year County-wide strategic economic development plan and the creation of Advance DeKalb, a unique public-private partnership focused on economic development. During his tenure, the Authority has facilitated the creation of more than 3,400 new and expansion jobs, as well as retained more than 7,600 jobs in DeKalb County. More than $1.3 billion in investment has been facilitated by the Authority during Dorian’s term as Interim President since 2018.
He most recently served as chief financial officer of Invest Atlanta attracting investment to Atlanta’s most underserved communities.