Leadership

Harry B. Johnston
Chairman, Cherokee County Board of Commissioners

Harry Johnston is a distinguished public servant and fiscal leader with nearly three decades of proven expertise in governance, strategic infrastructure planning, and regional development. Currently serving in his second consecutive term as Chairman of the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners—where he delivers the annual State of the County Address for a rapidly growing population of nearly 300,000 citizens—Harry has established a reputation as a highly effective administrator dedicated to responsible community development.

  • Proven Capital & Project Management: Chairman Johnston recently championed the successful community passage of a six-year, $445 million TSPLOST transportation and infrastructure tax initiative. His deep understanding of local demographics and ability to secure cross-precinct voter consensus makes him a powerful asset for driving large-scale, high-impact public initiatives.

  • Regional & Multi-Jurisdictional Leadership: He serves as a prominent board member for the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), working alongside key regional directors and leaders. His role spans vital planning bodies, including the Metro Water District Governing Board and the Transportation & Air Quality Committee, demonstrating his ability to manage heavily vetted, multi-layered regional grants and programs.

  • Elite Financial Stewardship: Before stepping into full-time civic leadership, Harry completed a highly successful 42-year career in finance and corporate accounting management with Southern Company. As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with degrees in finance and accounting, he provides a gold standard of oversight, ensuring absolute transparency, rigorous data tracking, and a maximum return on invested grant dollars.

  • Deep Local Infrastructure Expertise: Harry’s comprehensive knowledge of local zoning, community services, and city-county planning strategies spans decades. He previously served for 14 years as District 1 Commissioner, four years on the County Planning Commission, and currently serves as the Chairman of the City of Canton's Board of Zoning Appeals.

From navigating complex capital projects to driving localized public health and infrastructure saturation, Harry Johnston possesses the unique blend of financial precision and executive leadership required to execute major grant-funded initiatives seamlessly.

W. Candler Howell, Jr.
Civic Leadership & Retired Education Administrator

W. Candler Howell, Jr. is a prominent retired education financial administrator. He serves as Treasurer for Blue Ribbon Alliance Inc. (Blue Ribbon Cherokee). Candler brings a gold standard of financial oversight to any grant-funded program.

  • Distinguished Executive Administration: His leadership ensures that community awareness campaigns are executed under a disciplined, minimalist framework designed to maximize direct program impact and eliminate administrative overhead.

  • Elite Fiscal Management & Public Administration: Candler served for many years as the Assistant Superintendent of Financial Management for the Cherokee County School District (CCSD) before retiring from the position. His executive background in managing massive public education budgets ensures a meticulous level of data tracking, budget integrity, and flawless capital allocation for large-scale grant programs.

  • Dedicated Community Board Stewardship: He actively serves as a board member for the Cherokee County Educational Foundation (CCEF). In this role, he works directly within an organization dedicated to funding grants and expanding educational opportunities for local students, giving him firsthand experience in the precise execution and evaluation of grant-funded initiatives.

  • Proven Oversight:W. Candler Howell, Jr. combines executive precision with a lifetime of local credibility, ensuring that any grant-funded project he leads is executed on time, within budget, and to the highest standard of excellence.

Dennis Burnette
Executive Director, Blue Ribbon CHEROKEE

Dennis Burnette is a veteran community advocate, strategic campaign leader, and executive director with a stellar track record of mobilizing resources, building coalitions, and executing high-impact public initiatives. Over a distinguished professional career, he has chartered two new banks, served as the Chairman of the Georgia Bankers Association, and founded both a local Rotary Club and a Chamber of Commerce. As the founder of Blue Ribbon CHEROKEE, Dennis applies this same disciplined, results-driven approach to public health advocacy.

For grant decision-makers, his profile represents elite accountability, proven grassroots execution, and an exceptional ability to maximize the community return on investment:

  • Proven Capital & Grassroots Execution: Dennis possesses an unmatched ability to drive successful community-wide initiatives. He recently led a $30,000 advocacy campaign for the local TSPLOST transportation tax initiative, securing an incredible clean sweep by winning all 42 voting precincts. This demonstrates his elite capability to manage targeted campaign funds and deliver decisive, measurable outcomes.

  • Decades of Regional Governance: A deeply respected voice in regional development and public policy, Dennis served for 13 years as a board member for the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC). His long-standing tenure at the highest levels of regional planning equips him with a profound understanding of compliance, multi-jurisdictional cooperation, and the rigorous management standards required by major grant-making entities.

  • Elite Efficiency & Minimalist Operations: Under his executive leadership, Blue Ribbon CHEROKEE operates within a strict, minimalist organizational framework designed to eliminate administrative noise and office overhead. This lean operational model ensures that 100% of available funding and grant dollars are deployed directly into localized digital saturation and community outreach programs.

  • Strategic Infrastructure & Advocacy Networks: Dennis is a long-standing member of the local Chamber’s Government Affairs Council and a fierce advocate for city-county planning strategies. His deep-rooted partnerships with local legislative delegations, school district, and corporate stakeholders allow him to scale community programs.

  • Institutional Foundation Builder: His foundational leadership in the private and civic sectors—manifested in chartering two successful banking institutions and establishing vital civic infrastructure like a Chamber of Commerce and a Rotary Club—proves his rare capability to build sustainable organizations from scratch and manage complex fiduciary responsibilities.

From pioneering major public awareness engines to navigating multi-precinct civic victories, Dennis Burnette combines entrepreneurial efficiency with a lifetime of regional credibility, ensuring that any grant-funded initiative under his direction is executed with absolute transparency, razor-sharp focus, and maximum community impact.