PAULDING COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Secretary of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Michael Hughes has nearly 34 years of professional experience as a city planner. His work has involved comprehensive and land use planning, zoning administration, environmental planning, and he has managed federal grant programs and federal appropriation requests. Throughout his career, he has applied innovative economic development initiatives that resulted in attracting quality jobs and capital investment and encouraged redevelopment and rehabilitation activities in older commercial corridors.
Michael has lived in the Atlanta area for about 30 years; he began his professional career in Cobb County as a senior planner. After stints with the city of Atlanta and LAW Engineering and Environmental Services, he returned to Cobb County as the intergovernmental coordinator in the Community Development Agency. In 1998, he was promoted to head of economic development, where he served until 2020 and became Executive Director of Paulding County Economic Development and Industrial Building Authority.
Michael received a B.S. in Urban Planning from the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), a graduate of Leadership Cobb Class of 1999, and he is a current member of Leadership Paulding Class 31. He has successfully completed Cobb County's EXCEL Management Development Program, the Regional Leadership Institute Program, which is sponsored by the Atlanta Regional Commission, and the Cobb Chamber of Commerce's Honorary Commanders Program. Michael is an active community member, serving on the Leadership Cobb Governing Board, Chattahoochee Technical College Foundation Board of Trustees, and the Tommy Nobis Center Community Advisory Board. He is a past recipient of the Cobb Chamber's Mack Henderson Public Service Award (2003) and the Golden Goose Award (2003), presented annually by the Cobb County Board of Commissioners and the County Manager.
Michael resides in Mableton with his wife, Carmen. During his time away from the office, Michael enjoys spending time with his three children, playing golf and sampling craft beers.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Tracy Hulsey has over 30 years of experience in marketing, project management and governmental relations in metro Atlanta. Her exceptional skillset has led to her rise in several regional organizations. She has managed real estate development, market research and economic impact analysis as an asset vice president with Post Properties and as principal of her own company, TLH Consulting. She managed planning and improvement programs as a senior vice president at the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, executive director of the Cumberland Community Improvement District, and lead consultant to the Development Authority of Powder Springs. Tracy used her marketing expertise as director of marketing for Croy Engineering, where she, with senior leadership, led the implementation of the company's strategic marketing, public relations, business development and client relations plans.
Before coming to Paulding County, Tracy served as economic development specialist for Cobb County Government. Here, she created and established a comprehensive business retention and expansion program that included a full-service "Business Concierge" program and "Business Walks" program. She assisted in the oversight and administering of the county's economic development programs, including the Economic Development Professionals Round Table, and in the creation of the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Grant program to stimulate successful and unique business incentive development and expansion.
Tracy earned a bachelor's degree from Auburn University and a M.B.A. from Georgia State University. She was born in Atlanta and has lived in Georgia most of her life. She has passionately given her time and efforts for numerous non-profit organizations, serving on the liveSAFE Resources board of directors for 20-plus years and as board chair, as well as vice chair of the American Cancer Society Leadership Council. Tracy is also a graduate of Leadership Cobb and more recently Leadership Paulding. She has received numerous volunteer service awards, including the American Cancer Society Babe Atkins-Byrne Ray of Hope Award and the United Way Heart-in-Hand Volunteer of the Year Award.
Tracy loves to travel, read, and spend time with her family in Powder Springs. She and her husband, Brad, have three grown children, four grandchildren and attend McEachern Memorial United Methodist Church.
Job Titles:
- Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors