Mission
The Department of Community Services provides high-quality recreational, educational, electoral, human services, and other services in partnership with the Gwinnett community.
Vision
We envision a diverse, vibrant, and safe Gwinnett community where residents are healthy and successful. We will partner with others to enhance the quality of life of families and individuals residing in Gwinnett County.
Values
We believe in honesty, integrity, and ethical conduct.
We are customer-oriented and both accountable and responsive to our citizens.
We believe in teamwork and collaboration with our community partners.
We promote safety, cost efficiency, innovation, and service excellence.
Mission, Vision, Values
Management Profiles
Department Director:
Tina Fleming
Tina.Fleming@gwinnettcounty.com
Tina Fleming was appointed director of the Gwinnett County Department of Community Services in 2016. Employed with Gwinnett County Community Services since 2001, Tina has also served as the Division Director of Parks and Recreation Operations and held other management roles in that division. Her areas of responsibility includes Parks and Recreation, Health and Human Services, UGA Extension, Animal Welfare and Enforcement, Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center, Voter Registrations and Elections, and she is liaison with several community service organizations. Her more than 20 years of public service experience includes work with local communities in Georgia.
Voter Registration & Elections Director:
Lynn Ledford
Lynn.Ledford@gwinnettcounty.com
Lynn has been an employee of Gwinnett County since 1987. She has worked at all levels of the Voter Registration and Elections Division. In January 2002, she was appointed to serve as the director of the division. Lynn is the Immediate Past President of the Georgia Election Officials Association and serves on committees with the Voter Registrars Association of Georgia. These two organizations represent over 500 election officials statewide. In 2006 she completed her national certification as a Registration and Elections Administrator through Auburn University.In 2007 she was appointed to a National Task Force for Poll Worker and Public Education on the Elections Process and also serves on multiple Election Advisory Councils for voter registration and election officials. In 2010 she received the Frances Duncan Award from the Georgia Election Officials Association. Lynn is one of two election officials statewide that serves on the Secretary of State’s Election Code Review Committee, which is charged with revising the Georgia Election Code. A native of Gwinnett County, she graduated from Dacula High School. She resides in Grayson with her husband and two children.
Business Management Section Manager:
Rick Morris
Rick.Morris@gwinnettcounty.com
Rick has served as Section Manager of the Business Management Division of the Community Services Department since August 2009. This division is responsible for coordinating, monitoring, and processing the financial needs of Community Services, including administration, human resources, budget, payables, revenues, purchasing, and fixed assets. Rick is a graduate of the EXCEL management development program and is a Certified Finance Officer, Levels I and II, through the University of Georgia. Rick has worked with Gwinnett County since June 1996.During his tenure with Gwinnett County and prior to becoming the Section Manager of the Business Management Division, he served as a Business Officer for the Community Services Department, overseeing the capital budget, including the 1997, 2001, 2005, and 2009 sales tax programs. Rick is a graduate of the University of Florida and has worked for Gwinnett County since graduation.
Deputy Director:
Blake Hawkins
Blake.Hawkins@gwinnettcounty.com
Blake Hawkins, Deputy Department Director, oversees three divisions; Animal Welfare and Enforcement, UGA Extension Gwinnett, and Health and Human Services. A graduate of Florida State University, 1990, Blake holds a B.S. in Leisure Service & Studies and worked many years in Florida for local government, nonprofit organizations, and healthcare industry; all with in a citizen/customer focused approach.
He began with Gwinnett County in 1997 in Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation serving as Recreation Programmer, Recreation Coordinator, and Recreation Manager. He was instrumental in opening the County’s first Community Recreation Center, Bogan Park Community Recreation Center. He took a nine year absence from the County to open a small business, which he owned and operated for nine years and eventually sold and returned to Gwinnett County.
Blake now manages the three divisions to provide quality and accountable services to the residents of Gwinnett by offering healthy, adoptable pets through Animal Welfare; inviting and educational family activities and programs with UGA Extension Gwinnett; and quality, accessible, and affordable care and services to Gwinnett’s senior population and other diverse communities through Health and Human Services.
UGA Extension Gwinnett Director:
Mary Black
Mary Black began working as the Director and County Extension Coordinator for the UGA Extension Gwinnett division in 2017. Her role is to manage the three areas of extension; Agriculture and Natural Resources, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Georgia 4-H Youth Development program. Mary has a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Environmental Sciences, a Master of Science degree in Nutrition and a Ph.D. in Nutrition.
She has served in the medical field as a Licensed Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator and has over twenty years of program management experience in health promotion and chronic disease management. She volunteers as a Gwinnett Master Gardener and as a diabetes educator to senior citizens.
Deputy Director:
Mark Patterson
Mark.Patterson@gwinnettcounty.com
Mark started with Parks and Recreation Division in 1987 and serves as the deputy director for recreation fund facilities; Parks and Recreation-Operations; Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center; and Parks and Recreation-Project Administration.
Mark has authored several nationally award winning initiatives. He is a member of several professional organizations including The Wildlife Society, The National Recreation and Parks Association and the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association; where he served on its Board of Trustees for six years. As a sought after speaker, Mark has presented at local, state, national and international symposiums on geospatial applications and their use in natural resource management. A member of the steering committee for Georgia’s State Wildlife Action Plan, Mark is committed to preserving and enacting sustainable practices for the preservation of the public lands Gwinnett County holds.
A husband and father of two, Mark spends his free time as a soccer coach, scout leader and exploring nature with his family.
