Republican state Sen. Jeff Mullis of Chickamauga has been tapped by the governor to accompany this trade delegation representing the state Department of Transportation — but more importantly, Northwest Georgia.

Mullis, who represents Senate District 53, which includes Walker , Dade Chattooga and Catoosa counties, is chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.

He is also director of the Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority, whose purpose is to bring business into the four-county region it represents — Walker, Catoosa, Chattooga and Dade.