Pictured, left to right: Ringgold Councilmember Randall Franks receives awards from GMA Municipal Training Board Chairman Norma Tucker and Associate Director of the Carl Vinson Institute Stacy Jones
Ringgold Councilmember Randall Franks received the Certificate of Excellence from the Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute at the Georgia Municipal Association’s 83rd Annual Convention in Savannah on June 27.
He was also recognized for completing the annual Robert E. Knox, Jr. Municipal Leadership Institute.
“A key component of elected service is seeking out opportunities to improve what we already do for our residents and our visitors,” Mr. Franks said. “Learning what is done in other cities around our state as well as the most effective and appropriate ways to conduct our business help each of us to be good stewards and offer a better vision for the future of our community.”
The Georgia Municipal Training Institute, a cooperative effort of GMA and the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, provides a nationally recognized series of training opportunities for elected city officials.
To receive a Certificate of Excellence, a city official must complete a minimum of 120 units of credit, including at least 54 hours from the required list and the Robert E. Knox, Jr. Municipal Leadership Institute. The training program consists of a series of more than 50 courses.
The multi-day Leadership Institute, co-sponsored by GMA and the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, featured a nationally recognized training development consultant and speaker. Participants also engaged in role-playing exercises designed to cultivate and enhance leadership skills.
“This is an outstanding achievement,” said GMA Executive Director Lamar Norton. “We commend Council member Franks for this accomplishment and for the dedication he’s shown in using this valuable resource to become a more effective city official.
“The Leadership Institute is an outstanding program and widely acknowledged as one of the best of its type in the country,” Mr. Norton said. “We highly recommend it to any city official who wants to be a more effective community leader.”
Mr. Franks is Ringgold’s former vice mayor and currently serves as Downtown Development authority and Main Street Program chairman. He was initially elected in 2009 and served Catoosa County and Ringgold as public information officer and volunteer coordinator during the 2011-12 tornado response and recovery efforts. He is former vice chairman of the Ringgold Convention and Visitors Bureau.