Deborah Long, a finance and accounting major at Chattahoochee Technical College, interned with the Pickens County Planning and Development Department during the 2015 Summer Georgia County Internship Program.

While Long was familiar with various aspects of county government prior to her internship, she did not have any previous knowledge of the inner workings of the planning and development department. Over the course of her internship, Long learned about the operations of this department as she was tasked with researching and summarizing zoning changes using spreadsheets and maps. This project further allowed Long to utilize her Excel skills and taught her how to locate parcels on a map.

When asked about her most significant accomplishment during the internship, Long remarked that it was the ability to work effectively to accomplish goals and to help contribute towards those goals set by the department. Long noted that her favorite part of the internship was the personal interactions she had with fellow co-workers and other departments.

One of the seminal aspects of the internship was the continued development of her interpersonal skills and the networking opportunities that were afforded to her. While Pickens County did not have any available positions in her field, neighboring county, Gilmer, did. After being encouraged to apply for the position by the planning and development staff, Long was offered a position with the Office of the Gilmer County Tax Commissioner which she accepted.

For more information on the GCIP, please visit the ACCG Civic Affairs Foundation website at http://www.civicaffairs.org.