More than 600 county government officials enhanced their leadership and administrative skills through continuing education classes presented by Institute of Government faculty and other during the Association County Commissioners of Georgia annual conference April 27–30.

Training sessions held at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center covered topics ranging from economic development to establishing sound financial policies and offered participants the opportunity to earn credit hours in the Lifelong Leadership Academy.

Ten Institute faculty members delivered training courses during the conference, including a session that explored the benefits of land use and planning with Associate Director Stacy Jones and Langford Holbrook, an AICP certified planner.

Though geared toward county commissioners, the four-day conference also featured continuing education classes for a variety of other county leaders, such as county managers, attorneys and clerks.

Also at the conference, the ACCG Board of Managers named Dave Wills as the association’s new executive director. Wills, who previously served as ACCG’s government relations manager, had been interim director since November.

Eighty county commissioners were recognized at the conference with certificates for successfully completing core courses and specialty track training through the Lifelong Learning Academy. The academy was created by ACCG, Institute faculty and others to provide county commissioners with a solid grounding in best practices in governance.

Fifty-five men and women were recognized as Certified County Commissioners for completing the Lifelong Learning Academy core curriculum. To attain certification, commissioners must successfully complete 66 hours of training covering eight courses and a two-date Leadership Academy.

Twenty-five commissioners were honored with Specialty Certification for successfully completing 48 hours of in-depth training in one of eight specialty tracks.

SPRING 2018 CERTIFICATE RECIPIENTS

Specialty Track certification

Citizen Engagement

Tommy Hunter, Gwinnett County

Shelia Williams, Seminole County

County Operations and Management

Emily Davis, Baldwin County

Tommy French, Baldwin County

Alphya Benefield, Charlton County

James Everett, Charlton County

Natalie Crawford, Habersham County

Pamelia Dwight, Jenkins County

Brad Calhoun, Turner County

Jerry “Shag” Wright, Wayne County

Economic and Community Development

Anthony Jones, Dougherty County

James “Boot” Thomas, Wayne County

Intergovernmental Relations

Brad Calhoun, Turner County

Leadership Development

James Everett, Charlton County

Michael Browning, Glynn County

Tommy Hunter, Gwinnett County

Pamelia Dwight, Jenkins County      

Thomas Jordan, Sumter County         

Brad Calhoun, Turner County                     

Public Safety

Henry Craig, Baldwin County

John Westmoreland, Baldwin County 

Dennis Bell, Stephens County

Revenue and Finance

Lori Boyen, Glascock County 

Chad Stewart, Gordon County 

Ed Jeffords, Wayne County

Core Certification

Jerry NeSmith, Athens-Clarke County

Gloria Farrell, Atkinson County

Randy Davison, Brantley County

Ray Griffin, Brantley County

Jappy Stringer, Bulloch County

Evans Martin, Burke County

Russ Crumbley, Butts County

William Hawkins, Calhoun County

Lee Powers, Carroll County

Felicia Franklin-Warner, Clayton County

Audie Rowe, Cook County

James Dowdy, Crisp County

Chris Gaines, Dawson County

Romona Jackson Jones, Douglas County

Jamie Deloach, Effingham County

Stan Helton, Fannin County

Charles Rousseau, Fayette County

David Scarbrough, Fayette County

Wright Bagby, Floyd County

Jim Hayes, Georgetown-Quitman County

Keith Moye, Grady County

Jeffery Smith, Greene County

Stacy Hall, Habersham County

Randolph Clayton, Hancock County

Susan Andrews, Harris County

Marshall Sayer, Hart County

Johnny Wilson, Henry County

Sam Kitchens, Jones County

Jason Rizner, Jones County

Chris Weidner, Jones County

Ryran Traylor, Lamar County

Susan Bowling, Lanier County

Jeff Davis IV, Laurens County

Clay Griner, Lowndes County

Bobby Mayfield, Lumpkin County

David Miller, Lumpkin County

Lee Allen, Madison County

Mary Bray, Meriwether County

Greg Tapley, Monroe County

Chad Kenney, Montgomery County

Greg Hogan, Murray County

John Daniell, Oconee County

Mark Thomas, Oconee County

Charles Thaxton, Polk County

Tameka Harris, Taylor County

Robert Peacock, Taylor County

Maynard Edenfield, Treutlen County

Cali Hollis, Treutlen County

Homer Rivers, Treutlen County

Ellis Cadenhead, Troup County

Lewis Davis Jr., Troup County

Herschell Hires, Wayne County

Alfonza Hall, Wilcox County

Clay Reid, Wilcox County

Esper Lee, Wilkes County