Cobb Reporter

The Cobb Chamber's Cumberland Area Council has named John Shern as the 2024 Cumberland Citizen of the Year. This award recognizes individuals whose significant contributions have made their community a better place to live. The recipient is chosen based on nominations from the local area.

John Shern, a notable figure in Cobb County’s development, recently retired after a long tenure as the Chairman of the Board for the Cumberland Community Improvement District (CID). He was instrumental in advocating for community improvement districts in Georgia during the early 1980s alongside Cobb business leaders and the Cobb Chamber of Commerce. Their efforts led to a constitutional amendment in 1984 that allowed counties to create CIDs. The Cumberland CID, established in 1988 as Georgia’s first CID, emerged from these initiatives. It has since inspired nearly 30 other CIDs across Georgia, contributing significantly to infrastructure and transportation developments.

Under Shern's leadership, Cumberland CID undertook major projects such as the $300 million Cumberland Blvd. Loop Road and the $81 million Kennedy Interchange. Other significant projects include Paces Ferry Road & Interchange ($25 million), U.S. 41 Improvements ($65 million), Windy Hill Corridor & Interchange ($48 million), Akers Mill Ramp ($44 million), and enhancements like trail expansions throughout Cumberland.

Beyond his work with the CID, Shern holds an architecture degree from the University of Notre Dame and served in the U.S. Navy. His career in commercial real estate began with Cousins Properties, where he contributed to developing Wildwood Office Park and later co-developed The Paces West Office Park.

For further details about Area Councils, interested parties can contact Katie Guice at kguice@cobbchamber.org or 770-859-2334.