Listening is NOT a one time activity

It has been said that listening to others is an important attribute of a City Council person.  I agree!   It is a lifetime of listening and then acting constructively based on what you hear that really makes a difference. Today I found out that I am being honored by the Gwinnett Chamber as Public Servant of the Year and they give examples (see below) of how I have acted based on the needs and desires of the community over a decade.  I look forward to continuing to serve and hope I will have the chance to do so.

Marsha is well known as a business and community leader, a dedicated public servant, philanthropist and a true visionary. She has a passion for service and offers her time and experience towards mentoring others and serving as a motivational speaker at nationwide conferences and special events within the community.  Her recent public service and accomplishments include the following:

• Participation on the Gateway Art Project committee to select the art for Duluth's Roundabout

(serving as Mayor Pro Tem)

• Presentation about becoming an elected official and serving for the Asian American Legal Advocacy Center

• Representing the City of Duluth at an event for Kiran Ahuja, ED of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

• Invited speaker at a session of a conference for Transportation Engineers in Philadelphia on Communicating with Elected Officials

• Completed her service as the chair of the United Way Advisory Board (2 years)

• Invited participant for the White House Initiative on Women in Leadership

• Organized a fundraiser for the Georgia Planning Association Memorial Foundation to provide scholarships for planners and elected officials from poor communities for professional development – She is also the Vice President of the foundation

• Continues to support (financially and with time) the L.E.A.D. program in Duluth (Lead – Engage – Advance Duluth). Marsha is the author of the program.

• Represented Gwinnett County (at the request of Nick Masino) on the ARC lead Steering Committee to develop a Regional Economic Development Strategy

• Serving on the committee for World Class Community Day for Leadership Gwinnett

• Serving as a Trustee on the Foundation Board for Georgia Gwinnett College

• Serving on the Board of the Women in Engineering program of Georgia Tech

• Serving on the Board of the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center

• Serving as Chair of the Golden Eagle event for the Button Gwinnett district of the Boy Scouts