The Paulding County Board of Elections is proud to announce that the following individuals have been designated as Certified Elections/Registration Administrators (CERA). This is the highest professional achievement for election officials in the country. Graduation was held on Friday, August 22 during the conference held at the Grand American Hotel in Salt Lake City Utah.
Deidre Holden – Director 21 Years of Election Experience
Lacy Dunn – Assistant Director 13 Years of Election Experience
Sherri Hamilton- Election Specialist 11 Years of Election Experience
Jessica Lord – Election Specialist 13 Years of Election Experience

CERA designation is achieved through a multi-year course of study taught by Auburn University’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) faculty, through the Institute of Election Administration Research & Practice, in partnership with the National Association of Election Officials (commonly known as the Election Center). The intent of professionalizing the management of election administration is to promote and preserve public trust in the democratic process.
“Attaining the completion of the CERA curriculum is a milestone to be lauded and celebrated-- the election professionals who reach this goal have much to be proud of.” Tammy Patrick, Chief Programs Officer for Election Center and Class of 2007 CERA graduate.
The Election Center, a non-profit association of voter registrars, elections administrators, and providers of election services throughout America and the U.S. territories. Its membership comprises township, city, county, and state elections officials and other election-related organizations. The Center’s primary purpose is to promote and support continuous improvement in the administration of elections and voter registration through research, professional education, conferences, networking, and consulting.
These 4 impressive individuals have a combined total of 58 years of experience in elections. We are honored to have them as leaders in Paulding County. Each of them has worked extremely hard over the past year and a half on completing the CERA program.
Please join us in congratulating our graduates.
Sincerest Regards, Paulding County Board of Elections