Joel Harbin, owner of the Allstate Insurance agency in Jefferson, has been appointed to the Jackson EMC Foundation Board of Directors, succeeding Verlin Reece, who retired from the board in September 2014.

The Jackson EMC Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization set up to represent the members of Jackson EMC and distribute funds collected from participating members through Operation Round Up. The 11-member volunteer board of directors for the Foundation meets regularly to review grant applications and select recipients for worthwhile, charitable purposes that will improve lives and respond to immediate needs.

Since Operation Round Up’s beginning nine years ago, the Foundation has awarded nearly $9.2 million through 906 grants to organizations and 302 grants awarded to individuals.

A resident of Jackson County for more than 25 years, Harbin is a graduate of Piedmont College with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Before opening the Allstate agency in 2006, he worked in the insurance industry as a product analyst, claims analyst and business development manager in the metro Atlanta area.

Harbin serves as president of the Rotary Club of Jefferson, a member of the Jefferson Downtown Development Authority, a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Jackson County Board of Directors, and a member of the Jefferson Area Business Association. He is also an active member of the Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce and a 2010 Leadership Jackson graduate. Professionally, he is an active member and Past President of the Athens Chapter of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.