Downtown Development Authority


Downtown Development Authority Members

Cameron L. Harris

Cameron L. Harris

Mr. Cameron L. Harris is a lifelong resident of Georgia and serves as the Main Street Director and Downtown Development Authority Director for the City of Pelham. He is a 2020 graduate of Upson-Lee High School in Thomaston, Georgia where he was the greenhouse manager his Junior and Senior Year, and is currently a Senior at Valdosta State University. Cameron plans to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership in 2024.

Before accepting the job as director Cameron worked as a Park Guide and a researcher at the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park in Plains, Georgia, and as a Paraprofessional and Volunteer Tennis Coach at Pelham High School. 

Chip Davis

Chip Davis

Mr. Chip Davis is a lifelong resident of Mitchell County and has been in banking for 27 years.  He currently serves as President/CEO of Family Bank based in Pelham. He attended Westwood High School and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance with an Emphasis in Bank Management from Georgia Southern University. He is a graduate of The Georgia Banking School at the University of Georgia and The Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University. He has served in several civic clubs and on various boards in the span of his career.  He is actively serving as a member of Hopeful Baptist Church in the Hopeful Community. He has been married to his wife, Sylvia, for 25 years and they have two sons. 

Donnie Palmer

Donnie Palmer

Mr. Donnie Palmer is a lifelong resident of the Pelham area. He is the second generation owner/operator of the Pelham Trading Post that has 5 retail locations in South Georgia. He has served on many committees and nonprofit organizations over the years such as Pelham Chamber board and executive board. Serves on the Pelham Downtown Development  Corporation.  Currently serves as the President of the Pelham PDC. Served on the Board of directors for Pelham Banking Co. He is also very involved with Church at Pelham First Baptist. He is a 1992 graduate of Pelham High School and is married to Amy B Palmer who is also a lifelong Pelham area resident and they have 2 children. 

Duane Bentley

Duane Bentley

Mr. Duane Bentley is a lifelong resident of Pelham and has been employed with Pelham Banking Company for 35 years.  He is a 1988 graduate of Pelham High School and a 1994 graduate of Valdosta State University with a BBA Finance degree. He also graduated in 1998 from The Georgia Banking School at the University of Georgia, and in 2002 from The Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University. He is currently serving on the Mitchell County Development Authority, Mitchell County Hospital Authority, and the  City of Pelham Downtown Development Authority. He is the  Past Chairman and current member of the Pelham Development Corporation and  past President of the Pelham Chamber of Commerce. Furthermore, he is actively serving as a member of Pelham First Baptist Church. He is married to Melea Bentley and has been for 31 years and has three children together. 

Lisa Austin

Lisa Austin

Mrs. Lisa Austin is a resident of Mitchell County and has been employed with the City of Pelham for 22 years. She is a 1990 graduate of Pelham High School. She has received her Certificate of Local Government Management from the University of Georgia and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, Certified Municipal Clerk from The University of Georgia, Georgia Municipal Association and Georgia Municipal Clerks and Finance Officers Association, Clerks Master Education Program from the University of Georgia, Georgia Municipal Association and Georgia Municipal and Finance Officers Association. She also serves as the Election Superintendent for Pelham and the treasurer for the City of Pelham Downtown Development Authority.
She is married to Michael Austin (Petey) for 31 years and has two children Courtney Austin and Kayla Austin Burgess. 

Kizzy Gordon

Kizzy Gordon

CEO of Kizzy Gordon Consultant Inc. Tax and Loan Company, Lee Williams Co. Inc, Kizzy Gordon Properties LLC, and Madison S. Collier Blue Heart Foundation Inc Ms. Kizzy Gordon is also Co-owner of JDs Bar and Grill LP. She is a 1996 graduate of Pelham High School and a 2000 graduate of Valdosta State University. She is a 2007 graduate of Thomas University with a Masters in Business Administration. 

Mrs. Gordon is our newest member and is the first African American female to be appointed to the Downtown Development Authority Board. She also currently serves on the Business Advisory Board with Pelham High School and the Pelham Chamber of Commerce Board. She is a mother of two. 

Dr. Charles E. Gilbert

Dr. Charles E. Gilbert

Charles E. Gilbert currently serves as Senior Pastor of the Blooming Light MB Church. He is at present Vice President of Corporate Services for Mitchell EMC as a secular occupation. Service to country includes United States Navy Submarine Service (1982-1990). Academically, 1994 Graduate of University of Wisconsin BA-Business Administration & Certified Loss Control Professional, 2012 Graduate of Columbia Southern University MS- Occupational Safety & Health, 2016 Graduate of Liberty University DD- Divinity Ministry. Archbold Hospital Board Member (Since 2013). Mitchell County DEFACS Board Member (Since 2014). Dean- Georgia Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia Inc. (Since 2012). Certified Facilitator, Bible Training Centre for Pastors, Atlanta, Ga. (Since 2015). He is married to Teresa Jones Gilbert, and God blessed us with 2 daughters, 2 son-in-law’s, 9 grandchildren, and a Partridge in a Pear tree.