Press Release from Office of City Manager

AMERICUS—Graduates of Americus city government’s first Government 101 class want to know more, and on April 29, another face-to-face opportunity to learn about how Americus works is
open to all. Responding to citizen interest, City Manager Diadra Powell has set aside her lunch hour the last Monday of each month to host an informal conversation with the public. The sessions follow Government 101, a free six-week course offered earlier this year. Organized and directed by Ms. Powell and city department heads, the course provided a solid foundation for understanding how Americus City government serves its residents and generated a lot of curiosity and interest.

Wonder what is new on the city calendar? How residents can volunteer to improve community life? Which neighborhoods have unmet needs? Have an idea to share with others? Conversations over Coffee with the Manager on the Last Monday of the month are open to the public, third floor, City Hall: April 29 and June 24. No registration required. Ms. Powell is in her third year as City Manager, including one year as interim City Manager.

Prior to becoming the Americus’s top administrator, she served as the city’s Finance Director for seven years. Under her leadership, Americus received its first Distinguished Budget Presentation Award and has remained a recipient of The City of Americus Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, a 34-year unbroken record.

These awards, presented by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada, are the highest forms of recognition of government budgeting and financial reporting.

With 18 years in local government, Ms. Powell holds a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from East Carolina University. She is certified as a Public Manager by the University of Georgia.

While serving in the US Army, she earned a Commendation Medal and an Achievement Medal. Miss Powell is married to a retired U.S. Marine.