(Lawrenceville, Ga., Aug. 11, 2022) – Gwinnett County just received top honors from the National Association of Counties for 11 of the County’s groundbreaking programs, now Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson and District 4 Commissioner Marlene Fosque have earned top spots among the NACo leadership.

NACo President Denise Winfrey appointed Hendrickson as the Subcommittee Vice-Chair of the Community, Economic and Workforce Development Steering Committee which focuses on housing. Hendrickson will also pull double-duty as a member of the Large Urban County Caucus; these are the same committees Winfrey once served on while rising in the ranks.

“The appointment by President Winfrey is humbling and an incredible honor,” Hendrickson said. “As these appointments help solidify Gwinnett County’s place on the national stage, I am guided by my commitment to our residents, employees and visitors who set us apart in how we operate.”

As the Commission Chair, Hendrickson leads the Board in setting the direction and formulating policies for county government, overseeing the creation and adoption of the County’s more than $2 billion budget and ensuring Gwinnett’s superior services reach its nearly 1 million residents with the efficiency and quality they have come to expect. To name a few accomplishments, Hendrickson spearheaded the creation of a mass COVID-19 vaccination center in the county; gave oversight to the implementation and expansion of the mental health partnership between Gwinnett County Police and View Point Health; as well as guided the vision for the County-sponsored, Gwinnett Entrepreneur Center. The center supports entrepreneurs and small businesses. She also serves as Chair of the Regional Housing Task Force for Metro Atlanta.

Meanwhile, District 4 Commissioner Marlene Fosque also received appointments from the newly-elected NACo president. Fosque will serve as the Vice-Chair of the International Economic Development Task Force; as Subcommittee Vice-Chair of the Transportation Steering Committee’s Transit/Rail Subcommittee and as member of the Large Urban County Caucus.

 “Fundamentally, these appointments are a matter of public service leadership since we create relevant policies that impact over 3,000 counties. They also allow us to bring to the forefront the services and programs Gwinnett County provides for our residents and to glean the great initiatives other counties are implementing across the country.”

As the first black woman to serve on the Board of Commissioners, Fosque prioritized the well-being of Gwinnett County residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and initiated the award-winning Project RESET and Project RESET 2.0 emergency rental and utility assistance programs. The U.S. Treasury went on to recognize Project RESET 2.0 as a top performer on how Emergency Rental Assistance funds should be spent. Fosque also hosts, “Better Together,” a visual podcast that’s focused on Gwinnett County Government and residents making a positive impact in the community.

Winfrey said she chose Hendrickson and Fosque because of their talent, commitment and forward-thinking leadership.