Gwinnett Leadership Spotlight: Meet Rebecca

Shelton and Matthew Dickison

By Our Town Gwinnett Staff

The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners recently ratified employment agreements that County Administrator Glenn Stephens executed with two new department directors. Rebecca Shelton was named director of the Department of Water Resources after having served as acting director since last July. Matthew Dickison was promoted to director of the Department of Planning and Development following Susan Canon’s recent retirement.

Shelton started her career as a utility planner at what was then known as the Gwinnett County Department of Public Utilities. After climbing the ranks within the industry and serving in various roles, including in the cities of Atlanta and Alpharetta and an engineering firm, Shelton returned to Gwinnett. Since her return, she has taken the lead in operations, technical services, and construction.

Gwinnett County Water Resources handles water treatment and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, and stormwater management. Assets include 1,400 miles of stormwater pipe, two water filter plants that produce 70 million gallons of drinking water per day, 3,000 miles of wastewater pipes, and the internationally recognized F. Wayne Hill Water Resources Center, which can treat up to 60 million gallons of effluent, or sewage, per day.

Under Shelton’s leadership as acting director, Gwinnett County received the Platinum Peak Performance Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies and the Platinum Distribution System Excellence Award, and she served on the leadership team that helped guide Gwinnett in winning the Best Tasting Water in the state. Shelton also was recently named one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Georgia Engineering by Georgia Engineering Magazine.

Stephens highlighted the county’s commitment to succession planning and promoting from within, citing both Shelton’s and Dickison’s appointments as examples. “We are honoring those values with both appointments today,” said Stephens. “Rebecca’s more than twenty-five years of experience in civil engineering and management of local government infrastructure and her proven leadership in that space will serve her well in this new role.”

“Gwinnett is a recognized leader in the water industry,” Shelton said, “and protecting public health by providing safe drinking water, proper wastewater treatment, and effective stormwater services is at the heart of what we do every day. I am fortunate to work with amazing, passionate water professionals who care about serving our residents.”

Shelton holds a B.S. in environmental engineering from the University of Central Florida and a M.S. in civil engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Dickison joined Gwinnett County Planning and Development in 2021 as deputy director before being promoted to assistant director the following year. The department serves to promote and enhance the well-being of residents and businesses in Gwinnett County by planning for growth and maintaining adopted standards for development. Consisting of the planning, development, building, housing and community development, code enforcement, and administration divisions, Planning and Development is responsible for community planning, authorizing permits for site development and building construction projects, issuing business licenses, and enforcing county codes and ordinances.

“Matthew holds exceptional knowledge and understanding of all aspects of planning, zoning, and development,” said Stephens. “During

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Europe. After changing owners several times and years of neglect, the property was in danger of destruction, so it was put up for sale. Members of the Druid Hills Civic Association formed the Callanwolde Foundation to try to save the mansion from potential demolition. They purchased the property in 1972 with fundraising efforts, matching funds from the Federal Housing and Urban Development Department, and grant money from DeKalb County. Callenwolde is on the National Register of Historic Places.

One of the mansion’s features is the Aeolian Organ, which was designed for the mansion at the time of its construction. The more than 3,000 pipes are hidden behind four decorative and separate areas in the walls and ceiling. Complete restoration took twenty years after Callanwolde became an

Arts Center.

Classes are held in the mansion in a variety of arts, including dance, creative writing, painting, pottery, and much more, even blacksmithing! Callanwolde’s mission is to provide the Atlanta community with premier accessible arts education, especially to the underserved, while promoting enjoyment of the arts at the historic and inspiring Callanwolde estate.

Concerts of many different musical genres are held in the spring and summer in an outside amphitheater. Art exhibits and workshops are held in the Gallery. The beautiful surroundings make a perfect setting for weddings and other celebrations, and can be rented for these events.

The greenhouses are used by the Garden Clubs of Georgia, and master gardeners help maintain the flower beds.

Callanwolde is located at 980 Briarcliff Road NE, Atlanta 30306.

More information at www.callanwolde.org or 404 872-5338