Andy Foster, secretary for the Georgia Athletic & Entertainment Commission, spent his first year on the job learning, observing and listening to opinions and suggestions.

Now in his secong year on the job overseeing everything Boxing and MMA in Georgia – he’s coming out swinging to improve things.

Only months ago Phil Hunnicutt’s term had expired and Rick Thompson, the former head of the State Ethics Commission was brought in to replace him.

Now Christopher Harris and Cary Ichtar have been replaced on the board by Donald Geary and Ben Kiker.

Both Geary and Kiker enter the GAEC with outstanding backgrounds, detailed below.

Donald P. Geary, 53, Lawrenceville Geary is chief assistant district attorney in the DeKalb County District Attorney’s office. Prior to his legal career, he served as a pilot and flight instructor in the United States Marine Corps. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the USMC. Geary earned two bachelors degrees from East Carolina University, a masters degree from National University, and a law degree from Georgia State University. He and his wife, Robin, have five children and two grandchildren.

Ben L. Kiker, 62, Dalton Kiker is a karate instructor and director of United Karate Studio. He is a seventh degree black belt in United Karate and has hosted over sixty karate tournaments and a number of full contact fights. He has served as an ISKA Southeast Representative at numerous officiating clinics and has assisted ISKA in developing rules for competition. He also served as an assistant football coach at Haralson County High School. Kiker earned a bachelors degree from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Vicki, have one child.