COVINGTON, Ga. – Newton County Chairman Marcello Banes was recognized as a Certified County Commissioner by the Association County Commissioners of Georgia recently.

ACCG recently awarded county officials with certificates for completing requirements in Lifelong Learning Academy. Recipients were presented with their achievement certificates during the 2019 ACCG Annual Conference at the Savannah Convention Center. Banes was honored for successfully completing the core requirements in the Lifelong Learning Academy.

“I am so excited to receive this certification,” Banes said. “This will allow me to help move Newton County forward and serve the citizens in a more effective way as we strive to become #OneNewton.”

For more than two decades ACCG and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia have collaborated to offer supplemental training and educational tools in the Lifelong Learning Academy. With abundant courses to choose from, every county official has a tailor-made learning experience that allows them to excel in specific areas of expertise.

“Counties in Georgia face a constantly evolving set of challenges which elected and appointed officials must address in order to lead effectively,” Dave Wills, ACCG’s executive director, said. “The Lifelong Learning Academy was created to help county officials expand their skillset, equipping them to address the challenges they face and to take advantage of opportunities to improve their respective communities. I commend leaders such as Chairman Banes, who understand the value of continuing their education, taking the initiative to engage in the Lifelong Learning Academy, which is truly a program of excellence.”

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.