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Management Profiles

 
Matthew Dickison
Director:
Matthew Dickison

678.518.6130

Matthew.Dickison@GwinnettCounty.com


Matthew Dickison was appointed Director of the Department of Planning and Development in May 2023. He first joined the Planning and Development Department in 2021 as Deputy Director and was promoted to Assistant Director in 2022. In his new role, Matt will provide leadership and strategic direction to all divisions within the department.

Prior to joining Gwinnett County, Matt served as Planning and Development Director for the city of Chamblee, Georgia, and an associate planner at Clark Patterson Lee and Associates. He has also served in leadership positions in the cities of Dunwoody, Johns Creek, and Suwanee. He began his planning career working for the city of Louisville, Kentucky. Matt is a professionally certified planner with a bachelor’s degree in geography and a master’s degree in urban planning from the University of Louisville. He also holds a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Illinois.

Chris Hayward
Assistant Director:
Chris Hayward

678.518.6030

Chris.Hayward@GwinnettCounty.com


Chris Hayward began serving as the Assistant Director of the Department of Planning and Development in 2023. Previously, Chris served as the Deputy Director, where he oversaw the Housing and Community Development, Code Enforcement, Building, and Administration Divisions.
 
Prior to working with Gwinnett, Chris served in various capacities in the Office of the Chief Operating Officer for DeKalb County, assisting with project management, economic development, strategic planning, and policy development. He has a juris doctor and bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia with a major in economics and a minor in English. He is also an active member of the International City and County Management Association.
Roman Dakare
Deputy Director:
Roman Dakare

678.518.6219

Roman.Dakare@gwinnettcounty.com


Roman Dakare joined Planning and Development as Deputy Director in 2023, leading the Planning and Economic Development and Housing and Community Development Divisions. Prior to this role, Roman served as the Director of Economic Development for Gwinnett County focusing on business development, business outreach, redevelopment, small business, and entrepreneurship. Roman also worked in the Department of Financial Services for four years concentrating on Gwinnett County’s overall operating and capital budgets.

Roman earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Missouri. He completed his Certificate of Regional Economics and Leadership with Georgia Academy for Economic Development. Roman has also successfully graduated from Gwinnett County’s Internal Management Academy and earned his Finance Officer Certificate at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia.

Cyndi Sloan
Deputy Director:
Cyndi Sloan

678.518.6011

Cyndi.Sloan@GwinnettCounty.com


Cyndi Sloan assumed the role of Deputy Director for the Department of Planning and Development in 2023. Her responsibilities encompass the leadership of the current Planning and Development Divisions of the department.

Cyndi brings a wealth of government experience including holding various positions in the Planning and Development Divisions in Gwinnett County. She also worked with the engineering firm Travis Pruitt and Associates, Incorporated for 15 years, where her responsibilities included design, planning, due diligence, and code research. Cyndi earned a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from the University of Georgia and is a registered landscape architect and certified arborist.

Tai Yi Su
Deputy Director:
Tai Yi Su

678.518.6249

TaiYi.Su@GwinnettCounty.com


Tai Yi Su joined Planning and Development as Deputy Director in 2024, leading the Infrastructure Planning Division. Tai Yi has worked with the County since 2021, where she previously served as the Infrastructure Support Division Director for Gwinnett Water Resources. Prior to joining Gwinnett County she worked in water supply planning and infrastructure master planning with Jordan, Jones & Goulding, Jacobs, and AECOM. 

Tai Yi earned her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from National Taiwan University and a master’s degree in environmental engineering from Duke University. She is a professional engineer in Georgia, a long-time member of the Georgia Association of Water Professionals, and currently runs the mentorship program for GAWP’s Women Making Waves Committee.
Marcus Canada
Building Division Director:
Marcus Canada

678.518.6043

Marcus.Canada@GwinnettCounty.com


Marcus Canada became a Division Director for the Planning and Development Department in 2023, overseeing building plan review, fire plan review, and building inspections.

Marcus has worked with Gwinnett County since 2001. Throughout his career, he has served as a Plans Examiner, Plan Review Manager, and Deputy Division Director. Prior to joining the County in 2001, Marcus was a practicing architect for 20 years in the private sector which included serving as the appointed architect for the Jefferson County, Kentucky Historic Landmarks and Preservation Board. He has also served on the Gwinnett Sustainability Team.

Marcus earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Kentucky and is a Licensed Architect. He is a member of the Metro Atlanta Inspector’s Association and Building Officials Association of Georgia.

