Ambassadors meet monthly and serve as volunteer Chamber liaisons by contacting
new members, attending Chamber functions and facilitating personal connections among
members. By acclimating new members to the Chamber's programs and services, Ambassadors
serve as mentors to fellow members. Ambassadors receive recognition throughout the
year at various Chamber events and on the Chamber's website.
Contact Elizabeth McMahon at emcmahon@cobbchamber.org
for more information on the Ambassador program.
2018 Ambassadors
2017 Ambassador of the Year
Dédré Brown, Business Services Recruiter for the Georgia Department of Labor, was recognized as the 2017 Ambassador of the Year. As a recruiter he is responsible for building relationships with small-medium size companies throughout Cobb-Cherokee County and assist them with their hiring needs. He works with companies to address their employee needs and where companies find the most pain when trying to retain strong, reliable people to fill very important roles within the companies and the communities in which they serve. Dédré is considered to be a Workforce Development Specialist where has expertise in recruiting, career planning, employer relations, and marketing implementation.
Mr. Dédré Brown is a motivated, organized, and accomplished professional with extensive experience in training development, project management, workforce development, and leadership development. I consider myself an exceptional communicator with a proven track record in negotiation, marketing research/planning, client relationships, teamwork, people skills and customer focus skills. Highly effective in leveraging customer relationships to facilitate and maximize growth in the business industry. Successful in developing and implementing training programs supporting the workforce industry.
Often times you will find Dédré working tirelessly with employers such as Papa John’s, First Data, Verizon Wireless, CarMax and several other companies looking to find the next great match. Not only that, but Dédré works with the job seeker to develop their résumé and getting them prepared for potential interviews. Nothing is more important than to be able to assist a job seeker and then send them on a job interview and that job seeker get the job. This is very reason Dédré loves his job so much. In his current role Dédré is one of the very few who has obtained his Certification as a Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW). So he is always motivated to share his knowledge and expertise with those who need it.
Mr. Brown serves an Ambassador for the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce and on the Chairmen’s Council at the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce. He also serves on the President’s Advisory Board for Reinhardt University. Dédré is also the outgoing Recording Secretary for his fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. where he served 5 years in that capacity. Among his many other community contributions, he is a volunteer at the Center for Family Resources where he assists individuals who need assistance with finding work, or assistance with résumé development.
Dédré earned his B.A. in Political Science from Clark Atlanta University. He has plans to get his Masters in Public Administration in the very near future. In his spare time, Dédré enjoys traveling, skating, going to the movies, and reading self-help books!
Ambassador of the Month
We're excited to announce Wezly Barnard as the Ambassador of the Month! Wezly is originally from South Africa and was recruited as a student athlete to attend Young Harris College. After graduating he recruited for the college as he was passionate about his experience as a student. Wezly moved into the insurance industry and worked in personal lines with State Farm. He joined Snellings Walters in 2017 as the firm's core values aligned with how Wezly wanted to move forward in his career. Wezly's areas of specialty include Property & Casualty, Workers Compensation, and Surety. He is passionate about helping business leaders feel confident about their insurance program and be in a better position than they were before.
In his spare time Wezly and his wife Kelsey enjoy spending time with family and friends. He is also involved in both playing and coaching soccer. He is passionate about the sport and enjoys giving back to the game.