Citizens of the Year

Corporal Severtson’s journey with the Acworth Police Department (APD) began while serving as an intern while completing her bachelor’s degree at Kennesaw State University. Upon completing her internship, she was offered a position as a Detention Officer in the Acworth City Jail, where she served from 2013 to 2015. In 2020, she took on the additional responsibility of becoming a certified Field Training Officer (FTO), where she has been instrumental in mentoring and shaping the next generation of police officers at the Acworth Police Department. Recently, she was promoted to the rank of Corporal, a well-deserved position that will enable her to further demonstrate her leadership abilities and help shape the department for years to come.

Throughout her years of service, Corporal Severtson has been responsible for numerous lifesaving actions, a testament to her quick thinking and dedication to public safety. These actions have not only saved lives but have also had a lasting impact on the community, ultimately earning her the Acworth Police Department Officer of the Year award in both 2017 and 2021. Additionally, in 2018, she was recognized with the Award of Merit by the Cobb Chamber. This year, she received the Lifesaving Award after two significant lifesaving incidents, one involving the successful administration of CPR and another in which she saved a choking victim using a rescue device that she had personally purchased. Her initiative led to the department purchasing these devices for all officers.

Corporal Severtson is deeply committed to the well-being of the Acworth community. She regularly goes above and beyond her duties by personally providing food, clothing, toys, and even hotel rooms for those in need. Her compassion and dedication to the people of Acworth have made her a role model both within the police department and the wider community. Corporal Severtson’s extensive experience, numerous accolades, and genuine care for the community makes her a true civic leader and champion for Acworth.

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.

Connie Engel, CEO of Strada Communities, served on the Cumberland CID Board of Directors from 2000 to 2023. Engel is highly regarded for her experience in the commercial real estate industry and has built deep relationships in the Cumberland community. Throughout her service on the Board, Engel was instrumental in helping navigate the success of landmark infrastructure projects for the region including the Windy Hill Widening and Diverging Diamond Interchange, U.S. 41 (Cobb Parkway) Widening, New Day Palisades, the Akers Mill and Bob Callan Trails, and more. Most notably, Engel was instrumental in advocating for the Akers Mill Access Ramp for popular I-75 Northwest Corridor Express Lanes from Akers Mill Road over Interstate 75. The Ramp opened in January this year.

Engel has in charge of the development and leasing of the Atlanta Galleria Office Park for more than 20 years. She has served on the Board of Trustees of Kennesaw State University Foundation as Chairwoman and trustee, and on the Board of Directors of the Atlanta chapter of National Association of Corporate Directors. Her impressive experience has made her well-versed in the ins and outs of the business.

Butch Carter started Honest-1 Auto Care over 10  years ago in the heart of East Cobb, and he has displayed unwavering dedication to delivering excellent service and building a top-notch work environment for his team. Carter is the current president of the East Cobb Rotary Club, supervising the distribution of over $100,000  to local charities in the 2023-2024 Rotary year, and $30,000  to Lunches for Learning, a charity that provides food for  needy children in Honduras. Carter leads the club’s vol unteer efforts with East Cobb Park, road cleanup, clean  water projects, and veteran organizations. 

Carter’s volunteer endeavors include service at MUST  Ministries, the McCleskey-East Cobb YMCA, and the East  Cobb Business Association. Some of his notable achieve ments with the East Cobb Business Association has been supporting the East Cobb Public Safety Celebration  and winning the East Cobb Business Association Business  Person of the Year award. He served as a 2nd Lieutenant  in the U.S. Air Force after attending North Carolina State  University on an Air Force ROTC scholarship. His generosity  and positive energy are an invaluable part of the East  Cobb community.  

Lewis and Andrew Bramlett are a father son duo who have dedicated themselves to making a profound impact on Kennesaw by embodying a spirit of service, leadership, and generosity. The two have been pillars of support and volunteerism for Kennesaw for many years, dedicating countless hours to improving the lives of their fellow residents. Whether they are coordinating logistics, assisting with set up and break down, or helping serve food, Lewis and Andrew are there helping to ensure that each event runs smoothly and benefits the community in meaningful ways.

Lewis and Andrew’s leadership extends beyond volunteerism to include active involvement on various advisory boards and commissions helping to preserve the history of Kennesaw. As advocates for preserving local history, they have worked closely with city staff and officials, lending their expertise and insights to help preserve historic sites and local history for future generations. Lewis serves on the Kennesaw Cemetery Commission and Andrew serves on the Kennesaw Historic Preservation Commission and the Kennesaw Cemetery Foundation. Both are key forces behind helping to preserve the historic Kennesaw Cemetery by participating in annual maintenance events, cleaning gravestones and organizing the annual “Life in the Cemetery” tours. 

Lewis and Andrew exemplify the core values of Kennesaw: being engaged and connected and having a deep commitment to the well-being of others. Their genuine care for the people of the community is evident in everything they do. Whether working behind the scenes to make an event a success or offering a helping hand to a neighbor in need, they consistently demonstrate what it means to be good citizens. Lewis and Andrew Bramlett are extraordinary individuals who have made Kennesaw a better place through their selfless dedication to others.

