Gainesville’s new Assistant City Manager Angela Sheppard is a local.

Despite the fact that she drives to work every day from her home in Banks County, Sheppard has roots in Hall County.

The East Hall High School graduate, who previously worked in Banks County government, said she is glad to be back serving the community she loves.

Sheppard received her master’s in public administration at the University of Georgia and stuck around the state after school to work in local government, a public service that she says has the most impact.

"I think it’s nice to be able to drive through the community and just know the things you’re doing that try to make it a better place," she said.

Sheppard previously did regional
planning in Macon and most recently served as a county administrator in Banks County.

While she is proud of some of her accomplishments in Banks County — she served as the project manager for the construction of the county’s new courthouse annex and the renovation of the old courthouse — Sheppard said she is glad to return to her Hall County roots.

"Since Gainesville is my hometown, it gave me a chance to get back to the community I love," Sheppard said.

Sheppard started May 4 and said she has spent her first few weeks on the job getting used to the differences between working in a rural county and an urban environment.

"I’ve enjoyed the change," she said.

Sheppard said she has been getting confirmation that she might be in the right place.

"Every employee I’ve met has told me it’s a wonderful place to work — that really speaks volumes for the city," she said.

Sheppard said her goal in Gainesville is simple: to "continue to make Gainesville a great community."

"I’ve seen it evolve so much already," Sheppard said. "I remember when downtown was a nearly abandoned area."

Sheppard said she will work on that goal "as long as they’ll let me."

Her job isn’t the only new thing in Sheppard’s life. The new assistant city manager and her husband have a 9-month-old girl named Addie who takes up her time after she leaves the city administration buildings.

"Having a 9-month-old daughter takes a lot of time," she said.