The Cobb Chamber’s Northwest Cobb Area Council, which represents Northwest Cobb’s four distinct districts of Acworth, Kennesaw, West Cobb, and Town Center, has selected four community advocates as 2025 Citizens of the Year: Megan Strange for Acworth, Barbie Brown for Kennesaw, Joyette Holmes for West Cobb, and Kat Schwaig for Town Center.
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 has made their community a better place to live. Awards are given based on local area nominations. The 2025 Northwest Cobb Citizen of the Year awards were presented at the Northwest Cobb Area Council breakfast at Governors Gun Club.
2025 Acworth Citizen of the Year
Megan Strange, North Cobb Christian School
Megan Strange has served for over two decades at North Cobb Christian School, where she currently leads as Upper School Principal. Her commitment to academic excellence and student growth has shaped countless lives and helped elevate the school’s standing in the community. Beyond her local contributions, Strange has demonstrated visionary leadership across the region by leading the Principals 101 leadership group through the Atlanta Christian School Association—mentoring and equipping fellow educators for effective leadership. Her influence also extends internationally, having served as a presenter and delegate at the Vancouver Symposium on Christian Education, where she shared insights and collaborated with global leaders in faith-based education.
In addition to her roles in education and civic service, Strange has faithfully led numerous domestic and international mission trips, guiding students and faculty in serving communities through hands-on ministry and outreach. Her leadership in missions reflects a heart for service, a global perspective, and a deep commitment to living out her faith through action. As an active and dedicated member of the Acworth Business Association, Strange consistently supports local initiatives and fosters strong partnerships between educational institutions and the business community. Her involvement reflects her deep belief in the value of collaboration and the importance of civic-minded leadership in strengthening the local economy and community.
2025 Kennesaw Citizen of the Year
Barbie Brown, The Brown Agency
A lifelong resident of Cobb County, Barbie Brown has dedicated her life to creating a meaningful and lasting impact in her community. As the founder of The Brown Agency, she has built her business from the ground up, helping countless individuals build successful careers and brighter futures for their families with multiple branches in the area.
Brown is a selfless leader who serves on many non-profit committees, including serving on the board of directors and the treasurer of the Davis Direction Foundation in Cobb County, supporting individuals and families impacted by addiction and mental health challenges. She also served on the Board of Directors for The SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center, where she helped to protect and support children who are victims of abuse and neglect, as well as the Board of Directors for Blue Thanksgiving, serving first responders and families in need. Her leadership and passion have helped raise over $300,000+ dollars through galas and local charity events that she has co-chaired. She gracefully balances her many roles—as a business owner, a community advocate, and dedicated citizen of Kennesaw.
2025 West Cobb Citizen of the Year
Joyette Holmes, Georgia State Board of Pardon and Paroles
Joyette Holmes, Board Member on the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles, has greatly contributed to the Cobb County community. She made Cobb County history by becoming the first female and African American to serve as both Chief Magistrate and District Attorney. In these roles, she helped maintain law and order within the community and improve public safety. Holmes tackled each case with a balanced approach of justice and compassion. She also served as a partner and member at the Marietta law firm of Gregory Doyle Calhoun and Rogers (GDCR) before being appointed by Governor Kemp to her current full-time role as a member on the Board of Pardons and Paroles.
Along with her professional duties, Joyette serves on the boards of MUST Ministries, Wellstar’s Kennestone Regional Hospital Board, Kennesaw State University President’s Community Advisory Board, the Cobb County Prayer Breakfast Committee, and the Capital City Bank Advisory Board. She also serves on the board of the Cobb Chamber as Marketing Chair and as Co-Chair for Leadership Cobb’s 2026 class. As a testament to her well-respected reputation within the community, the Cobb NAACP and the Cobb Ministerial Alliance both honored her with awards named for United States Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. She also received a Community Service Award named for one of her mentors – retired Georgia Supreme Court Justice Robert Benham. Joyette is a dedicated public servant who continues to make the community better through her service.
2025 Town Center Citizen of the Year
President Kat Schwaig, Kennesaw State University
Kat Schwaig initially served as interim president of Kennesaw State University in 2021 before being named president in 2022. Under her leadership, KSU has launched “Taking Flight,” a new strategic plan aimed at achieving national prominence and institutional excellence. During Schwaig’s tenure, KSU has embarked on a comprehensive student success initiative, established more than 50 new undergraduate and graduate degrees and minors, professional programs, and credentials for in-demand fields, launched FLIGHT — a class-year, student success engagement program for first-year students focused on community, progress, and retention, realized an 81% increase in external research awards, and more than doubled research expenditures. Schwaig also oversaw KSU’s move to Conference USA and relaunched HatchBridge, a community-focused business incubator.
Schwaig received the Oscar Burnett Award for Distinguished Achievement in Business from the Morris Brown College Foundation, the Cobb Executive Women’s Glass Ceiling Award, and Atlanta Magazine’s Women Making a Mark Award. A dedicated community partner and volunteer, she is the chair of SelectCobb and serves on the Executive Committee for the Board of Directors of the Cobb Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Directors for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. She previously served on boards for the Cobb Community Foundation, Mount Paran Christian School, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta – Cobb County, Junior Achievement of Georgia, Engage Scholarship Consortium, and the Alliance for Children Everywhere.
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.
