The Cobb Chamber’s Northwest Cobb Area Council, which represents Northwest Cobb’s three distinct districts of Acworth, Kennesaw and West Cobb, has selected three community advocates as 2023 Citizens of the Year: Bertha Nelson for Acworth, Allison Giddens for Kennesaw, and Joy Doss for West Cobb.
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 2023 Northwest Cobb Citizen of the Year awards were presented at the Northwest Cobb Area Council breakfast at Governors Gun Club.
2023 Acworth Citizen of the Year
Bertha Nelson, Principal of Acworth Elementary School
Bertha Nelson, the Principal of Acworth Elementary School, has been passionate about serving students and families in the City of Acworth for nearly a decade. Dedicated to student success and business and community partnerships, Nelson works tirelessly to ensure all Acworth students have the opportunity to succeed. She works closely with the Acworth Elementary math team and advanced content classes to promote critical and creative thinking, advanced research skills, and accelerated academics.
A member of the Acworth Business Association, Cobb County Principal Advisory Committee, and a Cobb County School District Collaborative Team Leader, Nelson has created a school environment that is focused on student success and supported by strong parent and community relationships. She works closely with local businesses, churches, and members of the community to provide opportunities and experiences for Acworth students that foster positive relationships that benefit the school and the surrounding community. Organizations she has volunteered with include MUST Ministries, Piedmont Church, and Acworth Elementary School Food Pantry.
Nelson’s vision for Acworth Elementary is to continue the tradition of excellence in the community. Under Nelson’s leadership, the school was named 2023 Title I Reward School, became STEM and Learning Commons certified, increased attendance by 97 percent from 2019 to 2023, and increased students scoring at the proficient and distinguished levels on the Georgia Milestones Assessment in Math and ELA. She understands the importance of prioritizing education and works every day to ensure Acworth continues to be a great place to live, work and play.
2023 Kennesaw Citizen of the Year
Allison Giddens, Co-President of Win-Tech
Allison Giddens is the Co-President for Win-Tech, an aerospace precision machine shop. She is actively involved in local workforce development and industry groups, including Chattahoochee Technical College Foundation Board, Leadership Cobb Alumni Association, LiveSafe Resources, Women in Manufacturing, National Tooling & Machining Association, and the Georgia Manufacturing Alliance.
As the Founder and Executive Director of the Dave Krache Foundation, she and her board of directors have helped hundreds of kids in the Kennesaw community be able to participate in sports activities by helping to cover of the costs of registration fees and equipment costs. She has volunteered with the City of Kennesaw’s Grand Prix 5K race series as both a race director and Grand Prix Series Director helping non-profits raise money for their various causes.
Giddens has received several awards and recognitions including the STEP Ahead Honoree, Next Generation Award, Another Level Blue Devil, Leadership Cobb Chairs Award, the Cobb Executive Women’s Woman of Distinction Award, the Atlanta Braves Community Hero, the LiveSafe Resources’ Woman of Achievement award, Woman of Excellence, Frontline Leadership Award Winner, August 2016 Faces of Manufacturing, and UGA 40 Under 40 Nominee. Giddens continually invests in her community with unwavering servitude, a hard work ethic, and a giving spirit.
2023 West Cobb Citizen of the Year
Joy Doss, Attorney with The Doss Firm
Joy Doss, Attorney with The Doss Firm LLC, is an unsung hero who is constantly working behind the scenes to serve others. Doss currently serves on the board of directors for the Center for Family Resources, as Vice President of the Cobb Schools Foundation, and former Chair and Officer of the Board for Marietta Mentoring for Leadership. Doss is an active member of Marietta Kiwanis and has served on multiple committees across local non-profits, such as the Center for Family Resources Silent Auction and Thanks For Giving initiative, Communities in Schools of Georgia, Cobb/Marietta Adult Spelling Bee, LiveSafe Resources Que & Brew as Volunteer Coordinator Co-Chair, Kiwanis Veterans Day Parade & Ceremony Co-Chair, and the Marietta MDE School’s Silent Auction. Doss is also an active alumna of Leadership Cobb Class of 2023.
In a familiar theme of supporting children in the community, Doss supports kids in many of her professional endeavors. While in law school, Doss served as an Attorney Ad Litem for the Children’s Advocacy Center, representing children in dependency hearings and delinquency proceedings. She also acted as a Guardian Ad Litem in family law proceedings. For her work as a Guardian ad Litem and her commitment to pro bono work, Doss received an award from the Florida State University College of Law. She is currently part of the Georgia Bar Association and the Florida Bar Association.
When Doss gets involved in an organization, it’s because she has her heart in its mission and those that the organization serves. Doss’ selfless efforts to better the community are evident in the organizations where she volunteers. She steps up to serve without a second thought, rolling up her sleeves to get the work done. Her empathy and love for her community is evident through her servitude and compassion for the citizens of her community. A resident of Cobb for 20 years, her hard work ethic and giving spirit make her a standout champion for the neighborhood of West 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, GeoHydro Engineers and Town Center Community Improvement District, and Citizen of the Year Award Sponsor, Capital City Bank.
