Support Services is an internal service organization that provides responsive, high-quality services in the areas of Facilities Management, Fleet Management, Construction Management, and Property Management.
Mission
Values
Our values of teamwork, accountability, innovation, responsiveness, efficiency, and reliability are the core beliefs that motivate and enable us to provide the highest level of customer service.
Vision
Our vision is to remain the best example of an internal service organization where services are provided and sustained by the highest quality staff at all levels.
Management Profiles
Director:
Angelia Parham
Angelia.Parham@gwinnettcounty.com
Angelia Parham joined Gwinnett County as Support Services Department Director in May 2013. She previously served as the Public Works Director for the city of Sandy Springs and assisted with the startup of several other newly incorporated cities during her tenure at CH2M Hill. Angelia was formerly the Deputy Director and Interim Director for the city of Roswell’s Transportation Department. Prior to that, she conducted research with the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University. Her earlier experience includes positions with the Town of Farragut, Tennessee; the University of Tennessee Transportation Center; Friendswood Development Company, a subsidiary of Exxon Corporation; and as a cooperative education student with the Federal Highway Administration.
Angelia is a professional engineer and earned both her Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She was named 2008 Public Works Director of the Year by American City and County Magazine. Angelia has been a member of the Roswell Recreation Commission since 2012. She served as a member of the Transportation Research Board’s Operational Effects of Geometrics Committee for nine years, and she previously served in leadership roles in the American Society of Civil Engineers, American Public Works Association, and the Optimist Club of West Knoxville.
Angelia and her husband, John, have four grown children.
Deputy Director:
Susan Canon
Susan.Canon@gwinnettcounty.com
Susan Canon joined Gwinnett County in April 2015 as Deputy Director of Support Services. Her career includes experience in the public and private sector. Prior to joining Gwinnett County, Susan served as Assistant City Manager and Director of Community Development for the city of Brookhaven. She also served as Deputy Director of Community Development for the city of Johns Creek and assisted with startup operations for the cities of Milton, Chattahoochee Hill Country, and Peachtree Corners in Georgia and Bonita Springs, Florida, through public private partnerships with CH2M HILL. Susan also served as Land Use Manager with the law firm of Lipscomb, Johnson, Sleister, Dailey, and Smith in Cumming and as Real Estate Manager and Project Manager with Bellsouth Mobility in Atlanta. Susan began her career with the city of Roswell where she held various management and leadership positions including Planning and Zoning Director, a role appointed by the mayor and city council.
Susan earned a Bachelor of Science in geography with an emphasis in city planning from the University of West Georgia, and she is a Certified Local Government Manager.
Susan and her husband, Eddie, have two grown children.
Facility Construction Division Director:
James Brownsmith
James.Brownsmith@gwinnettcounty.com
James Brownsmith joined Gwinnett County as Director of the Facility Construction Division in April 2018. He manages a team responsible for the construction of new County facilities and building renovations. James has an extensive background in the public and private sector. Prior to joining Gwinnett County, he was a Project Executive with the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission and led design and construction of projects for the Board of Regents, Technical College System of Georgia, Georgia World Congress Center, and other state agencies. Prior to his work with the State of Georgia, he had a similar role with Marshall Erdman and Associates, a design build firm, specializing in healthcare facilities primarily in New England, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. James began his career in construction project management with Roberts Construction Company in Denver, Colorado, and as a contract administrator for Design Group One Architects in Hartford, Connecticut. In addition, James taught Architecture at the University of Lagos in Nigeria.
James earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture from Howard University. He and his wife, Pamela, have two grown children.
Operations and Maintenance Division Director:
Dennis Baxter
Dennis.Baxter@gwinnettcounty.com
Dennis Baxter began his career with Gwinnett County in 1991. He manages the operations and maintenance services of County facilities including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, grounds, housekeeping, and furniture. In addition, he is responsible for projects such as electrical and lighting distribution system enhancements; access control and video surveillance system improvements; fire and security alarm replacements; HVAC upgrades; office construction and remodels; and water distribution upgrades. He has served on the Gwinnett County Environmental Sustainability Committee, the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce Environmental Summit Committee, and the Atlanta Regional Commission Green Communities Task Force.
Prior to joining Gwinnett County, Dennis served as a computer engineer for General Electric and was the project manager for the construction of a robotic facility in Greenville, South Carolina. Upon completion of the facility, Dennis developed programs and electronic controls for production process automation.
Dennis earned a Bachelor of Science in applied physics and a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He earned a Master of Science in computer science from Southern Polytechnic State University and a Master of Public Administration with an emphasis in public management from the University of Georgia. Dennis is a professional engineer and a certified energy manager, and he holds a Certificate of Local Government Management from the University of Georgia.
Dennis and his wife, Pam, have one grown son.
Fleet Management Division Director:
Ron Adderley
Ron.Adderley@gwinnettcounty.com
Ron Adderley joined Gwinnett County as Fleet Management Division Director in July 2016. In this role, Ron manages the purchase and maintenance of approximately 3000 vehicles and pieces of equipment; fuel delivery of over 5,000,000 gallons per year at 11 fuel sites; and the sale of surplus vehicles, equipment, and other items totaling over $1,000,000 per year.
Ron previously served as the Field Operations Manager and Capital Improvement Program Manager for the city of Centennial, Colorado, and as the Field Services Manager for the city of Sandy Springs while with CH2M HILL. Prior to that, he was the Construction and Maintenance Division Manager for the city of Roswell Transportation Department and was a Construction Project Manager with the Georgia Department of Transportation. Ron also served as an original member and supervisor of GDOT’s H.E.R.O. program in metro Atlanta.
Ron and his wife, Jane’t, have one daughter.
Real Estate and Records Management Division Director:
Ben Song
Ben Song became the Real Estate and Records Management Division Director in November 2016. In this role, Ben manages County records, mail services, cafeteria and food service contracts, acquisition and disposition of County property, and negotiation and administration of leases.
Ben previously served as Director of Community Development for the city of Brookhaven, assisting in the municipal startup and planning initiatives. He previously served as a Senior Planner with the cities of Johns Creek and Peachtree Corners while working for CH2M Hill. Ben began his career as a Planner with the Gwinnett County Department of Planning and Development.
Ben earned his Master of Public Administration with an emphasis in planning and economic development from Georgia State University and a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and public policy from the University of Toronto (Canada).
He and his wife, Jane, have two daughters.
Fiscal and Solid Waste Management Division Director:
Marion Reader
Marion.Reader@gwinnettcounty.com
Marion Reader has served Gwinnett County since 2014, and he became the Fiscal and Solid Waste Management Division Director in May 2017. In this role, Marion provides fiscal support for the department’s budget, contracts, fixed assets, procurement, billing, and receivables and administers the solid waste program for unincorporated areas of the County.
Marion’s public sector experience includes Operations, Finance, Information Technology, and Facilities roles with the United States Postal Service. As Administrative Support Manager for the USPS Facilities Department, he managed budget administration and information technology support. He previously held the USPS positions of Program and Financial Analyst and served as Postmaster of Winterville, Georgia.
Marion earned his Bachelor of Science in computer and information science from Troy University.
He and his wife, Jennifer, have three grown children.
