Each year, ACCG celebrates county leadership with the installation of the new Board of Managers and through its Awards & Recognition Program. | | 2026 - 2027 Board of Managers | | "We are excited to welcome our newly installed Board of Managers, a group of leaders, passionate about public service, chosen by their peers to guide the Association," said Executive Director Dave Wills. "Their dedication and expertise will be essential as we collaborate to enhance the well-being of Georgia's counties, which have one purpose, to provide essential and desirable services to constituents.” | | Colquitt County Commissioner Marc DeMott was sworn in as ACCG President during the 2026 ACCG Annual Conference. DeMott will work directly with ACCG Executive Director Dave Wills and the Board of Managers to lead the Association and guide policies over the next year. The Board will continue to focus on improving county efficiencies, enhancing continuing education offerings, and strengthening relationships between counties, the state, and the federal government. | | Georgetown-Quitman County Chair Carvel Lewis was elected as First Vice President. Lewis will serve as a member of the Executive Committee and the board liaison for the association's member services programs. These services include insurance, retirement, technical assistance, and preferred partners. His primary responsibility will be to chair the ACCG Policy Council. | | Harris County Chair Susan Andrews was elected as Second Vice President. Andrews will also serve as a member of the Executive Committee and the board liaison for the association's leadership programs, including the ACCG Lifelong Learning Academy. | | Columbus-Muscogee Councilwoman Toyia Tucker was elected as Third Vice President.Tucker will support the work of the ACCG Civic Affairs Foundation, the organization that provides internships for college and university students through the Georgia County Internship Program (GCIP). | | |
Additional Board of Managers Appointments
Second District Representative — Travis Turner, White County
Fourth District Representative — Clay Davis, Spalding County
At-Large Representative (First Seat) — Dakkia Bradshaw, Telfair County
NACo Representative (First Seat) — Nicole Hendrickson, Gwinnett County
NACo Representative (Third Seat) — Lamarcus Davis, Monroe County
Defined Benefits Service Board Chair — Harry Johnston, Cherokee County
County Attorneys Section President — Charles Reed, Clayton County
County Clerks Section President — Tameca Smith, Fayette County
The full board of managers list can be found here on the ACCG website.
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We Want to Hear from You! Take the Post-Conference Survey
Your feedback is invaluable to helping us plan future conferences. We invite you to share your thoughts on what you enjoyed and areas where we can enhance the experience. Please take a moment to complete the post-conference survey by clicking here. County officials who complete the conference survey will receive a reduced registration fee at an upcoming ACCG conference. Please be sure to submit your responses no later than Monday, May 18, by 5 p.m. Thank you for your participation and contribution to improving our events!
| | Leadership Award Recipients | | |
The Emory Greene Leadership and the Jerry R. Griffin Excellence in Public Service awards are ACCG's two most prestigious awards. These awards are presented to elected and appointed county officials, respectively, in recognition of their significant contributions to their local communities and/or at the state level. In addition, ACCG annually presents county officials and county staff with the Legislative Advocate, Leadership Development, and Youth Leadership awards. The Georgia County Clerks' Association also presents the Clerk of the Year Award.
ACCG congratulates the following leaders for their commitment to embracing and evolving, emerging as stronger leaders to better serve their communities.
| | Lamar County Chairman Ryran Traylor with ACCG First Vice President and Georgetown-Quitman County Chair Carvel Lewis. | Emory Greene Leadership Award | Lamar County Chairman Ryran Traylor was awarded the Emory Greene Leadership Award, the highest honor bestowed by ACCG. In honor of the late Emory Greene, former chairman of the Bibb County Board of Commissioners and former ACCG president, this award recognized Traylor for his exemplary leadership that led to the elimination of a significant tax anticipation note, helped strengthen county-city relations, and supported the needs and well-being of all Georgians through his work at the state level. | | Putnam County Manager Paul M. Van Haute with ACCG First Vice President and Georgetown-Quitman County Chair Carvel Lewis. | Jerry R. Griffin Excellence in Public Service Award | Putnam County Manager Paul M. Van Haute received the 2026 Jerry R. Griffin Excellence in Public Service Award. Named in honor of the late Jerry Griffin, former ACCG Executive Director, this award recognized the vital role that Van Haute played in addressing his county's infrastructure needs through efficient, cost-effective solutions. | | Clayton County Youth Services Administrator Ciara Dunn, who accepted the award on behalf of Zairah Moses, and ACCG Civic Affairs Foundation Program Manager Michele NeSmith. | Clayton County Youth Commissioner Zairah Moses received the 2026 Youth Leadership Award for exemplifying the transformative qualities of a leader. By inspiring others, effectively balancing vision with actions, and connecting strategic thinking to real-world outcomes, her dedication to service represents the association’s mission to cultivate principled, service-driven leaders who make a lasting impact in their communities. | | ACCG Director of Governmental Affairs Todd Edwards, Hall County Communications and Strategic Engagement Manager Sarah Crowe, and Hall County Administrator Zach Propes. | Legislative Advocates of the Year | |
The Legislative Advocate of the Year Award was presented to two Hall County officials, Communications and Strategic Engagement Manager Sarah Crowe and former Administrator Zach Propes. Their contributions to ACCG's advocacy efforts through expert research and analysis have not only shaped the association's policy priorities over the years but also helped advance sound public policy for the citizens of Georgia.
| | Telfair County Commissioner Christy Purvis, Telfair County Clerk Nancy Livingston (center), and Effingham County Clerk and Georgia County Clerks Association Vice President Stephanie Johnson. | |
Telfair County Clerk Nancy Livingston was recognized as the 2026 Clerk of the Year for her professionalism and outstanding work performance. Her passion and unwavering dedication to continuous learning, as well as the use of her knowledge and skills to effectively serve the public with accuracy and integrity, have ensured that her county government can continuously meet the needs of its constituents.
| | ACCG First Vice President and Georgetown-Quitman County Chair Carvel Lewis, ACCG Executive Director Dave Wills, and ACCG Leadership Development Director Jeff Christie. | Leadership Development Advocate of the Year Award | ACCG Executive Director Dave Wills received the 2026 Leadership Development Advocate of the Year Award for his continuous support towards education that supports the development of enhanced skills necessary for governing at the county level. His significant contributions to the Lifelong Learning Academy (LLA) through curriculum design efforts and instruction for multiple LLA classes have continued to shape the association's Leadership Development program. | | |
“The Georgia County Excellence Awards is an annual program that recognizes innovative spirit and ingenuity of Georgia’s counties and their leaders,” said Executive Director Dave Wills. “We are grateful to our partners at Georgia Trend for their continued efforts to acknowledge the outstanding work of our local governments.”
Congratulations to the 2026 Georgia County Excellence Award winners:
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Columbus-Muscogee County — Restoration of Returning Citizens
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Dawson County — Career Advancement Through Training (CATT)
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Fayette County — Pre-Hospital Blood Transfusion
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Floyd County — Rubber Modified Asphalt
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Glynn County — Friday Night Hoops
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Walker County — Spay/Neuter Voucher Program
More information on these award-winning initiatives will be included in the upcoming June issue of Georgia Trend magazine. Click here to view the Georgia County Excellence Award video of the winners and their nominated projects.
| | ACCG would also like to congratulate the 2026 Lifelong Learning Academy Certificate recipients. Click here to see the county officials and county staff who received CORE and Specialty Track Certifications. | | View the State of ACCG Video | | Watch the video below to discover ACCG's role in ensuring counties are equipped to embrace, evolve, and emerge stronger than before. | |
Annual Conference Photos Now Available
Annual Conference photos are now available for download. Click here to view conference images.
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