Erica Parish, who has been the interim director of the Cobb County Department of Transportation, was named to the post on a permanent basis by the Cobb County Board of Commissioners at their meeting Tuesday morning.

County Manager Rob Hosack wrote in his memorandum, “I would like to recommend the appointment of Erica S. Parish as Transportation Director. Ms. Parish holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a professional engineering license. Additionally, Ms. Parish has more than 17 years of experience working in transportation management, including her service as Deputy Transportation Director since September 2016 and as Interim Transportation Agency Director since April 2018.”

Panel chooses Erica Parish

According to Hosack, several candidates for the position had been interviewed by a panel led by Tony Hagler, Cobb County’s Human Resources director. Other panel members were Annie Gillespie, the Director of Engineering of the State Road and Tollway Authority; Dana Johnson, Cobb’s Community Development Agency Director; Dr. Jackie McMorris, Deputy County Manager; Ed Richardson of Richardson Management Group; and Tammi Saddler Jones, the City of Smyrna’s City Administrator.

The panel narrowed the field to four candidates for further consideration, and Parish was recommended as the best candidate for the job.

In a November 9 news release from the Cobb County communications office, Hosack said, “Erica has done a tremendous job since taking the reigns of DOT earlier this year. In addition to her broad base of knowledge about all facets of our transportation needs and goals, she has also proved to be an effective manager and communicator. We look forward to her continued contributions to making Cobb the best place to live, work and play.”

Parish’s background

Parish came to Cobb County in 2016 after 15 years with Paulding County’s Transportation Department.  She holds a degree in civil engineering from Southern Polytechnic State University (now part of Kennesaw State University).

The Cobb County DOT

According to the Cobb DOT’s page on the county website:

The Department of Transportation (DOT) develops, manages, and operates the county’s transportation systems. Those systems include a vast network of roadways, sidewalks, and trails; a transit system that provides public transportation; and a general aviation airport that serves business and recreational flying needs.