Vandy Gates 1997 - 2004
Mr. Vandy Gates was hired by the Georgia Department of Education on December 1, 1997 to be State Director during the period that our organization was going through the process of becoming incorporated. On July 1, 1998, Mr. Gates was hired by the Board of Directors to continue as State Director and has served in that position since.
Mr. Gates is graduate of the University of Georgia with a BSED and was a member of the UGA football team. He taught in the Dekalb County School System for 34 years. He served as math teacher and coach until 1971. He received his MED from Georgia State University in 1970. He served as PECE Coordinator for 11 years and as DCT Coordinator for 13 years. He retired in 1997, and stayed retired for 4 months until accepting the job as State Director.
Chris Vaden 2004 - 2006
Raised on a mountain top in Tennessee, in a wooden house with field stone exterior, he is the oldest of two brothers and one sister. He can milk a cow and ride a horse (sometimes). He lives on a small farm with 20 cows, 1 bull, 2 horses, 5 goats, 11 hens, 3 roosters, 2 guineas, 6 dogs, 5 cats, 1 John Deere tractor, 1 truck, 5 cars (2 of which run), one pond, 2 flat bottom row boats (one with a leak), 3 computers, 1 washing machine/dryer combination, and 1 dishwasher that he can operate very well.
His dad is a semi-retired machinist/tool-maker who made the first 6 “moon boxes” used to bring rock samples back to earth. His mother took a 2nd job to pay his way through college. His grandparents hold the distinction of being thrown out of the same Baptist church on the same Sunday; one set of grandparents was thrown out for being continually late to church, and the other set of grandparents for arguing with the preacher for believing that you ought to be perfect. (They were “readmitted” some time later after appropriate repentance.)
He changed high schools to play football and holds the honor of having played “end” and “defensive back” on a high school football team that lost every game they played for four years. Not only did the team lose every game that they played for those 4 years, but they lost by large margins.
He has had two knee surgeries (the result of basketball and chasing cows on a 4 wheeler), one broken arm (fell out of his tree while wearing appropriate safety equipment), one broken ankle (demonstrating karate kicks), been bucked off a horse, thrown from a bull, has climbed a water tower, climbed a pyramid, slept under a bus, driven through more than one road-side obstacle, and recovers well with prayer and a supply of pain killers.
He attended the University of Tennessee and graduated with a 6th year degree in Vocational Education from the University of Georgia.
He married above his station to Nan Reynolds and she has allowed him to spend the last 36 years with her. They have 3 daughters; the oldest a doctor, the 2nd a chemist, and the 3rd an 8th grader and a wannabe dog trainer.
After having worked at more than 19 part-time jobs, he has coached middle school football and basketball, the Debate team, the Chess team, taught Georgia History, U.S. History, English, Math, Art, Music, PECE, and DCT (for 25 years).
The Board of Directors join all advisors and students in thanking Chris Vaden for his hard work, dedication and passion for SkillsUSA Georgia.
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