About Us

Training for City Officials Tops 1,000 at GMA Convention

City officials from around the state engaged in training and professional development coordinated by the Vinson Institute during the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) 2012 Annual Convention in Savannah, June 23—26. More than 1,000 mayors, councilmembers, city managers, and city clerks sharpened their leadership skills and municipal government expertise in courses while also working toward fulfilling certification requirements. Vinson Institute local government training faculty led courses on topics ranging from law enforcement to technology solutions for local governments to revitalizing neighborhoods.

The Institute and GMA launched a new course at the convention called Social Media for Local Elected Officials that reviewed effective uses for social media in government. It gave an overview of different social media platforms, how they can be leveraged to improve local government, and how to use them responsibly and within the legal bounds of Open Records and other requirements.

In addition, Local Government Program Manager Ted Baggett moderated a discussion on the local option sales tax (LOST). Cities and counties around Georgia are currently in the process of renegotiating LOST distributions for next decade. The Vinson Institute has a team of specially trained mediators who are reaching out to local governments and helping them reach agreement during the renegotiation process.

At a ceremony on June 25, Institute Director Laura Meadows and Local Government Program Manager Murray Weed presented certificates to 105 officials in recognition of the commitment to continuing education. Eleven municipal officials were awarded with the Certificate of Distinction, which requires individuals to complete 204 hours of instruction.

Certificate of Recognition
Ms. Teri Anulewicz, City of Smyrna
Mr. Hayes L. Arnold, City of Thomaston
Mr. Farrell Bass, City of Byron
Mr. John Beresford, City of Canton
Mr. Larry Bowen, City of Royston
Mr. John Bradshaw, City of Clayton
Ms. Nikki Bradley, City of Quitman
Mr. Braxton Brown, Jr., City of East Dublin
Mr. Henry Brown, City of Lincolnton
Mr. Herman Brown, City of Waynesboro
Ms. Juanita Bryant, City of Fort Valley
Mr. Russ Carpenter, City of Richmond Hill
Mr. Stephen Chambers, City of Milledgeville
Mr. Arthur E. Craft, City of Hartwell
Mr. Danny W. Curry, City of Loganville
Mr. Don A. Darden, City of Jesup
Mr. Kelly Dennard, City of Gordon
Mr. Solomon Ferguson, City of Manchester
Ms. Patricia M. Garrett, City of Decatur
Mr. Albert Buff Green, Jr., City of Clayton
Mr. Donald Gene Harris, Town of Trion
Mr. Gregory Hobbs, Sr., City of Thomasville
Mr. William R. Jackson, City of Perry
Mr. Bobby Jacobs, Jr., City of Monticello
Mr. Lorenzo Johnson, City of Americus
Mr. Frank W. Lester, III, City of Montezuma
Ms. Linda Lord, City of Forest Park
Mr. Curtis Lucas, Jr., City of Cordele
Mr. Keith F. Post, City of St. Marys
Ms. Judy Powell, City of Leesburg
Mr. Edward Reynolds, City of Bainbridge
Mr. John R. Riggs, City of Statesboro
Ms. Joyce M. Sheperd, City of Atlanta
Mr. Grady Smith, City of Augusta
Ms. Vivian G. Smith, City of Camilla
Ms. Cynthia Stamps-Jones, City of Riverdale
Mr. David Theiss, City of Ellaville
Mr. Marion Tutt, Jr., City of Washington
Ms. Annie Doris Willingham, City of Camilla
Dr. Evelyn Wynn-Dixon, City of Riverdale

Certificate of Achievement
Mr. Rufus Amis, City of McDonough
Mr. Johnny Ariemma, City of Dahlonega
Mr. Clarence E. Billups, City of Waycross
Dr. Dean Burke, City of Bainbridge
Mr. Ambrose Clay, City of College Park
Mr. Mark Fitzpatrick, City of Commerce
Ms. Ocie Franklin, City of Covington
Mr. James Allen Hedges, City of Ashburn
Mr. Lowry W. Hunt, Jr., City of Madison
Mr. Gary Johnson, City of Dublin
Mr. Michael B. Johnson, City of Guyton
Ms. Bessie Kicklighter, City of Garden City
Mr. Christopher Pike, City of Albany
Mr. Thomas Purser, City of Hazlehurst
Mr. Robert Reichert, City of Macon
Mr. Curtes H. Roberts, Sr., City of Midway
Mr. Paul Shealy, City of Warner Robins
Mr. Johnny Terrell, City of Tifton
Ms. Karen Thurman, City of Milton
Mr. Randall Walker, City of Perry

Certificate of Excellence
Mr. Louis H. Hamm, City of Fort Oglethorpe
Mr. Bruce Jenkins, City of Kennesaw
Mr. David Keener, City of Social Circle
Mr. Bill Lockett, City of Augusta
Mr. Sam Norton, City of Dahlonega
Mr. John W. Smalley, City of Thomson
Mr. Vince Williams, City of Union City
Mr. Paul Wolff, City of Tybee Island

Certificate of Distinction
Mr. Carey D. Butler, City of Elberton
Mr. Jamie Doss, City of Rome
Mrs. Beth English, City of Vienna
Mr. Dywane Johnson, City of Hazlehurst
Mr. Dennis Josey, City of Douglas
Mr. Wade S. Lnenicka, City of Smyrna
Ms. Evelyn Turner Pugh City of Columbus
Mr. Ricky Reddish, Sr., City of Jesup
Mr. John Reid, City of Eatonton
Mr. Rufus Stewart, City of McDonough
Mr. Billy Trapnell, City of Metter

Knox Leadership
Charlie L. Anderson, City of Walthourville
Allen B. Cain, Sr., City of Hahira
Anne H. Claxton,, City of Barnesville
Ernest W. Cloud, Jr., City of Cairo
Joy Day, City of Jonesboro
James H. Douglas, City of Cairo
Wanda D. Doyle, City of Tybee Island
Derek J. Hadley, City of Camilla
Christopher Hightower, City of Barnesville
Deborah A. Jackson, City of Lithonia
Dr. Randy King, City of Glennville
John L. Maye, City of Wadley
David Miller, City of Riceboro
Dorothy Morman, City of Baconton
Raymond F. Mullis, City of Eastman
Phyllis Payne, City of Gordon
Sherry Elmore-Phillips, Town of Thunderbolt
Jennifer Scott-Sudderth, City of Hartwell
Dorissa C. Shackelford, City of Auburn
Vivian G. Smith, City of Camilla
Kwame Som-Pimpong, Georgia Municipal Association
Chris Stacy, City of Riceboro
Vince R. Williams, City of Union City
Annie Doris Willingham, City of Camilla
Paul Wolff, City of Tybee Island
Dewey J. Yarbrough, City of Zebulon