President appoints Gilliland to TVA Board of Directors

Tom Gilliland

President George W. Bush has appointed north Georgia banker, Tom Gilliland to the Board of Directors of Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

Gilliland, Executive Vice President, Secretary, General Counsel of United Community Banks, Inc., and Chairman of United Community Bank, Fannin County, is the first director from Georgia to be appointed to the TVA board in the agency's 75-year history.

The TVA board oversees a government agency that operates more than 30 power generation facilities - nuclear, fossil fuel and hydroelectric - in an 80,000 square mile service area that includes seven southeastern states. Additionally, TVA is responsible for management of approximately 300,000 acres of land, as well as transportation, water quality and environmental stewardship of the region.

TVA serves nearly nine million customers through 153- member distributors, including Blue Ridge Electric and Tri- State Electric membership.

"I am honored to be named to the TVA Board," Gilliland said. "At this time in our nation's history, energy production and consumption is critical. TVA is critical in not only working to efficiently provide power to thousands of households and business in several states, but also to generate this power in a manner that protects our environment and regions natural resources which are a national treasure."

In his 35- year career, Gilliland has served on a number of public and private boards, including the Board of Directors of United Community Banks, Inc., and several of its affiliate banks. He also has been appointed by Georgia's governors and Lt. Governors to a number of positions and boards over the past several years, and currently serves as Chairman of the Stone Mountain Authority.