GMA celebrates the two city officials, Hector Gutierrez and Gabrielle Nelson, who were recognized in Georgia Trend’s 2025 "40 Under 40" list. Chosen for their professional successes and community engagement, these municipal leaders have shown great dedication to their cities’ growth and development. Their efforts highlight the dedication that strengthens Georgia’s cities.
Councilmember Hector Gutierrez, Forest Park
Councilmember Hector Gutierrez joked, “I had a life of public service and didn’t even know it.” After serving as a member of the Georgia National Guard after high school, he was guided to a career in teaching by a mentor in 2014. While working with the nonprofit Teach for America, he relocated to Forest Park, and was hired at Unidos Dual Language School, aiming to immerse himself in the community.
Afterward, he joined a retreat with Teach for America’s sister program, where he learned the process of becoming an elected official – and was shocked to find that they were all “regular human beings.”
“In my mind, elected officials were the kind of people who were extremely educated on everything – I never saw myself as one. So just going there motivated me,” Gutierrez said.
Through the program, Gutierrez learned how to run a campaign, express his mission and message, and more, which in turn motivated him to run for council in Forest Park. He remembers that he won the election by a mere seven votes, noting the power of voter turnout. He is now in his second term, running uncontested in his second election.
Gutierrez said that the tenets of his teaching career translate well to a role as an elected official, with love and patience being the ultimate tools to help others – from high school students and Forest Park senior citizens. Gutierrez has created a senior committee in the city, called the Senior Panthers in Action, and is working to create a youth council with the help of GMA’s resources and guidance.
Gutierrez also notes that the strength of Forest Park lies within its diversity, which exposes its residents to a large range of cultural celebrations, cuisines, small businesses, and more. As a Uruguay native, Gutierrez appreciates the ability to speak Spanish to students when he teaches. “Speaking Spanish reminds me of my parents, my grandparents, my uncles and aunts.”
Gutierrez’s ultimate goal is to provide for the city’s residents, making life more affordable and comfortable. “The most rewarding thing is making impactful change, and I take it as a huge responsibility, not only just for the policymaking of our city, but for our employees,” he said. “That’s the most meaningful part, being able to make changes in the community.”
Mayor Pro Tem Gabrielle Nelson, Port Wentworth
Mayor Pro Tem Gabrielle Nelson was inspired to commit to a life of public service by her grandparents, who raised her after her mother’s death before Nelson began the fourth grade. “Long story short, we were forced to look at the news, to the point that it became something that we generally understood very well,” she said.
This access to conversations around local politics and government inspired Nelson, who first entered into the field through a stint in a courthouse and district attorney’s office – as well as exposure to a magistrate court alongside judges as she prepared materials for them.
“Sometimes, I didn’t like what I saw, and couldn’t do much about it,” she said. This frustration led in part to her first campaign in 2021, during her pregnancy with her third child. She won and was elected in November of 2021.
A typical day for Nelson involves waking up at 4:45 AM, preparing and getting her children ready for the day just after 6:00 AM, and getting straight to work from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, where she is the Computer Services Manager for Chatham County. After that full day of work (and sometimes in the midst of it), Nelson juggles her duties as Mayor Pro Tem, which can range from attending remote meetings to reviewing citizens’ complaints in person.
Nelson is passionate and active in her community and is a part of the board for both the SAFE Shelter Center for Domestic Violence and Brightside, a child and family advocacy service. Nelson also coaches micro soccer for children in Port Wentworth, which is part of a larger micro sports initiative she and the Port Wentworth council created.
She said that one of the most rewarding parts of her role is watching and helping Port Wentworth’s community grow and thrive. “When I first moved to Port Wentworth 16 years ago there wasn’t much of anything, and now we have so much to offer and so much more on the way.”
Nelson noted the town’s strengthening relationships with multiple nonprofits throughout the Chatham County area, as well as its active participation in the Savannah Area Chamber and the Greater Savannah Black Chamber of Commerce. “We are building those relationships... there’s been so many good things that we’re doing in Port Wentworth that keep moving the needle.”