On Thursday, April 13, the Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District (CID) held its regularly scheduled Board of Directors election with two positions up for a vote. CID board members Erica Heller, Colliers International, and Lisa Reeves, NDI Development were re-elected to their respective posts. The board also welcomed Clara Richardson-Olquin to serve as the CID’s Gwinnett County appointee to the board.
“We are thrilled to have Clara serve on the board and we welcome her leadership, guidance and enthusiasm,” said Marsha Anderson Bomar, executive director for the CID. “Ms. Richardson-Olquin offers the unique perspective of a small business owner in our district and that viewpoint will be invaluable to us as we work to support a diverse and thriving business community.”
Richardson-Olguin founded CIC Floors, a residential and commercial flooring products and installation company, with her husband, Cesar 16 years ago. CIC received the Best Residential Business of the Year award in 2016 from the Georgia Hispanic Construction Association.
“I am eager for opportunity to be working with all members of the board and staff to continue the amazing job of our CID,” said Richardson-Olquin. “Thanks to Commissioner Howard and the entire Gwinnett County Commission for supporting me as the new appointee to the CID board. As a business owner and resident, who has a vested interest in seeing this community flourish, I look forward to sharing my experience and helping to further cultivate and support a vibrant business community in the Gwinnett Village area.”
Regarding Clara’s appointment Gwinnett County District Two Commissioner, Lynette Howard said: “I’m so excited to have Clara represent Gwinnett County on this board. She and her husband have worked so hard to build their business and it’s an excellent representation of what we are looking for in Gwinnett and in the CID. It’s a wonderful testament to the community really supporting the District from within.”
A lawyer in her native Dominican Republic, Clara immigrated to the United States to earn a master’s degree in music management at Georgia State University. Clara earned a certification from the University of Florida for Foreign Attorneys as International Legal Advisor and Paralegal. The National Association of Professional Women recognized Clara as Woman of the Year in 2016.
Clara is a member of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Professional Women, the Atlanta Music Teachers Association, the National Association of Recording Art and Science (NARAS / LARAS) and is a parishioner at Saint John Newnan Catholic Church where she performs with the Hispanic Choir.
