Rotary Club Welcomes Youngest President

CANTON, GA -- He's not even 30, and he's already making waves in Cherokee County.

Matthew Thomas, 26, is now serving as president of the Rotary Club of Canton, the organization said on its Facebook page. Thomas presided over his first meeting on Tuesday, July 5.

The club on its Facebook page noted Thomas is "undoubtedly" the youngest Rotarian to serve as the club's president, and is one of the youngest club members to have been named president in Rotary's District 6910.

Matthew, who joined the club in 2014, succeeds Cherokee County Manager Jerry Cooper as president.

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Canton-Sixes Patch readers may know Thomas for his efforts in another role: he currently serves as the city's economic development manager.

The club notes Thomas "stepped up" from president-nominee mid-year just before the President Elect Training Seminar when the club's president-elect had to resign for personal reasons.

Officers for 2016-2017 include:

• President-elect: Lynn Epps
• President-nominee secretary: Jennifer Stanley
• Treasurer: Steve Garrison Jr.
• Club director: Becky Babcock
• Club director, programs, membership chair: Alan H. King
• Public relations chair/Rotary Foundation chair: Peter Gleichman
• Sergeant-At-Arms: William E Cornelius III
• Membership chair: Kelly Geiken
• Webmaster: Anton Zellman
• Community Service chair: Zach Blend
• International Service chair: Dr. Susan Padgett-Harrison
• Vocational Service chair: Michael Zenchuk
• Youth Services chair: Garrett Holcombe
• Past-president: Jerry Cooper
• Assistant governor: Donald W. Martin

Thomas, who has been named a Top 10 in 10 Young Professional To Watch, has been with the city of Canton for three years.

He graduated from the University of West Georgia in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in economics. He's also a member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association and the International Economic Development Council, according to LinkedIn.

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Image via Rotary Club of Canton