Macon-Bibb County District 1 Commissioner Valerie Wynn was recognized by the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) for becoming a Certified County Commissioner after completing all the core requirements of the Lifelong Learning Academy. She was recognized and presented a certificate of achievement during the 2019 Legislative Leadership Conference at The Classic Center in Athens-Clarke County.
“Being elected as a Commissioner was an honor and a commitment to work for our community and make educated, responsible decisions,” says Commissioner Wynn, who completed the Core Courses in the first 11 months of her time in office. “Going through this process was important to help me learn as much as I could to perform my duties and responsibilities.”
Commissioner Wynn joins 13 other former and current elected Commissioners that have earned the title, including: Joe Allen; Gary Bechtel; Charles W. Bishop; Bert Bivins; the late Lonzy Edwards; Sam Hart, Sr.; Larry Justice; Elaine Lucas; Tommy Olmstead; Robert Reichert; Elmo Richardson; Larry Schlesinger; and Al Tillman.
To earn the Certification, a Commissioner must complete the following courses: County Government 101, County Government Finance, County Government Law, Economic Development, Ethics, Human Resources, Leadership Institute, Property Appraisal & Taxation, and Public Health & Safety. These nine courses cover 66 hours of instruction and are offered at a variety of conferences throughout the year.
“Beyond the actual course instruction, attending the classes gave me an opportunity to learn from commissioners around the state,” say adds. “Interestingly, many were interested in how we operate since we are one of the few consolidated governments in the state.”
About the Lifelong Learning Academy
For more than two decades, ACCG and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia have worked in concert to provide continuing education and training opportunities for county officials through a leadership development program now known as the ACCG Lifelong Learning Academy. County officials work to complete core certification requirements and can then choose from the abundant course options in several specialty tracks, such as intergovernmental relations and disaster and emergency preparedness. The Lifelong Learning Academy has been essential in providing county officials with resources to enhance their knowledge in various areas.
“Since its inception, the Lifelong Learning Academy has provided Georgia’s county officials with the tools and resources to help move their communities forward,” stated Dave Wills, ACCG Executive Director. “Thanks to our long-standing relationship with the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, we have been able to offer relevant course material that our members can take back to their respective communities.”
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 – comprised of county commissioners and staff from both ACCG and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia – 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.