A Word from
Mayor Derek Easterling
W
elcome to February, the final full month of winter. Aloha! Join us for the Totally Tiki Luau on Feb. 5. Put on your wackiest Hawaiian wear, and dance the night away. Guests will be in awe as the Ben Robertson Community Center’s Banquet Hall is transformed into a colorful and tropical luau dance venue. Spend the evening with your big and little tikis, and experience all the sights and sounds of the beach. Feast, play and dance the night away to your favorite tunes, spun by a professional DJ. This family-friendly event features an all-you-can-eat dinner and dessert bar, as well as plenty of photo opportunities. All adults must be accompanied by a child, and all children must be accompanied by an adult. Seating will be open; however, tables will be reserved for parties of six or more. Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased online, or at the Ben Robertson Community Center. Advance purchase is required. Tickets are nonrefundable. Last month marked the seventh time I delivered the State of the City for Kennesaw. I would like to share a few highlights of the presentation with you in this article and over the next several months, to keep you up to date on what’s happening in our city. The first time I spoke, I related how I imagined leading the way for the city was comparable to driving a submarine, i.e., developing the trust and confidence in the city’s professional staff, to allow them to perform their tasks and to do what they do best - serve the people of Kennesaw. The intended purpose of my presentation was to lay out the keys to our success. By establishing and using the Big Three – business development, sustained relationships and our economic development strategy – we have helped create great success stories in our community. The Big Three are built on long-term vision and continuity.
Relationships are the foundational piece for any business development efforts. Establishing relationships forged out of trust and respect is key to creating greater long-term value for everyone involved. Leadership is not about having the answer; leadership is the ability to create a solution. Your city, with Dr. Jeff Drobney and his team of professionals, has done an outstanding job in creating solutions to the many challenges of operating in today’s economic and cultural environment. Our partnerships, collaborative efforts and professional relationships work to create a multitude of expanded opportunities for everyone, and we are guided by our core values statement, which reads: “The city of Kennesaw is guided by core values supporting the fulfillment of the mission and vision of the city. These core values are fundamental to our city’s success and reflect the respect we have for our community and organization.”
RESPECT
• Responsible behavior • Ethical conduct • Safe practices • Professional service • Engaged throughout • Connected wholeheartedly • Transparent in all aspects of our actions
When all of the details are worked out, and all of the pieces are in the right order, great things happen. I will highlight more of the State of the City in future articles. Thank you for reading and being a part of our community. Be blessed! Derek Easterling has served as Kennesaw’s mayor since 2016. He is dedicated to serving his community to the highest level possible.
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AROUND KENNESAW | February 2022
