ATLANTA – Colquitt County Commissioners Paul Nagy and Marc DeMott were presented with achievement certificates during the 2024 Association of County Commissioners of Georgia Legislative Leadership Conference.

Both commissioners were honored for successfully completing the Economic and Community Development specialty track requirements in the Lifelong Learning Academy.

The Association of County Commissioners of Georgia and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia have collaborated for more than two decades to provide county officials with supplemental training and educational tools in the Lifelong Learning Academy.

“The Lifelong Learning Academy is critical to educating county officials about the challenges they may encounter in public service,” said Dave Wills, ACCG executive director. “County leaders who prioritize furthering their education are better equipped to address those challenges and are assets to their communities.”

He went on to say that he commended both DeMott and Nagy 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 – comprised of county commissioners and staff from both ACCG and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government – 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.

The Association of County Commissioners of Georgia 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, visit www.accg.org.