The Cobb Chamber’s Northwest Cobb Area Council has named four individuals as the 2025 Citizens of the Year for Acworth, Kennesaw, West Cobb, and Town Center. The awards were presented at the Northwest Cobb Area Council breakfast held at Governors Gun Club.
Megan Strange was recognized as the Citizen of the Year for Acworth. Strange serves as Upper School Principal at North Cobb Christian School and has been with the institution for over twenty years. She also leads a regional leadership group through the Atlanta Christian School Association and has participated in international education forums such as the Vancouver Symposium on Christian Education. Her work includes leading mission trips and active involvement with the Acworth Business Association.
Barbie Brown received recognition as Kennesaw’s Citizen of the Year. Brown is founder of The Brown Agency and is known for her service on various non-profit boards, including roles with Davis Direction Foundation, SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center, and Blue Thanksgiving. She has contributed to raising over $300,000 through local charity events.
For West Cobb, Joyette Holmes was selected as Citizen of the Year. Holmes currently serves on the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles and previously made history in Cobb County by being both its first female and African American Chief Magistrate and District Attorney. She is involved with several community organizations including MUST Ministries, Wellstar’s Kennestone Regional Hospital Board, Kennesaw State University President’s Community Advisory Board, Capital City Bank Advisory Board, and holds positions within the Cobb Chamber itself.
Kat Schwaig was honored as Town Center Citizen of the Year. Schwaig became president of Kennesaw State University in 2022 after serving in an interim capacity since 2021. Under her leadership, KSU launched a new strategic plan called “Taking Flight,” expanded academic offerings by more than fifty programs, implemented student success initiatives such as FLIGHT for first-year students, increased research funding significantly, transitioned to Conference USA athletics conference, and relaunched HatchBridge business incubator. Schwaig also serves on boards including SelectCobb (as chair), Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors’ Executive Committee, among others.
“These outstanding citizens are chosen for their definable, exceptional deeds, with which he or she has made their community a better place to live,” according to information provided by the Cobb Chamber.
Sponsorship support for this year’s awards came from Kaiser Permanente (Series Presenting Sponsor), GeoHydro Engineers and Town Center Community Improvement District (Program Sponsors), and Capital City Bank (Citizen of the Year Award Sponsor).
For more details about Area Councils or these recognitions, interested parties can contact Katie Guice at kguice@cobbchamber.org or 770-859-2334.
