2025 GDA Nominating Information


Below is the list of positions requiring nominations in 2025. Nominations for State Officers, District Trustees and At-Large Trustees are due by May 21, 2025. Nominations/CVs for ADA Delegation are due by November 1, 2025. Nominations/CVs should be submitted to the GDA office via mail (1850 Parkway Place, Suite 420, Marietta, GA 30067) or via email to jeannie@gadental.org.

The Nominating Committee will, at minimum, present a slate that consists of one candidate for each elected position and each officer position. If the committee chooses, it may present a slate consisting of more candidates than there are open positions.

GDA State Officers: Nominations are due by May 21, 2024. The Nominating Committee shall nominate at least one representative for all open elective offices of the GDA: Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, Editor and Speaker of the House. Additional nominations will also be accepted from the floor. Candidates must be members in good-standing who have submitted the appropriate CV documentation to the GDA office at least ten days prior to the election. Candidates must also have demonstrated leadership by serving on the district, state or national level. State Officer elections will take place at the 2025 summer HOD Meeting, and installation will take place at the 2026 winter HOD meeting.

Offices opening include:

  • Vice President – one-year term starting January 2026, automatically becomes President-Elect at the end of the term
  • Secretary/Treasurer – three-year term starting January 2026
    • Currently Jay Phillips – eligible to serve additional term
  • Editor – three-year term starting January 2026
    • Rhoda Sword – eligible to serve additional term
  • Speaker of the House – two-year term starting January 2026
    • Currently Tom Jagor – eligible to serve an additional term 

District Trustees: Nominations are due by May 21, 2025. Each district nominates a District Trustee to a three-year term. Districts submit their nominees via the Nominating Committee at the summer 2025 House of Delegates meeting for approval, and trustees are installed at the winter 2026 HOD meeting. To be eligible to serve as a District Trustee, a candidate must be a member of the GDA and have demonstrated leadership by serving on the district, state or national level. The Board of Trustees also serve as non-voting members on the House of Delegates.

  • Central District Delegate – three-year term starting January 1, 2026
    • Currently Noell Craig – eligible to serve additional term  
  • Northwestern District Delegate – three-year term starting January 1, 2026
    • Currently Rob McGhee – eligible to serve additional term     
  • Southwestern District Delegate – three-year term starting January 1, 2026
    • Currently Hardy Gray – eligible to serve additional term   
  • Western District Delegate – three-year term starting January 1, 2026
    • Currently Jay Polk – eligible to serve additional term    

At-Large Trustees: Nominations are due by May 21, 2025. To be eligible to serve as an At-Large Trustee, a candidate must be a member of the GDA and have demonstrated leadership by serving on the district, state or national level. The Board of Trustees also serve as non-voting members on the House of Delegates. All eligible candidates will be presented to the House at the House of Delegates meeting on June 18, 2025. The House may offer names of candidates to be placed in nomination in addition to those presented by the nominating committee but CVs must have been submitted to the GDA office two weeks prior to the meeting. Election of the at-large trustees shall be by a majority of votes cast by the House. No district shall have more than two at-large Trustees. 

The following At-Large Trustee terms are expiring in December 2025:

  • At-Large Trustee - three-year term starting January 1, 2026
    • Heather McGee (N) – eligible to serve an additional term
    At-Large Trustee - three-year term starting January 1, 2026
    • Currently Bill Bachand (E) – eligible to serve an additional term 

    ADA Delegation: Nominations are due to the GDA office by November 1, 2025. Candidates for district delegate positions are required to submit a written endorsement from their district dental society along with their CV (at-large delegates/alternate delegates are exempt from this requirement). Districts may endorse multiple candidates and must submit at least two candidates for each position. The GDA Nominating Committee will recommend a candidate for each district position to the HOD, and all delegates (including at-large positions) will be elected at the GDA House of Delegates 2026 winter meeting. Nominations can also be made from the floor at the HOD meeting, but CVs must have been submitted to the GDA office two weeks prior to the meeting. When submitting CVs, candidates must specify the specific open seat for which they are seeking nomination. 

    Candidates must be a member of the GDA/ADA for 5 years and be a practicing dentist and/or dental educator in good standing. It would be beneficial if a candidate has held office locally, statewide or nationally since networking skills are important. Service on an ADA Commissions or Council and Involvement in other dental organizations is also helpful. 

    The following ADA Delegation Seats will be open in 2025 HOD due to expiring terms of current ADA Delegates/Alternate Delegates:

    • Delegate – Southwestern District – four-year term starting in January 2026
      • Currently Leah Cook – eligible to serve an additional term 
    • Delegate – Eastern District – four-year term starting in January 2026
      • Currently Rhoda Sword – eligible to serve an additional term
    • Delegate – Northern District – four-year term starting in January 2026
      • Currently Tom Jagor – eligible to serve an additional term
    • Delegate – Northern District – four-year term starting in January 2026
      • Currently Ben Jernigan – terming out
    • Delegate – GDA Secretary/Treasurer – three-year term starting January 2026
      • Currently Jay Phillips – eligible to serve an additional term  
    • Alternate Delegate – Northern District – four-year term starting in January 2026
      • Currently Heather McGee – eligible to serve an additional term 
    • Alternate Delegate – Northern District – four-year term starting in January 2026
      • Currently Ryan Vaughn – eligible to serve an additional term 
    • Alternate Delegate – Northwestern District – four-year term starting in January 2026
      • Currently Robin Reich – eligible to serve an additional term 
    • Alternate Delegate – Eastern District – four-year term starting in January 2026
      • Currently Erik Wells – will be moving into the PE slot, must be replaced  
    • Alternate Delegate – At-Large – four-year term starting in January 2026
      • Currently Mike Pruett – eligible to serve an additional term 
    • Alternate Delegate – At-Large – four-year term starting in January 2026
      • Currently Amy Kuhmichel – eligible to serve an additional term  
    • Alternate Delegate – At-Large – four-year term starting in January 2026
      • Currently Chris Adkins – filling unexpired term – must be replaced