Organization
Mission
Vision
Values
We believe in stewardship of public resources, protection of the environment, and that all citizens should expect to live and work in a clean and secure community.
We value excellence, creativity, innovation, and new technologies and ideas.
We believe that our government must be customer-focused, fiscally responsible, and deliver services that are among the best in the nation.
Management Profiles
County Administrator:
Glenn Stephens
Glenn.Stephens@gwinnettcounty.com
The Board of Commissioners appointed Glenn Stephens as County Administrator in September 2009. Glenn had previously served as Director of Gwinnett County's Planning and Development Department since November 2006. He is an attorney with more than 20 years of experience representing Gwinnett and DeKalb Counties and several municipalities in Gwinnett County. Prior to his appointment as Planning and Development Director, Glenn was Senior Assistant County Attorney for Gwinnett County and specialized in land use and zoning law and litigation.Glenn's legal career began in 1987 at the Lawrenceville law firm of Tennant, Davidson, Thompson and Sweeny in Lawrenceville. He then moved on to work for DeKalb County's law department representing DeKalb County in its land use litigation until 1998 when he joined Gwinnett County. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Mercer University and a J.D. from the Walter F. George School of Law of Mercer University. Glenn and his wife have two sons and have lived in Snellville since 1991. He is active in various church activities.
Deputy County Administrator/Chief Financial Officer:
Maria Woods
Maria.Woods@gwinnettcounty.com
Maria became Deputy County Administrator in addition to her role as Chief Financial Officer in July 2020. She was named CFO in 2014 after spending the previous three years leading Gwinnett’s Department of Financial Services. Since joining Gwinnett County in 1997, she served as deputy finance director and accounting director. Maria earned a master's degree in business administration from Brenau University and a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Georgia. She is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Georgia, and she has earned the designation of Certified Financial Officer Level II from the University of Georgia and Certified Public Finance Officer from the Government Finance Officers Association. In her 30 years of experience in local government, she has provided training services for the Carl Vinson Institute of Government Certified Financial Officers Association and previously was a reviewer for the Government Financial Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. Maria is a member of the Government Finance Officers Association and the Georgia Government Finance Officers Association.
Communications Division Director:
Joe Sorenson
Joe.Sorenson@gwinnettcounty.com
Joe earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Georgia and began his career with Gwinnett County in 1991 in the field of video production and cable programming. Joe was instrumental in the formation of the Communications Division, which occurred when three distinct functions – television production, Web site management, and public relations – were folded into one division in 1998. He continued to manage all aspects of the County’s government access cable television station until his appointment as Communications Director. In this capacity, Joe oversees and directs the operation of the County’s primary channels of communication including the Web site (www.gwinnettcounty.com), cable television station (TVgwinnett), citizen information line, and printed publications.
The Communications Division provides creative services for other County departments and agencies: research, writing, editing, media relations, photography, video production, event planning, and audiovisual system consultation and management. Joe has steered the successful launch of three phases of the official Gwinnett County Web site, an intranet, and full automation of the cable channel. He is a member of PRSA, and 3CMA. He resides with his wife and twin sons in the Grayson area of Gwinnett County.
Economic Development Manager:
Roman Dakare
678.518.6219
404.229.3023 (cell)
Roman.Dakare@gwinnettcounty.com
Roman Dakare focuses primarily on economic analysis, redevelopment efforts, global outreach, and research services. He previously worked as a project coordinator for the Gwinnett County Chief Financial Officer, where he analyzed the financial viability of county projects and funding. His experience includes serving as sales manager for the world’s largest hotel chain in the very competitive metro Atlanta market. Roman graduated with honors from Georgia Gwinnett College with a degree in accounting and is pursuing a Master of Public Administration.
Economic Development Manager:
Mark Farmer
678.518.6217
404.242.8439 (cell)
Mark.Farmer@gwinnettcounty.com
As part of a team charged with enhancing economic development in Gwinnett, Mark Farmer focuses on redevelopment, entrepreneurship, and research reports. He joined the County in January 2017, after serving for six years as director of entrepreneurship and information services and three years as research manager for Partnership Gwinnett, a public-private economic development initiative.
His 20-plus years of business experience include owning Words & Pictures, a writing and photography business with such clients as Emory University’s Public Health magazine, Georgia Tech, and the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games.
Mark has also held positions with Life University’s public relations and photography departments, MARTA, Hayes Microcomputer Products, the Powell Goldstein law firm, and Multimedia, Inc. He holds a B.A. in journalism from the University of South Carolina and an M.A. in economic development policy from Georgia Tech.
Economic Development Manager:
Shantell R. Wilson
678.518.6212
678.234.0961 (cell)
Shantell.Wilson@gwinnettcounty.com
With a focus on strategic industries, Shantell Wilson’s is responsible for sales and marketing, business retention, and incentive negotiations. She came to work for Gwinnett County in 2016.
Shantell’s economic development career began with the Georgia Department of Economic Development in 2004 where she served first as research and existing industry specialist, assisting with major projects such as the Kia Motors Manufacturing facility, and later as operations manager of the Governor’s Mentor Protégé Program.
In October 2006, Shantell was hired as project manager for the Savannah Economic Development Authority and worked with sales and marketing to create more than 1,600 jobs and approximately $739 million in investment. She was promoted to the role of assistant director of established business and manager of minority recruitment, responsible for providing guidance to companies through the incentives process and assisting them with access to resources.
Shantell joined Partnership Gwinnett in February 2015 as senior project manager of advanced manufacturing and supply chain. While there, she assisted with the location of 4,000 jobs and more than $250 million in capital investment.
Shantell graduated from Georgia Southern University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in economic development and holds an MBA from Walden University. She is a member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association, International Economic Development Council, Gwinnett Young Professionals, and the International Council for Shopping Centers.
Shantell resides in Duluth with her daughter.
Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful Executive Director:
Schelly Marlatt
Schelly.Marlatt@gwinnettcounty.com
A lifelong resident of Gwinnett, Schelly was appointed executive director of Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful in 2016, where she had served as community outreach and human resources manager from 2007-2009.
She joined Gwinnett County’s Solid Waste Management Division in 2010 focused on marketing, education, public forums and community outreach. Promoted to section manager in 2014, Schelly managed daily operations of the division and call center, the residential and commercial solid waste plans, recycling programs, and contracts.
Schelly is an Auburn University, LEAD Academy and Leadership Gwinnett graduate who uses more than 20 years of experience in networking and building relationships to inspire others to accomplish incredible things.
Schelly lives in Dacula with her two sons.
Director of Internal Audit:
Mark Brown
B.Mark.Brown@gwinnettcounty.com
Mark Brown joined Gwinnett County as Director of Internal Audit in 2016. His 30-plus years of experience in accounting and internal audit include serving as director of internal audit at Aaron’s Inc. and associate director of internal audit at AT&T. He has also worked in the public accounting sector, specializing in financial services for federal governmental entities. Mark earned an MBA from Boston University and a Bachelor of Arts in accounting from Millsaps College. He is a Certified Public Accountant.
