Former Columbia County commissioner Trey Allen appointed to state lottery board

When one door closes, another one opens.

As Trey Allen's 12-year tenure as District 2 commissioner in Columbia County drew to a close at the end of 2020, another opportunity awaited him when he was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Georgia Lottery Corporation by Gov. Brian Kemp.

He hopes his role will continue to impact education in the state, which is a passion for the local businessman who also serves on the state board of education for the 12th congressional district.

"Our duty is to support the mission of the lottery and funding scholarships and improving education in Georgia," he said. "It's an exciting opportunity."

Allen wants to make sure the state is maximizing the funding from the lottery and operating as efficiently as possible.

"I'm really looking forward to learning more about what they do and seeing what I can contribute with my experience as a business owner," he said.

Allen's family owned grocery and convenience stores in the Augusta area which he worked in as a child and took over as an adult. He later sold the business and he and his wife, Suzy Allen, opened Learning Express Toys in Evans. The business closed in 2015 so Suzy could be more available to their two children according to Chronicle archives. Allen recently bought into an insurance agency based in Gwinnett County. 

Last year, Allen ran for the Republican nomination for the District 23 State Senate Seat but was defeated by former U.S. Congressman Max Burns. He has also served on the Department of Community Affairs, the Board of Health and currently serves on the Greater Augusta Arts Council. 

https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/local/2021/01/07/former-columbia-county-commissioner-trey-allen-appointed-ga-lottery-board/6567716002/