Leadership

Goals

Jamie Pownall serves as the Chief Information Officer and Director of Technology Services, and in that role, he manages all operational aspects of Henry County Government’s Information Technology including Security, Strategic Planning, Budgeting, Business Process and Control Management, IT Policy development and management of the Technology Services Department and staff.

Jamie was born in Clayton County and moved to Henry County in 1984 at the age of 8. He graduated from Henry County High School in 1994. During his time in High School, he was a founding member of the Henry Players.

Jamie graduated UGA in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree and also achieved his Certified Government Chief Information Officer (CGCIO™) from the University of Georgia in 2019. He has been working in the IT field since 1996 and has worked with Henry County in Technology Services since 2007. He was promoted to Director and CIO of Technology Services in 2021.

Jamie and his wife have two girls, one a senior in high school and one who attending UGA. Jamie is an avid sports fan, and loves the Braves, the Patriots and of course, the University of Georgia.

With over 20 years of experience in the Information Technology field, Jonathan Taylor has worked in both the private and public sector supporting technology needs throughout his career. For the past 14 years, Jonathan has worked for both city and county governments. Prior to working in local governments, Jonathan was a Senior IT Support Specialist for a regional CPA firm supporting offices in multiple states throughout the southeast.

Jonathan is currently the Director of Information Technology and Special Projects for the City of Tifton. He manages all aspects of the City’s IT, and with the addition of Special Projects, is managing larger projects for the City that are not dedicated to IT. While with the City of Tifton, he has completed his Local Government Chief Information Officer (LGCIO) program and received the G2G (Government to Government) award for a digital document restructuring project from the Georgia GMIS Chapter and Carl Vinson Institute.

Mr. Taylor is an avid outdoors person. He and his wife of 21 years stay involved with their 3 children and all of their activities. Jonathan volunteers at Tift County High School as a track coach helping with the pole vault. He and his family are members of Union Church where Jonathan also volunteers on the Production Team.

Jaime Montalvo is the Chief Information Officer for Clayton County Board of Commissioners. She has served with Clayton County in various roles in Information Technology since January 2015. Jaime played a pivotal role in implementing the County’s Enterprise Resource Planning system.

Jaime has been working in the technology field for over 25 years. Her career started in the United States Army, where she served 11 years including deploying to Baghdad, Iraq. She has served in various technology positions throughout the years.

Jaime currently attends University of Georgia (GO DAWGS!) and holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Technology and undergraduate certificate in Project Management from University of Maryland. Jaime’s accomplishments include A+, Security+ certifications, MEDCOM Information Management Soldier of the Year, Clayton County Information Technology Employee of the Year, and Certified Government Chief Information Officer (CGCIO).

Jaime enjoys spending time with her husband and son, loves to cook, and Zumba.

​John Rorke is an accomplished technology leader known for his strategic vision and innovative approach to public service technology.  With over 27 years of technology experience, he currently serves as the Chief Information Officer for the City of Winder. In his time there, John has significantly transformed the City’s technology landscape, enhanced operational efficiency, and rebuilt relationships & trust with the teams he supports.

With a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from John Brown University and his CGCIO from the University of Georgia, John’s career has spanned technology roles in both the private and public sectors.  Previously an IT Director for Charter Communications, John also spent time in the education sector before arriving at the City of Winder.

In addition to his traditional IT roles, John has also established a new Communications Department in Winder, enhancing public engagement with residents, and laying the groundwork for a consistent and effective City brand. His dedication to mentorship and team building at the City has fostered a culture of innovation, collaboration, and professional development.

Originally from Chicago, John has called Georgia home for nearly 30 years, along with his wife Cathy and two sons.  In his time off, John enjoys restoring antique furniture and exploring the mountains of North Georgia.

