Organization
Management Profiles
Director:
Matthew Dickison
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.
Assistant Director:
Chris Hayward
Chris.Hayward@GwinnettCounty.com
Deputy Director:
Roman Dakare
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.
Deputy Director:
Cyndi Sloan
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.
Deputy Director:
Tai Yi Su
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.
Building Division Director:
Marcus Canada
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.
Development Division Director:
Rinda Grooms
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.
Planning Division Director:
Yang Chen
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.
Code Enforcement Division Director:
Jessica Watson
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.
Housing and Community Development Division Director:
Matt Elder
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.
Economic Development Division Director:
Randall Touissant
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.
Customer Experience Division Director:
Patrick Quick
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.
Administration Division Director:
Nicholas Derajtys
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.