Coweta County officials have unveiled a series of internal promotions, advancing three of its employees to higher leadership positions in areas ranging from emergency management to library systems and corrections. As reported by the Coweta County official announcement, the promotions come in anticipation of several long-serving directors' retirements.
In response to Assistant Director Arlene Whisenhunt's retirement after a 35-year tenure, Nic Burgess has been promoted to serve as the Assistant Director of the 911/EMA Department starting January 2020. During his time with Coweta County, Burgess' efforts contributed to the region's response to the EF-4 tornado in March 2021 and the exigencies of the pandemic. He comes prepared with a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management and Homeland Security, a Master of Science in Emergency Management, and a certification from the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, obtained April 5, 2019. Burgess is recognized as a Georgia Certified Emergency Manager.
Another notable promotion in the county is that of Machelle Hill, who will be stepping into the role of Coweta Public Library System Director effective August 1. Hill, succeeding the retiring Director Jimmy Bass after his own 35-year career, joined Coweta County in 2008 and worked her way up from Library Branch Manager to Assistant Director in January 2022. Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Science in Economics, graduating magna cum laude from the University of West Georgia, and a Master of Science in Information Studies with a focus on Reference/User Services and Children/Young Adult Services from Florida State University. Her passion for enhancing community life through library services is a driving force in her promotion.
The position of Warden of the Coweta County Prison & Corrections Division is set to be filled by Jeff Rogers, with the final nod from the Georgia Board of Corrections expected next month. Rogers, a 20-year public safety veteran, spent his entire career with the Coweta County State Court Probation Office, where he rose from Probation Officer in 2005 to Chief Probation Officer in 2019. He led the Employee Advisory Committee (EAC) and, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Valdosta State University. Rogers' extensive experience and leadership within public safety have earned him this advancement within the department.
"We are incredibly fortunate to have over 1,200 dedicated public servants who are passionate about serving our community," stated Administrator Michael Fouts on Coweta County.
