Augusta, GA) – Carla C. Smith, ’03 is regarded as one of Atlanta’s emerging leaders, speakers and trainers in the Social Services and Human Services arena. Smith is passionate about assisting all people with becoming their best self, ensuring the core needs of others are being met and committed to the progression of her community. Her passion has led to her recent recognition at the 7th Annual Atlanta Power 30 Under 30™ Awards.
The awards ceremony recognized the accomplishments of young professionals under the age of 30 who display strong leadership abilities as they consistently excel within their communities and respective professional industries. Smith was recognized in the area of Community Service. “These exemplary young people epitomize the essence of hard work, merit and sacrifice. We commend your relentless commitment to the pursuit of excellence in all that you do, and I urge you to continue blazing a brilliant path, always inspiring the next generation of young people to follow in your footsteps. On behalf of the people of Atlanta, I salute this special group of bright and shining young stars.” said Kasim Reed, Mayor of Atlanta
About Carla C. Smith
Smith is the CEO and Co-Owner of Georgia Counseling and Social Services Consultants (GCSSC), LLC, a social services consulting, program development and leadership training firm. Three University of Georgia School of Social Work Alumni started the firm in 2010. Smith spearheaded the creation of the organization following her work in non-profit management and after looking at the state of the social services sector, examining the services being provided as well as the increased need for quality, results driven initiatives. The driving force behind GCSSC, LLC is its commitment and dedication to the community.
Previously, Smith served as Regional Supervisor for Youth Villages, a Tennessee based non-profit organization and was the lead team member for the new services site in Atlanta, Georgia. She oversaw all programming in the Atlanta region including staffing; work with external customers on the local, state and national level to include Casey Family Programs, leadership trainings, fundraising events and partnership trainings for customers.
She also served as the Region lead for the State of Tennessee’s Governor’s Mentoring Initiative in 2007 where she was a member of the development team of then Governor Phil Bredesen’s new program for children that were in foster care and the custody of the state. Smith was responsible for the marketing/growth of the program in the East Tennessee region, recruitment of mentors for foster children and educating the community on Governor Bredesen’s vision of the program and the impact to be made in the life of a child. Smith was fortunate enough to do a launching event in Knoxville, Tennessee with then Mayor and current Governor of Tennessee Bill Haslam in order to promote awareness for children in foster care and the need for mentors across the State of Tennessee. The event ignited a call to citizens in East Tennessee and the number of mentors quickly moved to nearly 80 mentors in less than a year.
Smith has traveled the United States as well as internationally to Lima, Peru and Montrious, Haiti providing leadership development and conducting social services research related presentations. Her expertise includes leadership/program development, evidenced based practices, project management, at-risk children, women and children issues, commercially and sexually exploited children and child welfare initiatives. Smith is dedicated to the work in the social services sector and committed to the enhancement of these services. Smith feels that superior services to our children and families are a direct investment into our community and that providing others with quality, results driven services at the onset will prove to have a direct positive impact upon those being served.
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