Clayton County Water GM Makes History as First African American President of the Georgia Association of Water Professionals

July 23, 2021 – (Morrow, GA) – Clayton County Water Authority (CCWA) General Manager H. Bernard Franks made history on July 12 as he took over as President of the Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) during the association’s annual conference in Savannah.

Franks is the first African American to serve in this role. He brings more than 25 years of service at CCWA, a passion for the water industry, and a long record of service to GAWP throughout his career.

“I am proud to have served in the water industry now for over 25 years. As servant leaders, we should all give thanks for this opportunity to be caretakers of the most valuable, life-sustaining natural resource in the world – water,” Franks adds. “As water professionals we grow and prosper due to our diversity, humility, integrity, and innovation.”

During GAWP’s opening session on July 12, outgoing President Keith Higgs, of Douglasville Douglas County Water & Sewer Authority, passed the gavel to Franks marking the beginning of his one-year term as president. He will lead the Association to its 90th anniversary, having been established in 1932.  He will oversee the development of a new Strategic Plan for the Association, to focus on how GAWP will assist with the most critical needs of the Georgia water professionals in the next decade.  His theme for his leadership year is “Why Water Matters” as he works to further the understanding and appreciation of the industry, and the work of water professionals.

“Bernard inspires me to think big about the future of the water profession, and how the association can serve and lead to more innovation and protection of precious water resources,” says GAWP Executive Director Pam Burnett. “His style of servant leadership brings people together to do more than they could as individuals, to build a thoughtful and supportive community of water professionals.”

Officer positions are selected from industry leaders, generally with an inspiring career story and as an exemplary role model. Franks was first elected to GAWP’s Vice President (2019) and President-Elect (2020) positions, and then to President.  As President-elect, he was the Vice Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, and Chair of the Long-Range Planning Committee, and a member of the Conference Committee.  As Vice President he was a member of the Budget and Finance Committee and Vice Chair of the Long-Range Planning Committee.  As President, he appoints the chairs of each Association Committee, and serves on the Association Nomination Committee. He also serves on the Board of the Georgia Water & Wastewater Institute, the operator training center for GAWP.

“We are extremely proud of Mr. Frank’s ascension to president of the Georgia Association of Water Professionals. His commitment to CCWA, and the water industry, has made him one of the most respected water professionals in the nation,” adds CCWA Board Chair Robin Malone. “He is knowledgeable, forward thinking and a visionary; all attributes necessary to lead GAWP over the next year.”

Franks is proud to be a life-long resident of Clayton County, living in Jonesboro with his wife of 31 years, Lenora, and their sons Bernard, Cameron and Joshua. He is the Past Chair of the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce Board. He is also active in the American Water Works Association (AWWA), Georgia Rural Water Association (GRWA) and Georgia Utility Contractors Association (GUCA).

GAWP provides professional development and promotes sound public policy in the water resources and related environmental fields. Its vision is to ‘be the go‐to source for reliable information on Georgia’s water resources for water professionals, decision makers, the media, and the public’.