Municipal leaders and officials from across the state took part in continuing education classes presented by University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government faculty and other experts at the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) Annual Convention in late June at the Savannah Convention Center.

The UGA Institute of Government and GMA welcomed more than 2,500 people attending 54 classes over three days through the Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute. The Holtz Municipal Training Institute, administered through the University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government in partnership with the Georgia Municipal Association, provides a nationally recognized series of training opportunities for mayors, council members, city managers, clerks, department heads, and other municipal officials across the state.

At the convention, 179 municipal officials were awarded certificates for continuing education, recognizing those who had completed more than 42 hours of professional development. Five leaders were honored with 400 Club recognition for completing 400 hours or more of training.

Those recognized for training achievements at the convention include:

Certificate of Recognition (42 hours)

  • Wesley Bashlor (City of Pooler)
  • Keosha Bell (City of South Fulton)
  • Vicki Benefield (City of Ball Ground)
  • Kyle Berry (City of Stockbridge)
  • Richard Bowman (City of Grovetown)
  • Adriane Brown (City of Monroe)
  • Michael Carpenter (City of Pooler)
  • Joel Carter (City of Millen)
  • James Champion (City of Smithville)
  • Kristy Chance Starke (City of Kingsland)
  • Leon Childs (City of LaGrange)
  • Lester Clark (City of Locust Grove)
  • Rose Curtis (City of Griffin)
  • Jimmy Daniels (City of Oglethorpe)
  • William DuVall (City of Loganville)
  • Laronda Eason (City of Fort Valley)
  • Eric Fears (City of Conyers)
  • Andrew Ferguson (City of Demorest)
  • Victoria Gaitten (City of Metter)
  • John Giddens (City of Sylvester)
  • Matthew Hailey (City of Commerce)
  • Mary Henry (City of Palmetto)
  • Henry Howard (City of Fort Valley)
  • Samantha Hudson (City of Fairburn)
  • Lisa Jacobson (City of Temple)
  • Crystal Johns (City of Nahunta)
  • Kendrick Johnson (City of Wadley)
  • Laura Johnson (City of Peachtree City)
  • Christopher Jones (City of Hazlehurst)
  • Keytrick Jones (Fort Valley Utility Commission)
  • Kobi Kilgore (City of Winder)
  • Gary Lee (City of Fort Valley)
  • Debbie Martin (City of Hoschton)
  • John Mathis (City of Vienna)
  • Olivia McCornell (City of Locust Grove)
  • Dwight McMutry (City of Powder Springs)
  • Roshuanda Merritt (City of Commerce)
  • Hart Mizell (City of McRae-Helena)
  • MD Naser (City of Doraville)
  • Dexter Newby (City of Hinesville)
  • Madelyn Orochena (City of Kennesaw)
  • Jose Ortiz (City of Hinesville)
  • Mark Perkins (City of Clarkston)
  • Daniel Peterson (City of Perry)
  • Shawn Randerwala (City of Port Wentworth)
  • Ulysses Rayford (City of Waycross)
  • Richard Roquemore (City of Auburn)
  • Julie Sams (City of Monroe)
  • Tiffany Sandefur (City of Byron)
  • Harland Sanders (City of Anytown)
  • Christian Sigman (City of Brookhaven)
  • Mark Smith (City of Tallapoosa)
  • Robert Tressel (City of Hiram)
  • Rufus Veal (City of Cochran)
  • Elmer Veith (City of Chamblee)
  • Cheryl Venable (City of Statham)
  • Roxanne Whitaker (City of Harlem)
  • Brian Wolfe (City of Woodstock)

Certificate of Achievement (72 hours)

  • Spencer Barron (City of Eastman)
  • Elaina Beeman (City of Rome)
  • Jacqulene Bridges (City of Carrollton)
  • Danny Brown (City of Sandersville)
  • Margie Bryant (City of Culloden)
  • Earnest Carter (City of Sylvester)
  • Jay Chastain (City of Hiawassee)
  • Leslie Clemons (City of Fitzgerald)
  • Rose Curtis (City of Griffin)
  • Margaret Davis (City of Blakely)
  • David Dickinson (City of Monroe)
  • Jennifer Evans (City of Vidalia)
  • Bill Grant (City of Canton)
  • Milton Hall (City of Tifton)
  • Richard Hardy (Lanier County)
  • Jeffrey Hatcher (City of Donalsonville)
  • Christopher Hodges (City of Byron)
  • Kimberly James (City of Forest Park)
  • Keisha Jeffcoat (City of Mableton)
  • Catherine Lautenbacher (City of Dunwoody)
  • Richard Mascarro (City of Dublin)
  • Julianna McConnell (City of Suwanee)
  • Roshuanda Merritt (City of Commerce)
  • Matthew Momtahan (City of Villa Rica)
  • James Moody (City of Perry)
  • Perry Morgan (City of Jesup)
  • Nick Palumbo (City of Savannah)
  • Tonya Parrish (City of Flowery Branch)
  • Mark Peacock (City of Eastman)
  • Jason Phillips (City of Royston)
  • James Pierson (City of Culloden)
  • Rob Price (City of Dunwoody)
  • Harold Proctor (City of Sylvester)
  • Sylvia Redic (City of Palmetto)
  • Wayne Robinson (City of Rome)
  • Harland Sanders (City of Anytown)
  • Joe Seconder (City of Dunwoody)
  • Dennis Shoaf (City of Cave Spring)
  • Joseph Sims (City of Barnesville)
  • Brian West (City of Tybee Island)
  • Corey Williams (City of Greensboro)
  • Charles Wright (City of Griffin)

