A technical college president and two vice presidents are the finalists to become the next president of Lanier Technical College.

A selection committee chaired by Roger Slaton, agent/owner of State Farm Insurance in Dawsonville, interviewed six candidates to replace Russell Vandiver, who is retiring at the end of March.

The finalists include: Jamie Loyd, vice president of economic development at Columbus Technical College in Columbus; Ray Perren, president of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College in Valdosta; and Joanne Tolleson, vice president of institutional effectiveness and operations at Lanier Tech.

Vandiver spent 37 years at the college, including the last three as president.

Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Ron Jackson will interview the three finalists during the week of March 11.

He is expected to ask the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia to approve his choice during its monthly meeting April 4 in Atlanta.

In a statement, Jackson thanked Slaton and the committee for "the time and effort that they put forth to help in the selection process for the next president."

"They have presented me and the TCSG State Board with three outstanding candidates for the job," he said.

The other members of the seven-person search committee were: Lynn Jackson, administrator of Northside Hospital-Forsyth and member of the college's board of directors; Tracy L. Moon Jr., partner in the law firm of Fisher and Phillips in Atlanta and member of the college foundation's board of trustees; Dennis Stockton, publisher of The Times in Gainesville; Doug Carter, president and broker of Don Carter Realty Co. in Gainesville and member of the state board of the Technical College System of Georgia; Kit Dunlap, president and CEO of the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce; and Gwen Hill, owner of Hill's Ace Hardware and Lumber in Winder.

Lanier Tech serves Banks, Barrow, Dawson, Forsyth, Hall, Jackson and Lumpkin counties.

The college has a main campus in Oakwood with additional campuses in Cumming, Dawsonville, Commerce and Winder.

Last year, the college enrolled 5,666 students in certificate, diploma and degree programs.