News Release - March 4, 2011
Georgia Department of Corrections
Brian Owens, Commissioner
Director of Public Affairs
Joan Heath
Contact: Office of Public Affairs (478) 992-5248
STATE OF GEORGIA
For Immediate Release
New Human Resources Director Named
Patricia Smith Appointed
Forsyth – Commissioner Brian Owens announced the promotion of Patricia Smith to Director of Human Resources effective March 1, 2011. Ms. Smith will be assuming the position previously held by Candy Sarvis, who has obtained a position with another state agency.
"Patricia has served the Department of Corrections for the past 25 years and within that time has surpassed all expectations," said Corrections Commissioner Brian Owens. "She is truly a great asset to the department and we look forward to her taking on this new role," added Owens.
Ms. Smith will be responsible for human resource management programs and functions including recruiting and retention, compensation, hiring policies, awards and recognition and staff professional development for the largest law enforcement agency in the state.
Ms. Smith began her career with the Department of Corrections in 1986 as an Accounting Clerk at Central DeKalb Probation Office. She then served in the capacity of Probation Officer I and II, Intensive Probation Officer, Probation Officer III and Chief Probation Officer in the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit. Ms. Smith became a P.O.S.T. Certified Instructor in 1994 and has since served as an Adjunct Instructor for the Department of Corrections. In November 2005, she was appointed as the Field Operations Manager, where she was responsible for the oversight of 26 Judicial Circuits in North and Central Georgia. She served as the Director of Strategic Initiatives Implementation in April 2007 until her promotion as Executive Assistant to the Commissioner in October 2008. Ms. Smith most recently held the position of Deputy Division Director of the Operations, Planning, and Training Division where she has served since July 2009.
Ms. Smith received her Masters in Public Administration from Columbus State University and received a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Georgia State University. Her continued education includes completion of the Corrections Leadership Institute and Executive Leadership Program through the University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government as well as the Georgia's Executive Leadership Development Program through the partnership of the State Personnel Administration and the University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government.
The Department of Corrections is the fifth largest prison system in the United States and is responsible for supervising nearly 60,000 state prisoners and over 150,000 probationers. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 13,000 employees.
####
