The Cobb Chamber’s Northwest Cobb Area Council, which represents Northwest Cobb’s three distinct districts of Acworth, Kennesaw and West Cobb, has selected three community advocates as 2022 Citizens of the Year: Lori Perkins for Acworth, Patti Schoettler for Kennesaw, and Eddie Wade for West Cobb.

The Citizen of the Year Awards are given to honor an individual whose impact through the years will be recognized and regarded with pride throughout the area as a role model. These outstanding citizens are chosen for their definable, exceptional deeds, with which he or she have made their community a better place to live. Awards are given based on local area nominations. The 2022 Northwest Cobb Citizen of the Year awards were presented at the Northwest Cobb Area Council breakfast at Governors Gun Club.

Lori Perkins

Lori Perkins has lived in Cobb for over 20 years. Her servitude, hard work ethic, and giving spirit make her a valuable contributor to the community of Acworth. Perkins was a teacher for the Cobb County School District for many years before working for the Marietta City Schools District Office and retiring in 2018. Currently a real estate agent for Coldwell Banker, Perkins also leads the five-member volunteer board of the Acworth Tree Commission as their elected Chairperson.

Perkins brought the idea of a Community Garden to Acworth city staff in 2019, with the intent to engage community participation and provide a local senior community with the harvested produce. In 2022, the Community Garden was built. Perkins and volunteers work at least three days per week in the garden. When she’s not on site, she is spreading the word, raising funds, and creating awareness of the valuable resources a garden can bring.

Under Perkins’ leadership, the garden has provided over 1,000 pounds of produce to a local senior community to date. Since its inception, one of Perkins’ goals for the garden was to provide education to local youth on the importance of gardening and sustainability. The garden has hosted several educational and hands-on classes as students and volunteers alike meet at the garden to learn about seasonal produce and assist with upkeep. Perkins is admired for her tenacity in executing her vision and working tirelessly to ensure that the Acworth Community Garden is around for many years to come. 

Patti Schoettler

Patti Schoettler, Independent Agent for AFLAC, is a servant leader who is always the first to selflessly volunteer and jump at new opportunity. An active member of several boards and committees in Cobb; including North Cobb Rotary, the Atlanta Lyric Theater, The Davis Direction, and Devereux Georgia, Schoettler works incredibly hard as a doer, coming up with big ideas and seeing them into fruition.

This past summer, Schoettler helped organize a Leadership Cobb Alumni Association breakfast donation for the group to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. She volunteered for a number of events including The Dave Krache Foundation’s Sports Fanatic 5K, LiveSafe Resources’ Que & Brew, and Back Our Blue and America Too. Schoettler can regularly be found on the sidelines cheering on the others, hosting an event, or supporting a cause in whatever way she can – often through her own business resources.

Schoettler is always the first to raise her hand, step in, and happily help to make the community a better place. Her servitude, hard work ethic, and giving spirit make her a valuable contributor to the neighborhoods and communities of Kennesaw.

Eddie Wade

Eddie Wade, COO of Croy Engineering, is an unsung hero to many organizations and people in West Cobb. Wade has a serious passion for his community, regularly supporting local organizations by offering to help volunteer his time and resources. Whether it’s mentoring students or stepping up in time of need, Wade serves with pure authenticity and a smile on his face.

Wade was the ACEC National Young Engineer of the Year in 2019 and 2020, featured in 20 under 40 by Cobb Life Magazine in 2020, the Cobb Chamber 2019 Next Generation Award Winner, and 2017 Leadership Cobb Spirit Award winner. Wade contributed to The Center for Family Resource’s inaugural “Parade of Playhouses,” single-handedly designing and building Croy’s “Command and Conquer” playhouse, which was donated as an auction item to help the non-profit raise funds to prevent childhood homelessness.

Additional examples of his investment in non-profits include service as a Board Member and volunteer with the YMCA of Northwest Georgia, Director on the Board for the Cobb Community Foundation, and Director on the Board for the North Georgia State Fair. Wade has continuously contributed to the wellbeing of the West Cobb community through his willingness, giving spirit, and demonstrated acts of service.

For more information about Area Councils, contact Katie Guice at [email protected] or 770-859-2334. Thank you to Series Presenting Sponsor, Kaiser Permanente, and Program Sponsors, GeoHydro Engineers and Town Center Community Improvement District.