Business Portfolio – July 26, 2015

ACCOUNTING

Draffin & Tucker LLP has announced promotions for Laura Stair and Shawn Boltin at the Albany accounting firm effective July 1.

Stair was promoted to manager in the firm’s healthcare practice. She primarily focuses on audit, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, reports of authority finances, TRICARE reports and employee benefit plan audits for the full spectrum of healthcare facilities. Laura earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration with an emphasis in accounting and a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting from Troy University.

Boltin was promoted to senior in the firm’s healthcare practice. He primarily focuses on auditing healthcare entities and preparing Medicare and Medicaid cost reports for a variety of healthcare providers. Shawn earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and a Master of Accountancy from Valdosta State University.

LEGAL

A number of Albany attorneys and judges have been appointed to serve as members of various standing, special, program and board committees of the 47,000-member State Bar of Georgia for 2015-16.

Joseph W. Dent of Watson Spence LLP was named to the Finance Committee, which is responsible for preparing the annual State Bar budget and monitoring the finances of the State Bar throughout the year, the Statewide Judicial Evaluation Committee, which advises the State Bar president and assists the Judicial Nominating Commission with regard to the qualifications of judicial candidates, and as chairperson of the District 2 Committee on the Unlicensed Practice of Law, which conducts a local review of such cases when they are reported.

Dougherty County State Court Judge John F. Salter was appointed to the Business Court Committee, which monitors the performance of Georgia’s Business Court pilot project.

Thomas V. Duck III of Thomas Duck III P.C. was selected for the General Counsel Office Overview Committee, which monitors the rules, procedures, policies and operations of the office of the State Bar’s General Counsel and renders advice to Bar staff and leadership.

Michael E. Hooper of Moore Clarke Duvall & Rodgers P.C. will serve on the Georgia Bar Journal Editorial Board, which is responsible for the content of the State Bar’s bimonthly member publication.

State Board of Workers’ Compensation Judge Gordon R. Zeese was named to the Member Benefits Committee, which identifies and communicates to Bar members the existence and benefits of services and products of value to them and their law practices.

Charles E. Peeler of Flynn, Peeler & Phillips LLC was appointed to the State Disciplinary Board Investigative Panel, which is authorized to investigate allegations against attorneys for violations of the Standards of Conduct.

Christopher S. Cohilas of Watson Spence LLP was selected for the Unlicensed Practice of Law Standing Committee, which is charged with investigating and preventing the practice of law being conducted by non-Bar members and other unauthorized entities.