President

Toombs County Chairman David Sikes was sworn in as ACCG President during the 2024 ACCG Annual Conference. In this role, Sikes will work directly with ACCG Executive Director Dave Wills and the full Board of Managers to lead the Association and guide policies over the next year. The Board will continue to work on issues which focus on increasing county efficiencies, enhancing continuing education offerings and fostering strong relationships between counties, the state, and federal government. 

First Vice President

Dougherty County Commissioner Clinton Johnson was elected as the Assocation's First Vice President. As ACCG First Vice President and member of the Executive Committee, Johnson will serve as Board liaison to the Association's member services programs, including insurance, retirement, technical assistance, and preferred partners. He will also chair the ACCG Policy Council.

Second Vice President

Colquitt County Commissioner Marc DeMott was elected to serve as Second Vice President. As ACCG Second Vice President and member of the Executive Committee, DeMott will serve as Board liaison for the Association's leadership programs, which includes the ACCG Lifelong Learning Academy.

Third Vice President

Georgetown-Quitman County Chairman Carvel Lewis will assume the role of Third Vice President. As ACCG Third Vice President, Lewis will support the work of the ACCG Civic Affairs Foundation, which provides internships for college and university students through the Georgia County Internship Program (GCIP). 

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 Advocacy, Leadership Development, Cornerstone and the Youth Leadership awards. The Georgia County Clerks' Association also presents the Clerk of the Year Award. Selected by the ACCG management staff, the Cornerstone Award was presented for the first time since 2022.

ACCG would like to congratulate the following leaders for working toward a better future for their constituents.

Emory Greene Leadership Award

Worth County Chairman Dent was recognized with the Emory Greene Leadership award for the significant impact he has made on his county's overall economic standing, and his ability to embrace progress while upholding the local agricultural traditions. 

Jerry R. Griffin Excellence in Public Service Award

Henry County Manager Cheri Hobson-Matthews received the Jerry R. Griffin Excellence in Public Service Award for her forward thinking and strategic planning.  Hobson-Matthews has been at the forefront of driving the county’s progress by leading several key initiatives, including the implementation of its first ever county-wide Strategic Plan and the creation of the real time crime center.

Leadership Development Advocate of the Year

Fayette County Manager Steve Rapson was recognized as the Leadership Development Advocate of the year for his visionary leadership and approach to continued education. Under his guidance, initiatives were implemented to promote education, including expanding financial incentives for department heads and assistant department heads to become certified county officials.

Legislative Advocates of the Year

The Legislative Advocate of the Year Award was presented to both Henry County Chairwoman Carlotta Harrell and Lumpkin County Chairman Chris Dockery. Both individuals have been active in the Association's advocacy efforts through their service on the ACCG Policy Council and by advocating for Georgia's counties throughout the year during the legislative session.

Cornerstone Awards

Chatham County Commissioner Helen Stone and Forsyth County Commissioner Cindy Mills were honored with a 2024 Cornerstone Award. Both commissioners play a pivotal role in advancing the Association's mission and advocating for significant county issues like mental health. Additionally, they have held many roles on the ACCG Board of Managers, both currently serving as National Association of Counties (NACo) Representatives. 

Clerk of the Year Award

White County Clerk Shanda Murphy embodies the essence of selfless service, a quality that has earned her the recognition of Clerk of the Year. With 19 years of service to White County, including 16 years as county clerk, Shanda's commitment to putting others first propels her daily work. Alongside her responsibilities as clerk, she also serves as the County’s human resources director and occasionally acts as the interim county manager.

Youth Leadership Award

Douglas County Youth Commission Chairman Andres Garcia was presented with the 2024 Youth Leadership Award for his leadership among his peers, dedication to his community, outstanding academics, and a demonstrated commitment to learning. He spends countless hours volunteering while maintaining placement on the A/B honor roll, leading his school’s student ambassadors club as president, and chairing the Douglas County Youth Commission. Andres exemplifies the values of a true leader such as service and a dedication to excellence. 

“Each year the Georgia County Excellence Awards program recognizes innovative county programs that meet the specific needs of their residents,” said Executive Director Dave Wills. “We are grateful to our partner, GeorgiaTrend, for this continued collaboration in honoring counties for their resourcefulness and efficiency.”    

Congratulations to the 2024 Georgia County Excellence Award Honorees:

• Chattooga County - Stand Alone Rural Emergency Room Project
• Henry County - Behavioral Health Program
• Monroe County - Monroe Champions
• Upson County - Fiber to the Premise
• Union County - Recycling Program & Glass Pulverizer
• Whitfield County - Conasauga Community Addiction Recovery Center

More information on these award-winning initiatives will be included in the upcoming June issue of GeorgiaTrend magazine.

View the State of ACCG Video



Watch the video below to learn how ACCG helped advance Georgia's 159 counties over the past year.

Conference Materials Available for Download

Thank you to all the county leaders who joined us at the 2024 ACCG Annual Conference in Chatham County. To help you stay motivated as we move Together Toward Tomorrow, we have compiled presentations and handouts from the conference sessions. Click here to access the links.

We Want to Hear from You!

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. Thank you for your participation and contribution to improving our events!