The Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG or Georgia’s County Association) awarded three Macon-Bibb County Commissioners with certificates for completing requirements in its Lifelong Learning Academy. Recipients were presented with their achievement certificates during the Association’s 2025 Legislative Leadership Conference at the Jekyll Island Convention Center in Glynn County.
Commissioner Paul Bronson completed the Revenue and Finance specialty track, Commissioner Bill Howell completed the Citizen Engagement specialty track, and Commissioner Raymond Wilder completed the Public Safety specialty track.
“The professional development provided by ACCG gives us a deeper understanding of how governments operate and how we can better serve our communities,” says Commissioner Paul Bronson. “We can better appreciate the amount of work done by dedicated public servants, and we can more effectively make informed policy and budget decisions because we can better connect ‘what’ needs to be done with ‘how’ it can get done.”
“Continually learning is the key to being successful at anything in life, and ACCG has an amazing set of pathways that help us meet the needs of our community,” says Commissioner Bill Howell.“Public safety was my first and main concern when originally running for office, and with that tract completed, I can focus on the other areas I’ve been studying,” says Commissioner Raymond Wilder. “ACCG does a great job of preparing us and Commissioners around the state to best serve the people and communities we represent every day.”
ACCG and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia (CVIOG) have collaborated for more than two decades to provide county officials with supplemental training and educational tools in the Lifelong Learning Academy. With abundant courses from which they may choose, every county official has a tailor-made learning experience that allows them to excel in specific areas of expertise.
“The Lifelong Learning Academy is critical to educating county officials about the foundational aspects of county government, as well as emerging trends,” said ACCG Executive Director Dave Wills. “County leaders who prioritize furthering their education are better equipped to address challenges and are assets to their communities. I commend the Commissioners for their unwavering dedication to understanding their community.”
The Lifelong Learning Academy was created with input from county commissioners who identified courses based on the issues and decision-making challenges regularly faced by county officials. To ensure the course requirements and curriculum remain relevant and engaging, the ACCG Lifelong Learning Committee – which comprises county commissioners and staff from both ACCG and CVIOG– meet regularly to review and adjust accordingly. Through this collaborative approach, the Lifelong Learning Academy has been successful in equipping county officials with the necessary skills to meet the needs of their constituents.
About ACCG
ACCG is Georgia’s county association and works on behalf of county officials and their communities by providing public policy and legislative advocacy, leadership development, civic and community engagement initiatives, insurance and retirement programs that specialize in local government needs and other cost-saving programs. Formed in 1914 when county officials came together to help fund the state’s first highway department, ACCG today serves as a catalyst for advancing Georgia’s counties. For more information, go to www.accg.org.