During the January Meeting of the MWA Board of Directors, four members were sworn into office following the election of a new Chairman and re-election of three other District Members.
Gary Bechtel, who served previously on the MWA Board as one of the two Macon-Bibb County Representatives from 2017-2018, was elected and sworn in as Chairman of the Authority. Mr. Bechtel served on the Bibb County School Board from 2001-2012, as well as the Bibb County Commission from 2013-2014, and the Macon-Bibb County Commission after consolidation from 2014-2018. Professionally, he is a commercial real estate associate for Bob Lewis & Associates in Macon, where he specializes in commercial properties throughout the Southeast.
Mr. Bechtel was joined in the swearing in ceremonies in January by three fellow Board Members, including Dr. Anissa Jones-Aiken, District 1; Desmond Brown, District 2; and Frank Patterson, District 4.
Dr. Jones-Aiken has served on the MWA Board since her first election in 2018. Professionally, she is the first African-American Chiropractor in Macon, Georgia, who has been practicing locally for more than 20 years. Dr. Jones-Aiken also serves currently at the MWA Vice-Chair.
Mr. Brown was first elected to the MWA Board in 2020, to fill the unexpired term of long-time MWA Board Member Javors J. Lucas upon his passing. Mr. Brown’s professional career includes experience as an economic growth developer, a commercial mortgage banker, a loan officer, and as a certified investment banker.
Finally, Mr. Patterson has served for 18 years on the MWA Board, including time as Vice Chairman. He worked for more than 53 years in local government, including 35 years with Bibb County Government, retiring as Assistant Director of the Lake Tobesofkee Recreation Area. The MWA Engineering “Roundtop” Building is named in his honor. (See related feature in this issue of the MWA Currents.)
Other members of the MWA Board include District 3 Member Dwight Jones, and Macon-Bibb Representatives Bill Howell and Valerie Wynn