(Lawrenceville, Ga., Dec. 31, 2024) – Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson was ceremonially sworn in today for her second term as head of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners, with her family in attendance.

Hendrickson made history in 2020 as the first Black person to hold the position in Georgia’s second-most populated and the region’s most diverse county. Reflecting on her first term, she emphasized her commitment to promoting an inclusive and thriving community.

"It’s an honor to have been entrusted by the residents of Gwinnett for a second term," said Hendrickson. "Strong leadership can drive meaningful change in our community and by working with residents, businesses and local organizations, we can continue to create a county that offers opportunity and equity for everyone."

Under her leadership, Gwinnett County has achieved significant milestones, including:

• Pioneered transformative housing initiatives: Spearheaded the creation of the Affordable Housing Development Fund, setting a precedent for innovative financing solutions to tackle local housing challenges. On a regional scale, she served as chair of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Local Leaders Housing Action Committee, where she played a pivotal role in driving impactful policy discussions to address housing equity and sustainability.

• Trailblazer for small business growth: Established Gwinnett’s first-ever Entrepreneur Center, equipping business owners with critical resources to navigate funding pathways, encourage innovation and achieve long-term success.

• Strong proponent of transit innovation: Championed transit solutions including microtransit programs in Snellville, Lawrenceville and the Norcross-Gateway85 area, which are supporting workforce mobility, economic growth and connectivity across business hubs and communities.

• Collaborative leader for community well-being: Steered investments to enhance community well-being, including implementing a police and clinician co-responder model for mental health crises, improving veteran services with the establishment of the first Veteran and Family Services Center, and expanding wraparound County services in southern Gwinnett through the OneStop Centerville expansion.

Chairwoman Hendrickson’s leadership has been recognized both locally and nationally. She has been appointed to key positions by the National Association of Counties, including Vice Chair of the Community, Economic and Workforce Development Steering Committee, focusing on housing and Vice Chair of the Large Urban County Caucus. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Rhode Island and a Master of Social Work from the University of Georgia.

She lives in unincorporated Lilburn with her husband, Keverne and their son, Kaden. For more information about Chairwoman Hendrickson and her initiatives, please visit the Gwinnett County website.