A Conversation with Ashley Bacon, Our 2019 Lynn Cobb Award Winner
We’re thrilled to share the second post in our 2019 awards interview series. Every year, we honor individuals, schools, corporations, nonprofits, and government agencies working to improve Georgia’s environment. The Lynn Cobb Award honors an executive director who has been with us for ten years or less. Join us for a conversation with Ashley Bacon, the executive director of Keep Milledgeville-Baldwin Beautiful.
Photo by Tom Meyer
Thanks for joining us, and congratulations on winning the award. How did you feel when you realized you were this year’s recipient?
It was a very humbling experience, and I’m flattered that my peers thought enough of me to bestow the honor. I did not know I won until the day of the ceremony when the emcee read a brief bio [of the winner]. I was listening intently, very excited to see who would win, and then I noticed she was mentioning things in my wheelhouse. I sat there in shock and awe, and as she continued, I realized she was talking about me! I had both of my best friends flanking my side; they were videoing me and I didn’t even know it. They were sneaky and both crying, but I had no idea because I wasn’t watching them. It was overwhelming—I take great pride in my position and representing our community. I have a hard time finding the right words, but it felt fantastic. It’s an awesome feeling.
That’s wonderful. So what inspired you to join the Georgia KAB network?
The Young Professionals of Milledgeville, which I’m a part of, reinstated Keep Milledgeville-Baldwin Beautiful in 2012; prior to that, the development authority housed the program and it had kind of dissipated. We decided to embrace Keep Milledgeville-Baldwin Beautiful, and wow, has it grown! I started as a volunteer, and got to sit at the table with KGBF and put it all back together. Then I came on board as executive director in February 2016. Since then, we have moved forward with tons of new partnerships in the community. It’s important to me, as a professional, to garner and nurture relationships with leaders in the community so we can make the headway we need to make. I am using those resources to benefit our community and assist it in becoming cleaner and greener. Right now, we’re working diligently with code enforcement to abate abandoned property in the area. We’ve successfully abated 57 properties so far, and that number is only going to increase. I really want to attack the issue of blight. My heart is economic development, and that is why I love this role so much. We can’t prosper if we’re not pretty and showcasing ourselves as a thriving and colorful community.
Implementing nine recycling bins at at the Oconee Community Greenway with Lowe’s Community Heroes
If you had to choose, what would be your proudest moment over the years?
In my first year as executive director, we scored a grant from Keep America Beautiful and Lowe’s Community Heroes for $10,000 and established the first public recycling facilities at the Oconee River Greenway. We also planted about 60 trees. That was the first feather in my hat, and after that, I felt ready to tackle anything. The following year, my path crossed with the advocacy chair for education, and she and I worked alongside the school superintendent to implement a completely green footprint in our public school system. During our first year, we salvaged about ten tons of recycling from going into the landfill, and results have exponentially grown since then. We’re a well-oiled machine! We have an Auntie Litter program to teach elementary students about litter prevention and recycling. It’s so much fun, and these students are the perfect age to absorb knowledge and go right home to tell their parents [how to recycle]. It has worked out perfectly.
What motivates you?
I’m very optimistic by nature, so I see opportunities when they’re on the table. I know that we’re not a dying community. Milledgeville is a wonderful place to live! We have a great education system, natural resources, retail, wonderful dining—everything a city could ever want. I embrace that, and see great things happening. My goal each day is to motivate others to show and reflect the good things happening in our community.
What guidance can you offer to other executive directors?
Stay positive! It’s not always an easy task. I had to learn, over years of being let down and losing volunteers, board members, and partnerships, that not everyone shares the same passions. However, the biggest reason to hang in there is that there are people who will engage with you, and you will make [additional] partnerships. Things will continue to get better.
I also would not be successful without my executive team. I pull ideas out of thin air; pie in the sky ideas, really, and bounce them off a reasonable, logical, levelheaded sounding board. They share my passion, and they love me for my wild, crazy, spontaneous ideas. They don’t call me crazy to my face—they hear me out and help in the decision-making process! By no means can I take all the credit for what we’ve accomplished. Those I surround myself with are the reason I do this every day.
What is one thing everyone can do to make their community cleaner, greener, or more beautiful?
Having the ability to make a difference in life is huge and probably one of the greatest intangible asset we as humans possess. Why not do your part and leave this world a little nicer by offering to volunteer your time, efforts, or money? You only get to do this life once, so why not be the best you can be? Be intentionally selfless in your endeavors and the harvest will be good.