Whether recognizing an outstanding employee, hiring a new General Manager, re-electing Officers, or serving the community, recent events and activities at the Henry County Water Authority (HCWA) reflect the arrival of Black History Month in February, as well as the utility’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Alton Head Receives General Manager’s Award

The HCWA recently honored Customer Service Technician Alton Head with the General Manager’s Award, which is given to an Authority employee who demonstrates a commitment to their work at the utility and a love for public outreach and service to others in the community.

In addition to working the past five years at the HCWA, Mr. Head is Senior Pastor at Word of Life Christian Ministry in McDonough, in addition to being the Commander of the American Legion, Post 516. Through all of these avenues of service – as an Authority employee, pastor, and commander – he leads efforts throughout metro Atlanta to refurbish homes of veterans, especially those with disabilities, provide disaster relief for hurricane victims across the South, and host events such as Veteran’s Luncheons, Dinners, Parades, and more.

“Alton has a heart of gold that’s dedicated to service with compassion for others,” says Tony V. Carnell, HCWA General Manager, who presented Mr. Head with the General Manager’s Award at the February Board Meeting. “He is driven to fill needs in the community. That strong work ethic he exhibits here at work carries over to his community service as well.”

Mr. Head and the other members of the American Legion, Post 516 in McDonough, will be recognized on April 16, by the National Commander with the Award for Best American Legion Post in the Nation, for their service to youth and others.

Tony V. Carnell Becomes First African American HCWA General Manager

Tony V. Carnell officially took the reins of the HCWA as General Manager on Jan. 1, becoming the first African American chief executive in the Authority’s 60-year history.

Mr. Carnell follows Lindy Farmer as HCWA General Manager, following Mr. Farmer’s retirement at the end of last year, after leading the Authority for 40 years. Mr. Carnell served previously as Mr. Farmer’s Deputy Manager from 2014 until being promoted to General Manager. Mr. Carnell was hired by the HCWA as an Engineering Technician in 1995. Over the course of the next two decades, he would advance through the ranks of the HCWA Engineering Department until becoming Division Manager of Engineering in 2006, a position he held until his promotion to Deputy Manager eight years later.

Mr. Carnell holds his Professional Engineer (PE) Certification in Georgia, which he attained in 2006. He’s a graduate of Southern Polytechnic State University, with a Bachelor of Science Degree, after receiving his Associate Degree from Clayton State University. Prior to joining the HCWA, Mr. Carnell first worked for the Georgia Department of Transportation after graduation from college.

HCWA Board Re-elects Slate of Officers

During its January Meeting, the HCWA Board of Directors re-elected its slate of officers to serve another term, which includes all female African Americans in each of the three leadership positions for another year.

Cletonya LaGrand will serve a second year as HCWA Chair, and she will be joined by Sandra Rozier, who is the first female African American to serve as Vice Chair, and Siddiqa Gibson, a female African American who will serve as Secretary/Treasurer.

“I’m humbled and honored to be selected to Chair the Board of this outstanding Authority, and I hope we’ll build upon the accomplishments of previous Boards who have provided such outstanding leadership,” said LaGrand, upon her election as HCWA Chair.

HCWA Joins Partnership for MLK Metro Atlanta Service Project

Finally, the HCWA joined Henry County District 4 Commissioner Vivian Thomas and several other community partners for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Metro Atlanta Service Project to celebrate the MLK holiday on Monday Jan. 17.

During this MLK Day of Service, the HCWA partnered with Commissioner Thomas and her Junior Commissioners, 100 Black Men of South Metro Atlanta, Jack & Jill Lake Spivey Chapter, Connecting Henry, M&M Hope House, Team HOPE, Urban Air McDonough, Southern Crescent Veteran’s Service, Henry County Parks & Recreation, and approximately 140 volunteers, to provide more than 300 winter care packages – consisting of food, winter clothing and accessories – to veterans and homeless citizens in McDonough, Hapeville and Atlanta.

“The MLK Metro Atlanta Service Project was our way to commemorate Dr. King’s legacy and celebrate the Holiday through service, by doing; so, we got to work, providing winter care packages for those in need,” says Commissioner Thomas. “Thanks to all of our volunteers, we collected food, clothing and supplies, assembled the care packages, and then distributed them throughout the community. We went to three homeless shelters and other areas where we knew the homeless and veterans would be. It was a partnership of love that made this possible, and it reflected the spirit of Dr. King and what we can accomplish when we come together to serve others.”

For more information on these HCWA stories to commemorate Black History Month, as well as a photo gallery from the MLK Metro Atlanta Day of Service, please visit our website at www.hcwa.com.