Law School: Vermont Law School, JD 2001, Masters 2001
Undergraduate: Presbyterian College, BS, honors in biology 1994

Andrew (Andy) J. Welch, III, was born in Atlanta, Georgia and raised in McDonough. He graduated from Woodward Academy in 1990 and from Presbyterian College in 1994 where he received a Bachelor of Science with honors in biology. After college, Mr. Welch served as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Ghana, West Africa.

In 1997, Mr. Welch entered Vermont Law School. He also held a summer internship with the Natural Resources Defense Council in Washington, D.C. Mr. Welch served as Editor-in-Chief of the school’s online environmental law journal and received academic honors for his performance in the school’s moot court competition. Mr. Welch graduated from Vermont Law School with a Juris Doctor and Masters of Studies in Environmental Law.

After law school, Mr. Welch clerked for the U.S. Magistrate Judges for the Northern District of New York. Thereafter, Mr. Welch practiced with Devorsetz Stinziano Gilberti Heintz & Smith in Syracuse, New York where his practice primarily focused on zoning and land use law. Mr. Welch maintains his license to practice in both the Northern District of New York and the State of New York.

In June of 2002, Mr. Welch returned to McDonough with his wife to join Smith, Welch & Brittain where he represents clients in areas of zoning and land use, environmental and municipal law. Mr. Welch is the 2010 Chairman for the Henry County Chamber of Commerce and chairs the Chamber’s Transportation Committee. He also serves on Congressman Lynn Westmoreland’s Transportation and Aviation Advisory Council. Mr. Welch is a Director on the Advisory Board for the Henry County branches of United Community Bank. Mr. and Mrs. Welch are the parents of Caleb and Sadie Welch and the family attends McDonough Presbyterian Church.