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.

Holly Tuchman, Co-owner of RobertKent Galleries, has made a profound impact on the Marietta community through her professional leadership, extensive volunteerism, and dedication to the betterment of Marietta. Tuchman has demonstrated exceptional leadership throughout her career, particularly during her tenure as CEO of LiveSafe Resources, where she transformed the organization from a financial deficit into a thriving $2.6 million entity. Her strategic vision and commitment to service led to the expansion of crucial resources, including the establishment of transitional housing for survivors of domestic violence and the inclusion of elder abuse services.

Beyond her professional achievements, Holly’s volunteer work is equally commendable. Her involvement with numerous organizations, such as the Kiwanis Club of Marietta, Cobb Community Foundation, and Circles Cobb, showcases her dedication to community service. As a past president of the Kiwanis Club, Tuchman was instrumental in establishing reading oases in all Marietta elementary schools, fostering a love of reading among young students. Her leadership in various boards and committees, including her current role as Board Chair of the Earl and Rachel Strand Theatre, reflects her deep commitment to enriching the cultural and social fabric of Marietta.

Tuchman has been recognized as a Woman of Achievement by the YWCA of Northwest Georgia, honored as Cobb Executive Women’s Woman of Distinction in 2018, and named one of the Top 75 Women in Cobb by the Cobb/Marietta Junior League. In every role she has taken on, Tuchman has exemplified the qualities of leadership, service, and community spirit. Her tireless efforts to uplift and empower those around her have left an indelible mark on the City of Marietta.

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.

Over the past 13 years, Rose Diggs has dedicated herself to children in the foster care system. Through her leadership at Down 7 Up 8 Inc., non-profit providing a range of programs designed for fostered, adopted, and underprivileged children, Diggs has fostered over 300 children and provided free virtual tutoring for over 700 children across Georgia. In addition, she has provided school supplies and Christmas gifts for hundreds of children, offered training for foster and adoptive parents, and created a legacy of compassion and service. Her advocacy for the rights of foster and adoptive parents through the Adoptive and Foster Parent Association of Georgia has driven meaningful policy changes at both state and national levels. 

As a committed community leader, Diggs has held numerous influential positions, including serving as the Region 13 Vice President for the Adoptive and Foster Parent Association of Georgia (2020–current); the President of the Cobb County Foster Parent Association (2015–2022); as was a member of the North Cobb Civitan Club (2019–2022). 

Her achievements have been recognized with several awards, including the Hero Award from AmeriGroup, Region 13 Foster Parent of the Year (2018), and Cobb County Foster Parent of the Year (2018). 

Dan Buyers, Partner at McWhirter Realty Partners, is consistently generous with his time, talents and treasures, serving with humility and devotion. For more than 30 years, Buyers has worked throughout Cobb County to ensure that economic development and growth is strategic, thoughtful, and mutually beneficial to investors, individuals, and the county. An active member of the commercial real estate industry, Buyers is a past recipient of the Phoenix Award, numerous Top Ten Land Sales Producer Awards, Young Realtor of the Year and a Life Member of the Million Dollar Club as recognized by the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors (ACBR).

His impact can be seen throughout the metro region through commercial and residential developments, as well as his civic and philanthropic endeavors. He is credited for his involvement in the South Barrett Reliever and Skip Spann Connector, projects designed to decrease traffic congestion around Town Center during peak hours. Buyers helped to organize and implement the first ever CID bikeshare program in the state, providing 24/7 rental access to the community. He was also involved in the CID’s Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure (EVCI) Study for Town Center to develop strategic direction for the area.

He is an active community member and serves on the Boards of the Cobb Chamber, the Council for Quality Growth, the Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority, the Town Center Area Community Improvement District, the Atlanta Commercial Board of REALTORS® and the Wellstar Foundation. Throughout his many years in Cobb, Buyers has continuously contributed to the wellbeing of the Town Center community through his servitude and dedication.

Justin O’Dell, a law partner at O’Dell, O’Neal, Hungerford, & Blanchard, has been actively involved in both the business side of Cobb County and the community itself for over 22 years. Under Justin’s leadership, the law firm has supported multiple schools and charities around the county.

O’Dell is actively involved in Kiwanis and has served as president and on a dozen other committees throughout the years, including the Flag Committee – in which he and his children place American Flags around the community for various holidays during the year.

O’Dell and the firm also sponsor a breakfast free of charge every July 4 for the community to come and preview the Marietta July 4th parade. He has raised money and donations for various other groups such as the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Cobb County Diaper Day, Reconnecting Families, and the Boy Scouts, for which he serves as a mentor for boys and young men. O’Dell’s many efforts to better the community are often done without any recognition, which he does not seek.

O’Dell is a Leadership Cobb Alumni and has continued to serve on various committees with the organization. He is a Sunday School Instructor, a Deacon, and sits on the Board of Trustee for his church. He, along with his wife and law firm, donate to various activities through the church including missionary trips. Anyone that knows O’Dell will agree, he is a successful businessman, husband, father, faithful servant, philanthropist, and strives to make West Cobb better every day.