Atlanta — Jun 16, 2021
Doug Hooker, Executive Director of the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), today was named a winner of the 2021 President’s Award by the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC).
NARC presented the award to Hooker during the organization’s national conference, which is being held virtually this year and hosted by ARC.
“Through his career he has worked on important regional and local projects including transportation planning, aging services, workforce development, water conservation, and homeland security,” NARC said in a news release announcing the award. “Doug is a well-known and respected leader in his region, and the impacts of his work extend through many groundbreaking projects in the Atlanta Region.”
Hooker, who has led ARC since 2011, recently announced that he will be retiring in March 2022. Hooker is an active member of NARC’s leadership and currently serves as the Chair of the NARC Executive Directors Council.
“I am deeply honored to be recognized by an organization that I greatly respect. NARC is a critical resource that helps regional commissions and councils like ours be successful,” Hooker said. “This award truly deserves to be shared by all of my colleagues at ARC, who work hard every day to ensure that our region remains a great place to live for all of residents. They inspire me with their dedication to their work and passion for making meaningful change.”
ARC also shared a NARC Achievement Award with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission for their Racial Equity Conversation Series. The two agencies launched what became a six-week conversation series that worked to facilitate racial learning, healing, and equity building.
Through their outreach efforts, MORPC and ARC joined more than 30 regional councils from across the country to hear concerns, share best practices, and create steps to eliminate racism.
The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) is the official planning agency for the 10-county Atlanta Region, including Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale counties as well as the City of Atlanta and 73 other cities. The Atlanta Regional Commission serves as a catalyst for regional progress by focusing leadership, attention, and planning resources on key regional issues.
Contact Name: Paul Donsky
Contact Phone: 404-202-4662
Contact Email: pdonsky@atlantaregional.org