Otha E. Thornton Jr. Keynote Speaker from Richmond Hill, GA

Otha Thornton is owner and Principal Consultant for the Thornton Consulting Group. He is an accomplished speaker and the Immediate Past National President of National PTA. He is a retired United States Army Lieutenant Colonel and his last two assignments were with the White House Communications Agency and United States Forces-Iraq in Baghdad. He served as the White House Communications Agency Human Resources Director and Presidential Communications Officer under President George W. Bush and President Barack H. Obama. Thornton earned the Bronze Star Medal for exceptional performance in combat operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom 2009-2010. Thornton serves on the Michigan Technological University Honors College Board. Previously, Thornton served on National PTA's Board of Directors, Legislative Committee, Membership Committee, Organizational Effectiveness, Communications, and Executive Search Committee. During his 2010-2011 tenure with Georgia PTA, Otha served on the Board of Directors as legislative chair. Currently he serves as an Advisory Group member for Georgia's Partnership for Excellence in Education. Thornton also served Maryland PTA as chair of the nominating leader, board development committee, and as a member of Anne Arundel County's Superintendent High Performing High School Task Force. In addition, he was appointed by the governor of Maryland to serve on a Maryland Education Task Force. Thornton's military background allowed him to volunteer throughout the country and the world. Thornton served as president (and earlier as vice president) of Meade Senior High School PTSA at Fort Meade, Maryland. He has also been a volunteer at Kaiserslautern American Elementary and Middle School PTAs, Department of Defense Education Activity, Kaiserslautern, Germany; South Range Elementary School, South Range, Michigan; Houghton Elementary and Middle Schools, Houghton, Michigan; Fernandez Elementary School PTA, San Antonio, Texas; and Richmond Hill Elementary School, Richmond Hill, Georgia. Thornton is active in the community. He is an active member of Richmond Hill of Christ and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He is a life member of the National Eagle Scout Association and has more than 25 years of active service in the United States and around the world. He has won numerous awards to include: Ebony's 2013 Power 100 List, Morehouse College Alumnus of the Year, and Michigan Technological University Outstanding Young Alumni Award. Thornton received his bachelor's degree in urban studies from Morehouse College and a master's degree in communications from Michigan Technological University. He was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from Michigan Technological University in 2009. Thornton has been married to Caryn, an educator, for 28 years. They have a daughter and a son.