Jonathan Reich brings over 27 years of experience in the field of Information Technology and has a diverse background in both the public and private sectors, setting innovative technology standards and providing visionary leadership for numerous organizations. Jonathan manages teams of professionals committed to delivering highly effective business solutions to staff and the citizens of Georgia. He currently serves as the Chief Information Officer for the Georgia Secretary of State.  Prior to that, Jonathan served as CIO for the City of Gainesville GA and several roles with Fulton County Ga.  Jonathan has been an active member of the Georgia chapter of GMIS International for the last eight years and has completed his Certified Government Chief Information Officer (CGCIO™)  via UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute. Jonathan is a long-time Georgia resident and lives in the North Georgia area outside of Atlanta with his wife and 3 children and hopes to complete the training for his private pilot’s license someday.

William Rutherford currently serves as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), a role he has held for the past nine years. He brings over 25 years of experience in Information Technology, with the majority of his career focused on IT leadership and management. Prior to joining GDA, William spent more than a decade with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), where he served as Director of Information Technology.

Throughout his career, William has demonstrated a strong commitment to public service and professional development. He is a graduate of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development, Leadership North Fulton, and holds designations as a Certified Government Chief Information Officer and Local Government Chief Information Officer. In addition, he holds certifications in emergency management and recently completed the Atlanta Police Department’s Citizen Police Academy.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, William is actively engaged in his community. He has served as Vice President of his homeowners association, a Board Member of the Ocee Park Athletic Association, and held executive board roles with the Alpharetta Youth Softball Association and the Alpharetta High School Girls Lacrosse Athletic Board. He has also volunteered as a youth softball coach for more than seven years.

William and his wife, Emily, have been married for 25 years and reside in Atlanta with their daughters, Madeleine (21) and Reece (11). In his free time, William enjoys mountain biking, hiking, and cheering on University of Georgia sports teams.

Julianne Hartman is the GIS Database Administrator who strives to provide accurate spatial data and mapping services to Columbia County, third party mapping companies, GDOT and the public. She has been with Columbia County for more than 14 years and has earned her LGCIO. She is proficient with ESRI software, Tyler Technology software and maintains the Intrado/MSAG 911 database. Julianne started her GIS career as the Addressing Technician before being promoted. Julianne now helps manage the GIS team of 10 staff members. She is an active member in URISA and the EMS Advisory Board and most recently appointed to the Georgia GMIS board as the Secretary.

Before starting with Columbia County, Julianne worked as a successful Realtor in the Augusta area for 12 years.  She enjoyed working with builders and clients facilitating the buying process and was a member of “The Million Dollar Club” which was based on annual sales volume and was named “Rookie of the Year” her first year by Blanchard and Calhoun Real Estate.

As the daughter of an Army officer assigned overseas, Julianne graduated from London Central High School and then graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from The University of Georgia in Housing and Consumer Economics. She enjoys travel, lifelong learning, SEC Football, and live music with her husband, and playing Mah Jong with the ladies. She is the proud and fortunate mother of two daughters and three stepchildren and one granddaughter!

Karen Knight is the Communications Coordinator for the City of Douglasville Police Department and has over 31 years of technology experience.  She has obtained her Local Government Chief Information Officer (LGCIO) certificate and obtained the nationally recognized Certified Government Chief Information Officer™ (CGCIO™) certification, both from the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia.

Mrs. Knight has been a member of the Georgia GMIS Board of Directors since 2007 as the Director of Corporate Sponsorship.  She serves as a member of the GMIS International Conference Planning Committee and was the Vendor Relations Director for GMIS International for 2022 – 2024.  Karen is the recipient of the GMIS International Hershel Strickland Award twice (2013 and 2017) and the Georgia GMIS Spirit of Georgia GMIS Award in 2017.

Karen is also Secretary of GA MTUG (Motorola Trunked Users Group) for public safety radio systems across Georgia.

Outside of work, Karen is a big Star Wars fan, enjoys NASCAR, F1 and local dirt track racing, Atlanta Braves and UGA Football (GO DAWGS)!  She also enjoys showing their classic 1957 Ford and 1989 Ford Mustang vehicles with her husband and son.