Manager Blaine Williams has named Deborah Lonon as one of two Assistant Managers for the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGOV). Lonon will join Manager Williams and Assistant Manager Jestin Johnson in the Manager's Office on April 1, 2019. She replaces former Assistant Manager Robert Hiss, who was named County Administrator of Bedford County, Virginia in December 2018.

"Deborah not only brings an extensive amount of technical and legal experience in housing, community development, and diversity initiatives to this position," said Williams, "but she also has a unique perspective from her work in the community on some of Athens-Clarke County's challenges. She will be a tremendous asset not only to the Manager's Office and all of our departments in her new role, but also to our community partners and our residents as we work together to address these challenges."

Lonon has served as the Director of the Athens-Clarke County Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) since December 2016. Prior to heading HCD, she served as an assistant attorney with the ACCGOV Attorney's Office, operated a private law firm, represented the Georgia Department of Community Health for three years, and worked with the Western Judicial Circuit Public Defender Office for over six years.

"I am honored and humbled to have been selected for the Assistant Manager position with the Unified Government," said Lonon. "During my entire time here, this government has been committed to excellence and serving its residents, visitors, and businesses in professional and creative ways. I look forward to bringing my experience and knowledge on some of our most challenging local issues to this new role as we continue to work towards a future of success for all of our community."

An Athens-Clarke County resident since 1998, Lonon is a member of Timothy Baptist Church where she serves on the Board of Trustees and Academic Advisory Council and is also a youth instructor and mentor. She is also actively involved with several professional and civic organizations, including the Clarke County School District by volunteering with the parent-teacher organizations at Whitehead Road Elementary School and Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School. She and her husband have four children.

Deborah earned both her Bachelor of Business Administration in finance and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Georgia.

Hayley Banerjee, Community Development Coordinator, has been named Interim Housing and Community Development Department Director until a permanent director is named.