Dean Alford
 |
| C. Dean Alford |
|---|
| Born |
| July 17, 1953 Atlanta, Georgia |
| President and CEO of Allied Energy Services [1], American politician and businessman |
Clarence "Dean" Alford (born July 17, 1953) is an American politician and businessman, a member of the Republican Party, a conservative, and a former member of the General Assembly in the U.S. state of Georgia. Alford is the president and chief executive officer of Allied Energy Services and spokesman of Power4Georgians, which seeks to develop several coal plants in Georgia. Alford is also the co-chair of the Pine 2 Energy Coalition.
Early life and education
Alford graduated from Walker High School, which has since been renamed McNair High School, in DeKalb County in 1971. He then attended Georgia Tech, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1976 and also served as the Chapter President of Beta Theta Pi (Gamma Eta Chapter).[citation needed]
Business career
Alford currently serves as the president and CEO of Allied Energy Services. According to Alford's professional biography, he has been personally responsible for the formation of six start-up companies. In addition, he has published numerous articles and lectured throughout the United States and Canada on the subject of energy policy and utility issues. Prior to joining Allied, Alford was the president and CEO of A&C Enercom, a full-service utility consulting firm that he founded in 1977. He employed over 700 people with 31 offices nationwide. Alford has also served as consultant to the U.S. Congressional Office of Technology Assessment on energy policy issues.
Legislative career
From 1983 until 1993, Alford was a five-term member of the General Assembly in Georgia. Alford represented the 57th district, post 3, and served as chairman of the Energy Subcommittee, chairman of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Oversight Committee, and as chairman of the DeKalb and Rockdale County Legislative Delegation.
Other political experience
- Georgia Technology Authority: Alford was sworn in 1999 by Governor Roy Barnes as member of the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) and served in this capacity until 2003. GTA is responsible for all aspects of technology procurement and policy for the State of Georgia.
- Georgia State Board of Education: Served as a member from September 2003 to December 2006.
- Governor's Education Finance Task Force: Appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue to Chair the Governor’s Education Finance Task Force. The Task Force has been charged with the task of developing a new funding formula for the K-12 system of Georgia.
- Department of Technical and Adult Education: Appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue to serve on the board of directors in January 2007.
Other community involvement and recognition
- Georgia Tech: Today he serves on several boards at Georgia Tech: chairman of the board of advisors for the College of Engineering, the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering Advisory Board, the executive advisory board of the Economic Development Institute, past member of the executive committee of the board of trustees for the alumni association, and was awarded the Dean Griffin Award for Community Service in 2001. In 1997, Georgia Tech inducted Alford into the Academy of Distinguished Engineering Alumni. He is a licensed professional engineer. In 1989, the Georgia Consulting Engineering Council named him Engineer of the Year in Private Practice.
- Rotary International: charter member of the Rotary Club of Rockdale County. He is a Paul Harris Fellow, the recipient of the Lee Arendale Award, the Four Avenues of Service Award, and was president of the club during the 1998–99 term.
- Miracle League: Alford is president of the Rotary Miracle League, a separate non-profit organization formed by the Rotary Club of Rockdale County and the Rotary Club of Conyers. The organization raised $1,000,000 to develop a one-of-a-kind baseball complex for children with physical and mental disabilities. Since then, he is the chairman and one of the founders of the Miracle League Association. The association is responsible for the development of Miracle Leagues across the country. Today there are over 150 leagues throughout the United States providing a unique opportunity for children with physical and mental disabilities the opportunity to play "America’s Favorite Past Time": baseball.
- Boy Scouts of America: Alford has served on the executive board of the Atlanta Area Council, chairman of the Yellow River District, and a committee member of Troop 354. In 1997, he was awarded the Silver Beaver Award, the highest award the Atlanta Area Council gives for distinguished adult service to the Boy Scouts.
- Other boards: previously served on the board of directors of the Georgia Special Olympics, the Atlanta Chapter of the American Lung Association, the Center for the Visually Impaired, the Rockdale Hospital Authority and was chairman of the United Way Campaign for Rockdale County in 1995.
The City of Conyers presented Alford with the Community Spirit Award in 2001 and 2004. The Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce presented him with the 2001 Vision Leadership Award for his leadership and service to his community. The United Way Advisory Board of Rockdale County named Alford Volunteer of the Year for 2000. In 2002, he was presented with the Dr. Martin Luther King Humanitarian Award from Georgia Perimeter College and the Jefferson Award from the American Institute for Public Service for his work in the national expansion of the Miracle League. He previously served on the Advisory Board of Georgia Perimeter College’s Rockdale Campus, and currently serves on the board of trustees for Luther Rice University, the Woodward Academy Upper School Standing Committee. Alford was also responsible for the partnership between Georgia Tech and The Rockdale County School System in the creation of the Rockdale Math, Science, and Technology Magnet School and is a member of their advisory board. In 2005, Alford was inducted into the National Commission for Cooperative Education Hall of Fame. Alford is also an alumnus of the Regional Leadership Institute class of 1994.