Executive-2019-fall

Turning to Google to help her find opportunities to get involved, Hartsock discovered that her district’s County Commissioner, Jace Brooks, went to her church. She started a conversation with him that ultimately led to a friendship and the opportunity to become a part of the planning commission. Brooks thought Hartsock’s skills and interests were a good match for the role of District 1 Planning Commissioner. She doesn’t have a civil engineering or contracting background but is an accredited Mindshop facilitator (AMSF) with experience leading strategic and difficult conversations. “He thought that skill set would be helpful,” Hartsock said. In addition to helping manage hotly contested cases, Hartsock and the other planning commissioners hear development and special- use requests and then make recommendations to the County Commission. “It’s rewarding to play a part in what’s happening in my hometown,” she said. “In the end, when someone in the community comes up to you and says, ‘Thanks for working with us; we think this is going to be a great project,’ that makes you feel good.” Hartsock’s work at the planning commission helps grow and nurture the community, and her work at the Gwinnett Chamber is doing the same for businesses. “It’s important to be involved with the Chamber,” Hartsock said. “It’s the voice for the business community.” Though she has long been a member of the Chamber and the Chairman’s Club, she was appointed to the Board for a one-year term in 2018 and was recently elected to a three- year term. “It’s an honor, and I take pride in that,” Hartsock said, “It’s an exciting time for the Chamber.” With Nick Masino now running the organization and big goals for both membership growth and attracting new businesses to the area, Hartsock said, “It’s our job on the board to make sure we’re adding jobs and have a thriving economy. That’s what attracts businesses and is key to the healthy growth of our county.” Hartsock would know; her work at Warren Averett is focused on growing healthy businesses. Warren Averett offers more than 30 consulting services, including accounting services, security and technology services, human resources solutions and advisory services. And it’s that advisory aspect that Hartsock most identifies with. “I tell my team that a trusted historian is always looking backwards,” she said. “We want to be trusted advisors—looking forward, being involved in our client’s business and goals, and helping them make decisions to accomplish what is important to them.” Because the topics on which she advises her clients are so broad, Hartsock said there really isn’t a typical day, and she likes it that way. “We work with very successful entrepreneurs who come from very different backgrounds,” she said. Luckily, Warren Averett employees are similarly diverse. “I love knowing I can pick up the phone and call an expert on any given topic. It makes you a lot more confident when you go meet a client to know that someone on your team has the expertise they need,” she said. “We’re each very focused in the EXECUTIVE 3