Commissioners Set the Gold Standard in Lifelong Learning
Two county commissioners were awarded the Gold Standard of Excellence on May 2 at the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) 2011 Annual Meeting, becoming the first to earn the new honor for exceptional commitment to continuing education. Preston Hawkins from Jones County and Sammie Wilson from McDuffie County each completed more than 160 hours of professional development beyond the requirements of the Certified Commissioners Advanced Program (CCAP) to be eligible for the distinction.
Additionally, 15 commissioners received the Silver Standard of Excellence by completing at least 100 hours of training and development beyond their CCAP certification. “The Vinson Institute worked with ACCG to create the Standard of Excellence program last year because we realized that there are commissioners who go above and beyond in their careers to pursue knowledge and skills that make them better at their jobs,” stated Laura Meadows, the Vinson Institute’s associate director for training and development. “It was important to both of our organizations to honor those individuals for their commitment to excellence.”
The Vinson Institute partners with ACCG to carry out training and development programs for county officials and personnel each year. At the 2011 Annual Meeting, held April 30 through May 2 in Savannah, more than 500 individuals enhanced their governance knowledge and skills through a wide variety of training options.
A mix of course packages and individual classes available at the convention enabled participants to match their professional development needs to their schedules and budgets. A number of Institute faculty members conducted training sessions and made informative presentations on such topics as capital improvements programs, leadership, financial management, county government law, and commission-staff relations.
Matt Hauer from the Applied Demography Program and training faculty Walt McBride provided attendees with an interactive session on how the 2010 census results reflect a changing Georgia. Faculty and staff were also available at the exhibit booth to talk with officials inquiring about the wide range of Institute services. See photos from the ACCG 2011 Annual Meeting.
Certificates were presented to 35 commissioners for their completion of the Commissioners Training Program and the CCAP. Read below for the full list of award recipients, including the 17 commissioners who received certificates for the Standard of Excellence program.
Spring 2011 Training Graduates
The Gold Standard of Excellence
Preston Hawkins, Jones County
Sammie Wilson, McDuffie County
The Silver Standard of Excellence
Philip Jay III, Ben Hill County
Reggie Loper, Effingham County
James Canady, Emanuel County
Desse Davis, Emanuel County
Sandi Allen, Heard County
June Jackson, Heard County
Hunter Bicknell, Jackson County
Larry Childs, Jones County
Sammie Wilson, McDuffie County
Janie Reid, Putnam County
Billy Webster, Putnam County
Gwen Flowers-Taylor, Spalding County
Eddie Freeman, Spalding County
Lamar Paris, Union County
Carlos Nelson, Ware County
Certified Commissioners Advanced Program (CCAP)
Robert Henderson, Butts County
Genous “Gator” Hodges, Butts County
Barry Waters, Clay County
Kevin Tanner, Dawson County
Russell Smith, Decatur County
Angela Whidby, Franklin County
Garnett “Sonny” James, Habersham County
Terrell Reid, Hancock County
Tommy Robinson, Jones County
Robert C. Walker, Long County
Billy Pittard, Oglethorpe County
David Austin, Paulding County
Cleve Hartley, Polk County
Paul Van Haute, Putnam County
Steve Hudson, Upson County
Commissioners Training Program
Samuel T. Guthrie, Atkinson County
Joe Bowles, Augusta-Richmond County
Parrish Barwick, Brantley County
Ray Mosley, Bulloch County
Lucious Abrams, Burke County
Keith Douglas, Butts County
Keith Greene, Catoosa County
James M. Davenport, Clay County
Radar Fair, Sr., Clay County
Emmett Moore, Sr., Cusseta-Chattahoochee County
Kelly Glenn Robinson, Douglas County
Jim Boff, Forsyth County
Alan W. Cox, Jasper County
Bill Williams, Lee County
John Clements, Putnam County
Tom Thompson, Putnam County
Oz Nesbitt, Sr., Rockdale County
Richard A. Oden, Rockdale County
JaNice Van Ness, Rockdale County
Kirklyn Dixon, Walton County
Images from the ACCG 2011 Annual Meeting
Click thumbnails to view full size images
