Training Excels at 2009 ACCG Convention
A record-setting 500-plus county officials participated in a wide variety of training programs at the 2009 annual convention of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG), held recently in Savannah. The Vinson Institute partners with ACCG in carrying out the training agenda.
For the first time, professional development opportunities were offered at multiple times outside the traditional Saturday training day, allowing newly elected commissioners in particular to move quickly toward achieving their first training certificate by completing two courses in one weekend, explained Gordon Maner, Vinson Institute faculty member and local government programs manager.
“It was a real bonus to only have to make one trip and earn 12 hours credit. The new format allowed fellow commissioner Chas Hardy and me to qualify for the Certified Commissioner certificate in a relatively short time since our election and reduce travel costs at the same time,” said Hunter Bicknell, chairman, Jackson County Commission.
A number of officials were awarded certificates for completing either the Certified Commissioners Program, which requires completion of 48 hours of training, or the Certified Commissioners Advanced Program, which requires an additional 48 hours training, participation in the Advanced Leadership Institute, and completion of a project. (Their names are listed below.)
“The fact that we had record numbers of participants in training at the conference in these challenging economic times is a real testimony to their dedication to advancing their skills to better serve their communities,” Maner said.
Spring 2009 Training Graduates
April 28, 2009
Savannah Civic Center
Commissioners Training Program
Don Grantham, Augusta-Richmond County
Lonzy Edwards, Bibb County
William Chappell, Carroll County
Gary Phillips, Decatur County
Lee May, DeKalb County
Jeff Rader, DeKalb County
David Kinsey, Georgetown-Quitman County
Robert Birky, Haralson County
Patrick Whearley, Harris County
Sandi Allen, Heard County
Dennis Roland, Lee County
Roselyn Starling, Macon County
Frank Keller, Meriwether County
Barbie Womble, Miller County
Randy Dixon, Pierce County
Jim Carter, Tift County
Stephen Brown, Toombs County
Milton Sampson, Twiggs County
Gail Boyd, Ware County
Frank Simmons Jr., Washington County
Greg Jones, Whitfield County
Certified Commissioners Advanced Program (CCAP)
Doug Lowry, Athens-Clarke County
Isaiah Berry, Barrow County
Bert Bivins, Bibb County
Mitchell McEwen, Butts County
Mike Mulcare, Douglas County
Marion Rhodes, Greene County
Frank Crook, Heard County
James Carter, Jeff Davis County
Jim Ham, Monroe County
Roosevelt Willis, Pike County
Helen J. Carnes, Putnam County
Michael Jones, Tift County
Sherry Miley, Tift County
Robert Setters, Tift County
Bill Kendall, Towns County
Clinton Ayers, Walton County
Ed Jeffords, Wayne County
Alfred Gibson, Sr., Wilkerson County
Jerry Childree, Worth County
Tony Hall, Worth County
