Georgia Lottery president/CEO announces retirement

Aug 15, 2012, 5:07 pm (11 comments)

Georgia Lottery

ATLANTA, Ga. — Georgia Lottery Corp. President and CEO Margaret R. DeFrancisco announced publicly today that she will be retiring from her full-time position as head of the Lottery.

The Georgia Lottery's board of directors will conduct a search for DeFrancisco's replacement. She plans to stay through the transition, and a departure date is not imminent or immediate.

"The Georgia Lottery has seen strong growth and funded the educations of hundreds of thousands of Georgians during Margaret DeFrancisco's tenure at the corporation. She has served the citizens of this state for nearly nine years and we wish her well in her retirement," said Gov. Nathan Deal.

Since DeFrancisco joined the Georgia Lottery in December 2003, Georgia Lottery sales have grown from $2.6 billion in fiscal year 2003 to a record $3.8 billion in fiscal year 2012.

"Margaret has made the decision to retire from her role at the Georgia Lottery to enjoy some of the finer things in life, more specifically, her family and friends," said Georgia Lottery Board Chair James F. Braswell. "We are grateful to Margaret for her years of exemplary service to the Lottery and the citizens of Georgia. The Lottery experienced record sales, resulting in record returns to HOPE and pre-K during her tenure, which is something all Georgians can celebrate.

"The board of directors is committed to making the necessary transition seamlessly and smoothly," Braswell said. "We share a common goal of continuing to move this organization forward."

Since its first year, the Georgia Lottery Corp. has returned more than $13.6 billion to the state of Georgia for education. All Georgia Lottery profits go to pay for specific educational programs, including Georgia's HOPE Scholarship Program and Georgia's Pre-K Program. More than 1.4 million students have received HOPE, and more than 1.1 million 4-year-olds have attended the statewide, voluntary prekindergarten program.

Press Release

Comments

LottoPerro

May she have a very happy retirement.

TnTicketlosers's avatarTnTicketlosers

Oh no,that is the sadest news for Georgia players.No one will replace her.She is so good to the players,very supportive and kind hearted.I sure have seen alot of good and saw complaints too.But no state has the payouts that Georgia gives.To me that says alot about the person running it.

whiteballz's avatarwhiteballz

I wonder if the HR department at the Georgia Lottery asked her if she wanted the lump sum payment or the annuity for her retirement.

mcginnin56

Quote: Originally posted by whiteballz on Aug 15, 2012

I wonder if the HR department at the Georgia Lottery asked her if she wanted the lump sum payment or the annuity for her retirement.

Being the shrew lottery director she was, she probably negotiated both options. She probably also arranged to have a free lifetime supply of

scratchers as one of her retirement perks.  Noel

tvboris's avatartvboris

Quote: Originally posted by mcginnin56 on Aug 15, 2012

Being the shrew lottery director she was, she probably negotiated both options. She probably also arranged to have a free lifetime supply of

scratchers as one of her retirement perks.  Noel

Here goes money from unclaimed power ball on June 29, 2011.

bigboy90000

After a lifetime of scamming people .Happy retirement.

Dr Lottery's avatarDr Lottery

Quote: Originally posted by bigboy90000 on Aug 15, 2012

After a lifetime of scamming people .Happy retirement.

Don't worry she is gonna give us a Big PAY OUT !! here in GeorgiaParty!!

Colt45ML's avatarColt45ML

So the Georgia Lottery has already set a record 3.8 billion in sales for '12, and we aren't even 2/3 of the way through the year yet.  What I want to know is if they are are taking in all these record amounts of funds, why are the Hope Schlorships being cut back so drastically?  After all, that is one of the main beneficiaries of the Lottery.  That was the main selling point when the lottery was first proposed here in Georgia.  I wonder if our shady politicians up at the state legislature are reaching their grubby little hands into the pot so they can finance a bunch of  rediculous pork barrel projects back in their districts.  They have a rich history of doing that sort of thing.

In case any of you are not familiar with the Hope Schlarship, it pays for tuition and books for any child that graduates from high school in Georgia with at least a B average to attend any public college, university, or trade school in the state.  There has been some grade inflation in certain school districts, but overall, it has been one of the best things to ever come out from under the golden dome in Atlanta.  It has kept the very best students at home instead of goin to some place like Duke or Vanderbuilt, or even the Ivy League.  But even better is that it has helped 10s of thousands of kids that  could not afford to go to college at all without being in deep debt once they leave school.

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by Colt45ML on Aug 16, 2012

So the Georgia Lottery has already set a record 3.8 billion in sales for '12, and we aren't even 2/3 of the way through the year yet.  What I want to know is if they are are taking in all these record amounts of funds, why are the Hope Schlorships being cut back so drastically?  After all, that is one of the main beneficiaries of the Lottery.  That was the main selling point when the lottery was first proposed here in Georgia.  I wonder if our shady politicians up at the state legislature are reaching their grubby little hands into the pot so they can finance a bunch of  rediculous pork barrel projects back in their districts.  They have a rich history of doing that sort of thing.

In case any of you are not familiar with the Hope Schlarship, it pays for tuition and books for any child that graduates from high school in Georgia with at least a B average to attend any public college, university, or trade school in the state.  There has been some grade inflation in certain school districts, but overall, it has been one of the best things to ever come out from under the golden dome in Atlanta.  It has kept the very best students at home instead of goin to some place like Duke or Vanderbuilt, or even the Ivy League.  But even better is that it has helped 10s of thousands of kids that  could not afford to go to college at all without being in deep debt once they leave school.

WHen the lotteries speak of 2012, they are speaking of FISCAL 2012, not the calendar dates.  I believe fiscal 2012 ended in June.

elect82's avatarelect82

Quote: Originally posted by whiteballz on Aug 15, 2012

I wonder if the HR department at the Georgia Lottery asked her if she wanted the lump sum payment or the annuity for her retirement.

Wow, I love it! You gave me my morning laugh, thanks!LOL

Colt45ML's avatarColt45ML

Quote: Originally posted by Todd on Aug 16, 2012

WHen the lotteries speak of 2012, they are speaking of FISCAL 2012, not the calendar dates.  I believe fiscal 2012 ended in June.

Makes sense.  But still it is surprising that a record was set in an economy like this one.  Maybe folks are buying tickets out of desperation.  Maybe all these 25 and 50 dollar scratch offs along with powerball going up to 2 bucks a pop has something to do with it.

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