CONYERS—Rockdale CEO/Chairman Richard Oden emphasized teamwork to advance Rockdale’s future, likening himself to a quarterback and fellow Commissioners and County staff as his team to get the job done.

“As we move forward to re-energize the community, we must continue to work together as a team,” said Oden at his Jan. 31 State of the County Address. “Yes, I’ve been accused a lot of times of having an ‘I’ on my chest, but I’m a team player and I may be anal sometimes, but teamwork is what makes it work.”

“As a quarterback, if you don’t want to go in the game, I will call the play. We will succeed and Rockdale, we are succeeding,”  Oden said.

While listing a number of accomplishments for Rockdale such as the county’s general fund balance increasing, sustaining AA2 and AA3 bond rates and the public school system making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for six years in a row, Oden said the county must continue to set new goals as a team and continue to meet previously set goals.

“You know, setting goals is strategically important to me, I’m just anal about that,” said Oden, who was re-elected to a second term last November. “Our team successes are the result of strategic planning, setting clearly defined goals, making a commitment to customer service, continued process performance improvement and dedication to win-win problem solving.”

The State of the County was held in the Rockdale County Auditorium and concluded with the presentation of the Charles P. Cole Citizen Involvement Award. This year’s winner is Maryalyce Phillips. Phillips was acknowledged for her active involvement in the community, especially her work with Keep Conyers-Rockdale Beautiful (KCRB).

“Thank you so much. Little did I know picking up a little trash would get me here,” said Phillips, as she fought back tears. “This is such a honor. Just as they say it takes a village to raise a child, it takes many communities to keep a county clean and beautiful. That was my job, to keep Conyers-Rockdale clean and beautiful.”

View the "State of the County" address in its entirety here.