The Water Tower at Gwinnett Board of Directors

Melvin Everson currently serves as the Vice President for Economic Development at Gwinnett Technical College. As a long time Georgia resident, Melvin Everson has been heavily committed to Georgia. Born in Abbeville, Georgia, Melvin Graduated from Wilcox County High School in 1957. Mr. Everson went on to earn his Bachelors of Science Degree in Criminology from Albany State University and he’s a Graduate of the John E Reid School of Interrogation & Investigation in Chicago, Illinois and the Coverdale Leadership Institute.

Mr. Everson's experience includes serving 14-years with JC Penny as an Investigator, human resource representative and customer service management associate and 23-years in the US Army having served both Active and Reserve where he received numerous awards and medals. He is a former Snellville City Councilman and Vice Mayor, former Georgia State Representative serving House District 106, and a licensed Ordained Minister

Mr. Everson has been married for 37 years to Mrs. Geraldine McAdoo Everson and they have one son, and two grandchildren. 

Jennifer Fennell, a native of Atlanta, is the Senior Business Development Manager with Jackson EMC.  In this role, she is responsible for growing Jackson EMC’s footprint in Gwinnett County and serving existing commercial members’ needs as they arise. Jennifer is a member of the Sugarloaf Rotary Club, Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, Partnership Gwinnett’s Redevelopment Council, Georgia Economic Developers Association, Southern Economic Development Council, and Council for Quality Growth.  Jennifer holds leadership positions serving as the Goal One Chair for Partnership Gwinnett, Secretary of both the Gwinnett Police Foundation and Sugarloaf Rotary and is a 2018 graduate of Leadership Gwinnett.  She is a “Double Dawg” with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Georgia.  Jennifer, her husband and three children reside in Lilburn.

Dr. Jann L. Joseph is the President of Georgia Gwinnett College. Her career has focused on increasing educational opportunities and student success. She graduated from the University of the West Indies - St. Augustine with a bachelor’s of science in agriculture and a master’s of philosophy in plant science. She taught with the Ministry of Education for the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, where she also served as Agricultural Science department chair.  

Joseph later graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Madison with a doctorate in curriculum and instruction in science education. Her teaching, research and administrative experience included three universities in the upper Midwest before being named president of GGC in 2019.

Nick Masino is the President & CEO of the Gwinnett Chamber and Partnership Gwinnett, located in Duluth, Georgia. Masino joined Partnership Gwinnett in 2007 and most recently served as Partnership Gwinnett’s Chief Economic Development Officer where he oversaw the business recruitment and retention efforts for Gwinnett, as well as the implementation of the Partnership Gwinnett Strategy. To create this community-focused economic development (ED) organization, Masino worked with public and private leadership to commission ED studies in 2011 and 2016; and spearheaded the implementation efforts of the initial plan in 2007—which has since brought approximately 250 company expansions or relocations, more than 23,000 new jobs and more than $1.7 billion in investment to Gwinnett. A leading authority on local and state economic development, Masino is regularly sought after for prominent speaking engagements throughout metro Atlanta and Georgia. In addition, he has spoken internationally, in Incheon and Seoul, South Korea and Wuxi, Chongqing and Qingdao, China, representing Georgia on government, economic development and international business subjects. As a result of his extensive expertise in the economic development arena, Masino is a preferred interviewee for regional and local television, radio, newspaper and magazine outlets.

Daniel is an Associate Member of Moore Stephens Tiller (MST). He specializes in assurance and attestation services for closely held businesses and not-for-profit organizations. His expertise includes a variety of industries such as automotive dealers, distribution, manufacturing, construction/contractor and technology as well as serving on a number of significant non-profit engagements, including charitable organizations and private foundations.
 

Daniel obtained his BBA in accounting from Georgia College and State University (where he also was a member of the men’s golf team), and completed his Master of Accountancy at Kennesaw State University.
 

Daniel is a member of the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and is actively involved with his church, Christ Place in Oakwood and community affairs including the Gwinnett Chamber Chairman's Club and Partnership Gwinnett, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Gwinnett Leadership Forum and the Hudgens Center for Art and Learning.
 

Prior to joining MST, Daniel honed his leadership, team building and entrepreneurial skills through the family business, Sosebee Auto Supply, learning under the tutelage of his father, grandfather and uncle.

A native of Gwinnett County, John D. Stephens has over 57 years of entrepreneurial experience.  Mr. Stephens has been instrumental in the growth and development of not only Gwinnett County, but also the region. His experience spans founding John D. Stephens Inc. in 1962 and installing over 6,000,000 linear feet of pipe across the United States, to creating Stephens Industries LP and conveying over 22 million cubic yards of fill material for “The Most Important Runway in America” the 5th Runway, and other projects at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (H-JAIA). His most recent success was in the unique design and operation of a Construction & Demolition Landfill and Processing/Recycling Facility as well as granite Quarry operations south of H-JAIA. The site was largely responsible for providing millions of tons of virgin aggregate and fill material, as well as a variety of recycled aggregate products to the airport’s many expansion projects.   Currently, Mr. Stephens is owner of JDS Holdings LLC which was formed to provide industry expertise, entrepreneurial know-how, and private equity to assist other subsidiaries in increasing their value.

Maurice Thompson II is an experienced corporate executive, who has served in numerous leadership positions for PepsiCo, NBC, and Verizon. Maurice is a member of the Gwinnett 101 Alumni group, past President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s Rho Kappa Lambda chapter (Gwinnett County, GA), Executive Board Director of the Black Man Lab Foundation, and Co-Founder & President of the Undugu Foundation. Maurice is a serial entrepreneur who is currently the Co-Founder of Consultuoso (business consulting firm) and Partner in Venue Investment Properties. Additionally, he is also a licensed Realtist and Realtor working with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Georgia Properties. 

Jessica Rantamaki of Geo-Hydro Engineers has resided in Gwinnett County since 2014. Her firm works with both public and private entities to develop projects throughout the Southeast. She has served on the Board of Directors for Associated Builders and Contractors and participated in the Leadership Gwinnett Program as a graduate of the Class of 2020. Jessica is currently pursuing a degree in Public Administration at Georgia Gwinnett College, and she is active in many organizations such as CREW (Commercial Real Estate for Women) and ULI (Urban Land Institute). She also actively volunteers at Annandale Village in her hometown of Suwanee, Georgia, where she resides with her husband Rick and two dogs. Jessica often enjoys running and hiking through the various Gwinnett County parks and trail systems. She considers Gwinnett’s green space “a true gem that brings tourists, residents, and economic development to the community.”