Leadership
RANDY HICKS
Champion of Opportunity – Breaking Barriers, Igniting Hope
Randy Hicks is a transformative leader and advocate for social change, dedicated to improving access to education, employment, and family stability through his role as President and CEO of the Georgia Center for Opportunity and his involvement in influential policy research and community initiatives.
Subject Matter Expertise:
Leadership
The Value & Importance of Work
The Role of Civil Society
Creating Better Povery Policy
The Importance & Role of Family
President & CEO
Randy Hicks
Randy Hicks is president and CEO of the Georgia Center for Opportunity (GCO). Under his leadership, GCO has become an influential voice for holistic solutions that remove barriers to opportunity and empower individuals and communities to break the cycle of poverty. Randy advocates for changing lives and transforming communities by prioritizing the core areas of human flourishing and community well-being: public safety, education, employment, and family stability. His insights and leadership have significantly shaped public policy and community engagement in Georgia and beyond.
As a nationally recognized advocate for social change, Randy has contributed to landmark studies on the socioeconomic impacts of family structure, co-led a White House conference on family-strengthening initiatives, and served on the Supreme Court Commission on Children, Marriage, and Family Law. In 2020, he played a key role in forming the Alliance for Opportunity, a regional multi-state partnership aiming to alleviate poverty for hundreds of thousands over the next decade.
Randy and his wife, Marilyn, devote their lives to community and family. Together, they share the joy of parenting six adult children and cherishing moments with their three grandchildren.
Education
Randy is a graduate of the University of Southern California where he studied political science. He also holds a Masters of Divinity from Biola University.
Prior Experience
Before joining GCO, Hicks was instrumental in promoting family-strengthening initiatives across the United States, from his work with Stronger Families in Seattle to his role at Focus on the Family. He also worked as principal speechwriter and community liaison for California State Senator Marian Bergeson.
Community Involvement
- Board Member, Mothers Advocacy Project (current)
- Board Member, Corners Outreach (current)
Awards & Recognitions
- State Policy Network Thomas A. Rose Award (2022)
Media & Interviews
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