7/14/21 @ 4:15 p.m.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer
(904) 530-6010
[email protected]
Commissioners Thomas Ford and Aaron Bell Earn Advanced County Commissioner Level II (ACC II) Designations
Nassau County, Florida, July 14, 2021 – The Institute for County Government (ICG) presented County Commissioners Thomas Ford and Aaron Bell with the Advanced County Commissioner Level II (ACC II) designation following the completion of a comprehensive study program developed by the Foundation. The Commissioners received the designation along with 13 other county commissioners during an awards ceremony held at the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) Annual Conference in Orange County, Florida.
Upon completing the Advanced County Commissioner Level II Program, Thomas Ford stated, “I highly recommend the Advanced County Commissioner (ACC) program to any Commissioner who wants to gain a better understanding on ethics, the Sunshine Law, and how to provide their citizens with the services they desire while keep taxes low. This program has also provided me with superior leadership skills and has given me the knowledge I need to effectively represent my district, as well as Nassau County”.
Commissioner Aaron Bell added, “The ACC Program provided an opportunity for me to hear about issues other counties are facing and learn from their experiences. The complexity and diverse subjects have given me invaluable knowledge that will make me a better advocate for the citizens I represent. I highly recommend this program to any Commissioner wishing to expand their knowledge and maximize their leadership skills”.The Advanced County Commissioner Level II (ACC II) education program is an advanced leadership program designed for commissioners who graduated both the Certified County Commissioners (CCC) program and Advanced County Commissioner Level I (ACC I) program. The graduates who successfully completed the ACC II program are the second class of graduates since the inception of the program.
As the most senior level in ICG’s educational forum, the ACC II course offers leadership the opportunity to broaden and refine the skills they developed in previous programs. The course content centers on transforming counties and the state of Florida by producing strong, versatile leaders with the necessary tools to address challenges across multiple fields and governing bodies. Participants learn from leading experts to tackle complex issues and enhance their leadership competency by fostering relationships with other leaders on the county, state, and national level.
“This program takes the strategies county leaders learn to the next level—it’s all completely voluntary, but the decision to participate highlights Florida’s best and brightest,” said Institute for County Government Executive Director, Eric Poole. “The course content deals with Florida’s most intricate issues, and those that were able to face these challenges head-on and graduate have the resources to bring changes to their communities beyond the local level.”
The University of Florida/IFAS Extension has sponsored this program since its inception in Alachua County. For more information about the ACC II program and other educational courses, visit the ICG website at https://flicg.org.
For more than 85 years, the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) has represented the diverse interests of Florida’s counties, emphasizing the importance of protecting home rule – the concept that government closest to the people governs best. The Florida Association of Counties helps counties effectively serve and represent Floridians by strengthening and preserving county home rule through advocacy, education and collaboration.
If you have any questions related to the Advanced County Commissioner Program, please contact Cragin Mosteller at (850) 294-9307 or via email at [email protected].
Congratulations commissioners!