Changes to MCSD leadership include recommendation to hire TSYS, former Aflac employee
Two members of the 10-person cabinet advising the Muscogee County School District superintendent are changing.
Chief operations and facilities officer David Goldberg is retiring, and the school board is scheduled to vote Aug. 16 on approving Mercedes Parham’s successor as the new communications director.
Superintendent David Lewis has recommended TSYS communications analyst Alicia Lawrence to replace Parham, who announced her resignation four months ago to accept another opportunity.
Goldberg has been in charge of MCSD’s operations and facilities for six years since succeeding the retired Myles Caggins.
Before coming to Columbus, Goldberg was assistant superintendent for administrative and support services at the Carroll County School District in Carrollton, Georgia.
Goldberg told the Ledger-Enquirer his last day of work for MCSD will be Aug. 31.
Asked what he plans to do next, Goldberg, 57, laughed and said, “I’m planning on not failing retirement,” meaning he doesn’t intend to get another job after 30 years of service in public education.
“Mr. Goldberg has been a tremendous asset to our school district during his tenure and will be greatly missed,” Lewis told the L-E in an email. “In addition to successfully completing all 2015 ESPLOST capital projects and initiating planning for those from the 2020 ESPLOST, Mr. Goldberg has focused on developing and enhancing relationships with both internal and external stakeholders, as well as instilling a culture of customer service within all of the departments for which he is responsible.”
According to the board’s agenda and her attached resume, Lawrence has been a communications analyst at TSYS, a Global Payments company, for four years. She previously worked at Aflac as development programs coordinator from August 2015 to March 2017 and as a human resources divisional analyst from December 2013 to August 2015.
Lawrence also has taught speech at Columbus Technical College as an adjunct instructor fox six years.
Lawrence earned her master’s degree in communications (2014) and her bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism (2013) from Troy University. She has won awards from TSYS, Aflac, Toastmasters, Habitat for Humanity, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Troy University and Phi Kappa Phi.
Her community involvement has included volunteering for the United Way and House of Heroes.
Lewis said he selected Lawrence out of 22 applicants, including five who were interviewed.
‘In her roles at TSYS/Global Payments and Aflac, Mrs. Lawrence was responsible for internal and external messaging and presentations that incorporate all social media platforms, graphics and digital design, as well as analytics to monitor and assess effectiveness,” he said. “In addition, she has experience with scheduling, planning, budgeting and marketing special events and programs that are also important functions of this position. Moreover, she has proven to be an effective communicator, and we look forward to her success in sharing the news and accomplishments of the Muscogee County School District.”
This story was originally published August 9, 2021 at 1:08 PM.