Rinda Grooms
Development Division Director:
Rinda Grooms

678.518.4965

Rinda.Grooms@GwinnettCounty.com


Rinda Grooms was appointed Development Division Director in 2023. In this role, she oversees development plan review, stormwater plan review, water and sewer plan review, and development inspections.

During her career with Gwinnett County, Rinda has served as a Plans Examiner, Plan Review Manager, and Deputy Division Director. She also worked in the private sector for 13 years where her responsibilities included site design, utility design, stormwater management design, and permitting for various commercial and residential sites throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area and Florida. Rinda earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from West Virginia University and is a registered professional engineer.

Yang Chen
Planning Division Director:
Yang Chen

678.518.6246

Yang.Chen@GwinnettCounty.com


Yang Chen became the Planning Division Director in 2023, overseeing zoning administration and long-range planning.
 
Prior to joining Gwinnett, Yang served as the Deputy Director of Community Development for the City of Johns Creek and held planning roles with county governments in Virginia and Maryland. Yang earned a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from Tongji University and a master’s degree in city planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Jessica Watson
Code Enforcement Division Director:
Jessica Watson

770.513.5108

Jessica.Watson@GwinnettCounty.com


Jessica Watson became the Code Enforcement Division Director for the Planning and Development Department in 2022, providing leadership and support to assigned staff, managing special projects, and upholding the Gwinnett Standard of Excellence within the division.

Jessica has worked in local government since 2008 and served in multiple positions for the Cities of Norcross and Lawrenceville as a planner, senior code enforcement officer, and code enforcement supervisor. She earned an associate degree in business administration from Liberty University and is certified through the Georgia Association of Code Enforcement.

Matt Elder
Housing and Community Development Division Director:
Matt Elder

678.518.6238

Matthew.Elder@GwinnettCounty.com


Matt Elder joined the Planning and Development Department in 2022 as the Housing and Community Development Division Director. He is responsible for administering grant funds awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through Community Development Block Grants, Emergency Solutions Grants, the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, and other programs.

Matt has worked on housing and community development issues in Gwinnett County for nearly a decade in various roles. He most recently served as the Director of HomeFirst Gwinnett with a primary focus on the issue of homelessness.

Matt holds a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in public administration from Georgia College & State University.

Randall Touissant
Economic Development Division Director:
Randall Touissant

678.518.6081

Randall.Toussaint@GwinnettCounty.com


Randall Toussaint joined Planning and Development as the Economic Development Division Director in 2024. In this role, he oversees redevelopment opportunities, research and analysis, and relocation and expansion assistance.
 
Prior to joining Gwinnett, Randall served as the Economic Development Director for the City of Johns Creek. He also served as the Director of Economic Development at Partnership Gwinnett, leading a team that helped to attract $1.6 billion in new capital investment to Gwinnett County in a single year. His credentials also include Director of Corporate Solutions and Cybersecurity at the Georgia Department of Economic Development, and the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation’s Business Development officer for the technology sector in Fort Meade, Maryland.
 
Randall earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Morehouse College and a master’s degree in public administration from Savannah State University.
Patrick Quick
Customer Experience Division Director:
Patrick Quick

770.822.3973

Patrick.Quick@GwinnettCounty.com


Patrick Quick joined Planning and Development as the Customer Experience Division Director in 2024, where he oversees the overall customer process and experience, licensing and revenue, and permitting. Prior to joining Gwinnett County, he  served as Director of Strategy and Innovation for the City of Aspen, Colorado and Division Manager of the Office of the Fire Chief for the City of Austin, Texas. He began his career in public service for the State of Oklahoma alongside the Governor’s Office in the Performance and Efficiency Division to implement the State’s strategic plan.
 
Patrick earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Oklahoma Baptist University and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Oklahoma. He holds a process improvement certification in Lean Six Sigma and a leadership certification in local government from the College of Charleston.
Nicholas Derajtys
Administration Division Director:
Nicholas Derajtys

678.518.6160

Nicholas.Derajtys@GwinnettCounty.com


Nicholas Derajtys became the Administration Division Director for the Planning and Development Department in 2023. He oversees the department’s budget, technology enhancements, and human resources functions.

Nicholas joined Gwinnett County in 2016, previously serving as the budget manager within the Department of Financial Services, where he helped plan the County’s annual budget process. He earned bachelor’s degrees in political science and international affairs and a master’s in public administration from the University of Georgia.
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