The Cobb Chamber’s South Cobb Area Council, which represents South Cobb’s three distinct districts of Austell, Mableton, and Powder Springs, has selected three community advocates as their 2024 Citizens of the Year: Quintasha Swanson for Austell, Carolyn Turner for Mableton, and Elliott Hennington for Powder Springs.
The Citizen of the Year Awards are given to honor an individual whose impact through the years will be recognized and regarded with pride throughout the area as a role model. These outstanding citizens are chosen for their definable, exceptional deeds, with which he or she have made their community a better place to live. Awards are given based on local area nominations. The 2024 South Cobb Citizens of the Year awards were presented at the South Cobb Area Council luncheon at the Riverside EpiCenter.
2024 Austell Citizen of the Year
Quintasha Swanson, Executive Director at The Haven of Help, Inc.
Quintasha Swanson is the Founder and Executive Director of The Haven of Help, a nonprofit with the mission to provide services and resources to assist individuals and families to become self-sufficient. Swanson is known as a pillar of the Austell community, serving as the Executive Assistant to the city’s Chief of Police and volunteering for several organizations. Swanson has represented the City of Austell for Keep Cobb Beautiful for three years. For the past two years, Swanson has been President of the South Cobb High School’s Parent Teacher Student Association. Swanson is also an active member of the Beacon of Light Christian Church in Austell.
The Haven of Hope aims to build stronger communities by helping individuals when they need it most. The organization provides employment services, food, housing, utility, and rent assistance, and agency referrals. Swanson has developed and implemented several initiatives to empower and encourage people in her community, including the annual Back-2-School Bash, Single Mother’s Luncheon, Father’s Day Cook-out, Black History Month Spelling Bees, and Project Warm Blanket. Swanson is a devoted mother of three children and has served as a spokesperson for United Way & Families First.
2024 Mableton Citizen of the Year
Carolyn Turner, Founder, H.O.P.E Family Resource Center
Carolyn Turner’s dedication to her community can be seen in nearly every aspect of her life. As the founder of H.O.P.E. Family Resource Center, she embodies the spirit of “Helping Other People Everyday,” directly impacting the lives of hundreds of families through her commitment to service. From organizing school supply drives and community outreach events to supporting small businesses and providing critical resources to those in need, Turner’s contributions have left a lasting mark on Mableton.
In addition to her work with the H.O.P.E Family Resource Center, Turner is the treasurer and longtime board member of the Mableton Improvement Coalition, an appointed member of the Cobb Board of Tax Assessors, and the current chairperson and grant administrator for the FEMA Emergency Food and Shelter Program. She has played a significant role in many Mableton Improvement Coalition projects including the Taste of Mableton, the community garden, Farmer’s Market events, and zoning decisions.
2024 Powder Springs Citizen of the Year
Elliott Hennington, General Contractor at the Trimen Enterprises
Elliott Hennington is recognized for his long-standing dedication to community service and his impactful leadership across numerous local initiatives. Hennington has been a committed member of the Cobb County Parks and Recreation Board, where he served as chair from 2018 to 2023. Appointed by Cobb County Chair Lisa Cupid, Hennington has been instrumental in guiding parks initiatives and community programs. Additionally, he serves as Lead Deacon at Destiny World Church in Austell and as Co-Chair of the South Cobb Opportunity Zone, a United Way-funded initiative supporting community growth and development.
Over the years, Hennington’s leadership roles have included Chairperson of the Powder Springs Community Task Force (2015-2024), and board member positions with both the Austell Community Task Force and Circles Cobb. Since 2016, he has also been an active member of the Powder Springs 4P program, contributing to various city improvement projects.
Hennington is well-known for organizing the Annual Back-to-School Bash for over 20 years, an event providing backpacks and school supplies to local students. He has also coordinated the Giving Hope for Holidays event for nearly a decade, delivering toys to children in need. His dedication to education and youth support extends to Tapp Middle School, where he has spent more than a decade tutoring and mentoring students, as well as helping establish a nonprofit youth foundation that offers affordable summer camp options.
Hennington’s volunteer work spans county and city events, including job fairs, Mableton Day, Thanksgiving food drives, community health fairs, and service initiatives such as MLK Jr. Day of Service. A trusted and active community member, Hennington’s contributions have left a lasting impact on South Cobb.
For more information about Area Councils, contact Katie Guice at kguice@cobbchamber.org or 770-859-2334. Thank you to Series Presenting Sponsor, Kaiser Permanente, Program Sponsors, Georgia Power and Six Flags Over Georgia, and Citizen of the Year Award Sponsor, Capital City Bank.
