ATLANTA — ACCG Executive Director Ross King recently was elected by his peers to serve as president of the National Council of County Association Executives (NCCAE). King, who began his public service career as an administrative assistant to former Americus Mayor Russell Thomas Jr., has served as the executive director of Georgia’s county association since May 2010. He is recognized as an innovator and a strategic thinker who leads one of the most diverse county associations in the country.
“There is no higher honor than to be selected for a leadership position by your peers,” said King.  “This appointment reflects the continued support and vision from the ACCG board of managers to promote organizational excellence, as well as our extremely talented and dedicated staff team that I am so fortunate to work with every day. I look forward to the opportunity to lead NCCAE over the next year and foster even greater information sharing among my colleagues to make every county association across the country stronger.”
NCCAE is the county association for the mangers of all 47 states in the nation that have state associations for counties. It provides a forum for county association executives to come together for continuing education, program assessment, policy development, association management best practices and networking.  King is recognized for completing the Certified County Association Executives Program which is offered in partnership with NCCAE and Cornell University.  He also has served as the chairman of NCCAE’s Non-Dues Revenue Committee and hosted an insurance programs forum for his peers from other states here in Georgia.
“It is certainly an honor for Ross to be recognized and elected by his peers to serve in this leadership role,” said ACCG President and Haralson County Chairman Allen Poole.  “However, it is also a reflection on the outstanding work and service provided by Ross and the entire ACCG staff to Georgia’s counties. This staff team continues to innovate, not only helping our own membership but also serving as a national model – in continuing education, civic engagement, insurance and retirement programs and legislative advocacy, just to name a few areas.”
As ACCG executive director, King manages a staff of 86 individuals and oversees a $17.6 million budget. The association works on behalf of county officials and their communities by providing public policy and legislative advocacy, leadership development, civic and community engagement initiatives, insurance and retirement programs that specialize in local government needs and other cost-saving programs.   King also serves on the National County Reinsurance Limited Board of Directors, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Foundation and the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Council – in addition to being recognized as one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Georgians for the last eight years. During his time as administrative assistant to Americus Mayor Russell Thomas Jr., King played an integral role in many projects such as the renovation of the Windsor Hotel and was involved with the capitol improvement budgeting, fire specialist, and Main Street programs as well as downtown development.