Get to Know Greg Rust

Acworth Public Works Divisional Manager

What are your main responsibilities?

I manage the public works streets division, soil erosion control division, fleet maintenance and sanitation division, as well as contract management for public works’ capital projects.

What is your background?

I became a member of the city of Acworth family in May 2020. I moved to Cobb County from south Florida, where I also worked as a customer service manager and then a divisional manager in both public utilities and public works. I have a master’s degree in both business administration and public administration. I am also a certified arborist and a certified stormwater inspector.

What’s been the biggest job surprise?

The family vibe and comradery that exist between my co-workers, the board of aldermen and our constituents. Acworth is such a unique place, with eclectic amenities ranging from our great beach-themed parks to our nostalgic downtown area. It is easy to see why we hold a designation in the All-American City Hall of Fame.

What is the oddest request you’ve had?

Public works facilitates so many services, making unusual requests seem mundane; however, one request that stands out was when a curious little boy was intrigued with the trash truck and asked if he could check it out. The driver called in to make sure it was OK. They then turned off the engine and let him see the inside of the truck and how the compactor works, and he was so excited. His mom later sent an email, thanking our guys for taking the time to show him, and told us his birthday was a few days away. Hearing that, the team pitched in and got him some gifts, including a toy garbage truck, for his birthday.

What do you like most about your job?

The things I like most about my job are my coworkers and the feeling of accomplishment after the completion of any improvement project. We genuinely work as a team to do our best to tackle infrastructure issues in order to make a better quality of life for our residents, businesses and visitors. We receive great support from the community, which fuels our team to push on and continuously strive to provide quality service.

What is most exciting about the future?

I am very excited about our pavement management program and stormwater infrastructure management program. These two incentives include an overall assessment of both our roadways and drainage systems and will grade them in a manner of severity of failure, allowing us to fairly prioritize projects and make repairs over time. These assessments will provide a transparent process of how and when we fund and construct projects.

What are your goals?

Personally, I would like to get more involved in student outreach to encourage our young ones to be good stewards of the environment and inspire some to consider a professional role in public administration to perpetuate a continuous zeal to improve not only Acworth, but cities across our great nation. Professionally, I would like to continually grow in my role here at the city of Acworth and do what’s necessary to continually make Acworth a great place to live, work and play.

Tell us about your family and hobbies.

My beautiful wife, Marie, and I have four children who are all active in music, sports and dance. We love traveling to new places and connecting with extended family.