Mayor Kelly Girtz announces the selection of Robert (Bob) Cowell, Jr. as the sole finalist for the position of Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGov) Manager following a nationwide recruitment effort that culminated in interviews with four candidates in Athens on June 11-12.  

“Bob Cowell has spent lengthy and successful tenures in a number of large and complex cities, including several hosting major public universities,” said Girtz “His thoughtful approach to staff support and community development will be an enormous asset to the Unified Government and to residents of Athens-Clarke County.”  

“I want to thank the Mayor and Commission for their support,” said Cowell. “Athens-Clarke County is an exceptional place. I very much look forward to working with the Mayor, the Commission, ACCGov staff and community members to ensure Athens-Clarke County remains a vibrant community for all who call it home.” 

Cowell has over three decades of leadership positions with cities and counties, most recently serving as the City Manager for the City of Roanoke, VA. Previous positions include Deputy City Manager and Interim City Manager for the City of Amarillo, TX; Executive Director, Planning and Development Services for College Station, TX; and Planning Director for the Monroe County Plan Commission in Bloomington, IN. 

Cowell has a master’s degree in urban planning from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and a bachelor's degree in aeronautics with a specialization in administration from St. Louis University in Missouri. He’s a Credentialed Manager with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA-CM) and a Certified Urban Planner with the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), in addition to being an Accredited Member with the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU-A) 

ACCGov, in conjunction with Strategic Government Resources (SGR), commenced an extensive search for the Manager position earlier this year. SGR is an executive recruitment firm based in Texas, specializing in recruiting, assessing, and developing innovative, collaborative, and authentic leaders for local governments.  

The recruitment process produced an impressive field of roughly 50 candidates from 17 states and two countries. A search committee of several Commissioners initially identified a smaller number of candidates who completed detailed questionnaires and pre-recorded interviews, from which four highly qualified candidates were selected to participate in the two-day onsite process that included interviews with ACCGov senior staff, tours of the community, a community stakeholder meet and greet event, and interviews with the Mayor & Commission. 

Mayor Girtz will make a recommendation for the Commission to formally consider the appointment and approval of Cowell’s employment agreement as the next ACCGov Manager at a Special Called Session meeting on July 15. Cowell is expected to commence his duties on July 28.