Georgia County Government - March 2009 - (Page 26)

StaffNews ACCG Adds Several New Staff Members Beth Brown, Communications Director centra l element of t he new Associat ion C ou nt y Commissioners of Georg ia (ACCG) strategic plan was the establishment of a formal communications office at ACCG. Once that element was confirmed by the association’s leadership, the selection of a seasoned communications director became a core focus of the management staff, Beth Brown, communications director for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) under DNR Commissioner Noel Holcomb since 2004, was identified by ACCG leadership and staff as the top candidate for this vitally important position. Brown joined ACCG on Jan. 1 and assumes responsibility for boosting ACCG’s visibility among the statewide news media, directing general communications efforts and strategizing targeted coverage for the association’s policy priorities, among other duties. “We are extremely pleased to be able to add Beth Brown to our professional staff at the ACCG headquarters,” said Ross King, ACCG deputy director. “Her strong level of maturity and experience in the communications field will add expertise to our ongoing media outreach efforts. Beth will immediately become an integral part of our association staff and will significantly raise the exposure of ACCG and county governments in a clear and effective statewide manner.” As communications director for the Commissioner’s Office of the Georgia DNR, Brown gained experience developing “proactive” public affairs projects for Commissioner Holcomb, and was the point of contact on all communications issues involving the Board of Natural Resources. Brown also coordinated fundraising and communications efforts for the “Go Fish Georgia” initiative, a $30 million economic development project, as well as “Weekend for Wildlife,” an annual benefit for wildlife conservation in Georgia, which raised more than $1 million its 20th anniversary event last year. She chaired the Communications Committee of the Governor’s Litter Abatement and Prevention Task Force during the program’s launch in 2006. Brown also coordinated the Commissioner’s Education Roundtable Initiative, a coalition of internal and external environmental education providers working to address natural resource issues such as water conservation in a more unified effort. As the media spokesperson for DNR, she provided communications support to the Governor’s press office, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Office of Homeland Security and other state agencies. Prior to becoming DNR’s communications director in 2004, Brown served 26 GEORGIA COUNTY GOVERNMENT A as Public Relations and Education Program Manager for the Wildlife Resources Division of DNR in Social Circle, which she joined in 1993. Brown earned her B.A. in Journalism from the Henry Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia in 1993. She and her husband, David, live in Walton County and are the parents of two girls. Adam Edge, ACCG Financial Services Specialist ssociation County Commissioners (ACCG) added new staff member Adam Edge to its team in November. Edge, who had been an ACCG intern, now serves as ACCG Financial Services Specialist. As an ACCG intern, Edge assisted policy staff by attending and planning meetings, researching trends regarding state and county budgets, and updating ACCG resources such as the County Reference Guide and election data. As Financial Services Specialist, Edge will assist Deputy Director Ross King with management of the association’s financial service programs. The Equipment Leasing Program, introduced as the fi rst fi nancial service offered by ACCG in 1989, has grown to include new fi nancial service programs to help members promote effective local government. The roster of fi nancial services also includes the Bricks and Mortar program, equipment leasing program, purchasing services through U.S. Communities, auction services through GovDeals and GASB 43/45 OPEB Valuations and Disclosure Services. All are crafted to leverage the economies of scale inherent in the ACCG membership and to assist counties in the fi nancing of capital facilities. Edge will work with county officials statewide to boost awareness of ACCG fi nancial service programs and encourage counties to consider alternatives when purchasing products and services. The Clayton County native completed undergraduate and graduate degrees at Georgia College and State University (GCSU), his B.A. summa cum laude in Political Science, and his master’s degree is in Public Administration. Prior to interning with ACCG, Edge was an assistant to the Clerk of the Georgia House of Representatives, a graduate assistant in GCSU’s Government and Sociology Department and an intern for the Georgia General Assembly. A Kelly Pridgen, Assistant General Counsel eturning to ser vice as ACCG Assistant General Counsel, a position she held from 1997 to 2003, is Kelly Pridgen, who most recently served five years as Douglas County staff attorney. Assigned to provide general legal sup- R

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Georgia County Government - March 2009

Georgia County Government - March 2009 Contents President’s Message County Matters Focus on Southeast Georgia The Georgia Public Service Commission Jerry R. Griffin MPA Scholarship Recipients Named Extension News Research Corner Staff News County Parade Index of Advertisers

Georgia County Government - March 2009

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