On Thursday, October 24, District 2 Commissioner Paul W. Bronson, earned his specialty track certification, in Intergovernmental Relations from Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG). He is the first Macon-Bibb County Commissioner to earn this specialty track offered by the Lifelong Learning Academy.  

“Going through this course helped me gain a clearer view that county commissioners don’t and shouldn’t operate in a vacuum,” said Commissioner Bronson. “It reenforced the basics of building a team and the importance of relationships. Some of the classes that come to mind that really opened my eyes are conflict resolution, regional cooperation, and federal and state relations that helped me remove bias and advanced my skills in much needed areas of my profession.” 

ACCG and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia have collaborated for more than two decades to provide county officials with supplemental training and educational tools in the Lifelong Learning Academy. With abundant courses from which they may choose, every county official has a tailor-made learning experience that allows them to excel in specific areas of expertise. 

“The Lifelong Learning Academy is critical to educating county officials about the challenges they may encounter in public service,” said Dave Wills, ACCG Executive Director. “County leaders who prioritize furthering their education are better equipped to address those challenges and are assets to their communities. I commend Bronson for his unwavering dedication to understanding his community.”  

The Lifelong Learning Academy was created with input from county commissioners who identified courses based on the issues and decision-making challenges regularly faced by county officials. To ensure the course requirements and curriculum remain relevant and engaging, the ACCG Lifelong Learning Committee – comprised of county commissioners and staff from both ACCG and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia – meet regularly to review and adjust accordingly. Through this collaborative approach, the Lifelong Learning Academy has been successful in equipping county officials with the necessary skills to meet the needs of their constituents. 

“As a strong advocate for continued education both in the personal and professional aspect, I see this as an example to keep pushing forward,” said Commissioner Bronson. “Representing a district that has some amazing students doing awesome things, I want to be that living example for our young leaders coming out of Bruce Elementary, Northeast High, Central High, Wesleyan College or anyone advancing their education…never stop learning, never stop growing!”