Certificate of Excellence (120 hours)

  • Joshua Bare (City of Norcross)
  • Eric Blair (City of Grovetown)
  • Alexander Blount (City of Kingsland)
  • Rufus Bright (City of Port Wentworth)
  • Harry Brock (City of Rome)
  • Valerie Brown (City of Davisboro)
  • Frank Cobbs (City of Riverdale)
  • Tony Cornett (City of Lula)
  • Ricky Cosby (City of Greensboro)
  • LaShun Danley (City of Douglasville)
  • Howard Estes (City of Douglasville)
  • Ruby Foster (City of Chattahoochee Hills)
  • Ray Gibson (City of Fayetteville)
  • Niyah Glover (City of Fayetteville)
  • Tammy Grimes (City of Stonecrest)
  • Juli Hayes (City of Gainesville)
  • Richard Hoffman (City of Fayetteville)
  • Clint Holland (City of Peachtree City)
  • John Howard (City of Monroe)
  • Tom Hutcherson (City of Pooler)
  • Edward Johnson (City of Fayetteville)
  • Tammi Jones (City of Powder Springs)
  • Darryl Langford (City of Fayetteville)
  • Bobby Lester (City of Jonesboro)
  • Griffin Lotson (City of Darien)
  • Derek Mack (City of Warner Robins)
  • Rodney McCord (City of Griffin)
  • Nycole Miller (City of Douglasville)
  • Louise Mitchell (City of Woodbine)
  • Dean Moore (City of Clarkston)
  • Mark Musselwhite (City of Demorest)
  • Keith Pendergrass (Town of Pine Mountain)
  • Linda Pritchett (City of South Fulton)
  • Allen Rassi (City of St. Marys)
  • Becky Richardson (Town of Braselton)
  • Jaceey Sebastian (City of South Fulton)
  • Pamela Shuman (City of Jesup)
  • Steve Tramell (City of West Point)
  • George Turner (City of Stonecrest)
  • Louise White (City of Hahira)
  • Jessica Wilbanks (City of Palmetto)
  • Travis Wimbush (City of Blakely)
  • Thomas Wirth (City of Nahunta)

Certificate of Distinction (204 hours)

  • Stephanie Almagno (City of Baldwin)
  • Edward Armijo (City of Centerville)
  • Eddie Daniels (City of Vienna)
  • Hector Gutierrez (City of Forest Park)
  • Ora Hall (City of Baxley)
  • Aaron Henry (City of Pooler)
  • Edward Johnson (City of Fayetteville)
  • Juanita Kinchen (City of Warwick)
  • Rodney McCord (City of Griffin)
  • Holly Murray (City of Griffin)
  • Mark Musselwhite (City of Demorest)
  • Venterra Pollard (City of Camilla)
  • William Pope (City of Tallapoosa)
  • Becky Richardson (Town of Braselton)
  • James Richardson (City of Byron)
  • Charles Williams (City of Jeffersonville)

Certificate of Dedication (276 hours)

  • Ed Barbee (City of Gray)
  • Jim Bojo (City of Rome)
  • Brandon Hembree (City of Sugar Hill)
  • John Klimm (City of Madison)
  • Richard Lassiter (City of Garden City)
  • Natalyn Morris (City of Garden City)
  • Andrea Pierce (City of Ashburn)
  • Judy Powell (City of Leesburg)
  • John Ramay (City of Hazlehurst)
  • Rochelle Robinson (City of Douglasville)
  • Catherine Rowell (City of South Fulton)
  • Harland Sanders (City of Anytown)
  • Vesta Shephard (City of Cordele)

400 Club (400 hours)

  • Mayme Dennis (City of Sandersville)
  • Dywane Johnson (City of Hazlehurst)
  • David Keener (City of Social Circle)
  • Chyrileen Kilcrease (City of Metter)
  • Willie King (City of Perry)