First District
Patten Seed Company
235 Valdosta Road
Lakeland, Georgia 31635
Phone: (229) 482-3131
FAX: (229) 482-2382
bcopelandsr@pattenseed.com
Ben I. Copeland Sr. of Lanier County graduated from the University of Georgia in 1967 with a degree in landscape architecture and began working with the Tennessee Department of Conservation, where he became chief of design in the Planning Division. He returned to Georgia in 1971 to work for Patten Seed Company, becoming president in 1995.
Copeland is a former city councilman of Lakeland and a past chairman of the Board of Directors for Valdosta Technical College. He is a current member of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Lowndes-Lanier Industrial Authority and the Governing Board of Louis Smith Hospital/Lanier Health Systems. He was the recipient of the 2002 Volunteer of the Year award for Technical Colleges in the State of Georgia and Lanier County s Flatlander of the Year award. Copeland is the past president of several organizations, including the Lanier County Lions Club, the Georgia Sod Producers Association and Turfgrass Producers International.
Mr. Copeland was appointed to the State Board in 2003 by Governor sonny Perdue to serve as the First Congressional District Representative. He served as Chairman of the State Board from July 2005 to June 2007. He currently serves as a member of the External Affairs and Economic Development, Governance, Compliance and Audit and Executive Committees. He is past chair of the Standards and Programs Committee and has also served on the Budget, Facilities and Technology Committee.