Whether he’s leading a city council meeting, mentoring youth, or handing out donuts at a local 5K, Greg Whitlock brings boundless energy and purpose to everything he does. Meet the Duluth Mayor, entrepreneur, and longtime Rotarian whose passion for community service is as inspiring as it is impactful.
Greg Whitlock is a mover and a shaker in Gwinnett County. An entrepreneur and owner of The Whitlock Group, Inc., an insurance and risk management organization established in 2008, Whitlock serves in many capacities including as the Mayor of Duluth, an artsy, lively and welcoming city about 30 miles northeast of Atlanta.
A two-time past president of the Rotary Club of Sugarloaf, he joined Rotary in March 2000 at the recommendation of his boss. Newly married to his wife, Barbara, he was just beginning his career as a local insurance agent.
“I really didn’t know what I was getting into,” he said, “but I thought of it as a networking event. However, the energy of the people and the service-minded environment were perfect for me and helped me thrive in the community through service.” And, he said, the opportunity for service keeps him in Rotary.
His Rotary career has also included stints as Service Chair, Sergeant-at-Arms, Secretary, Vice President, Treasurer, and Trustee – all multiple times. Youth service has been of particular interest as he and his family have served as the GRSP host family several times. He currently serves as the GRSP Trustee for six Rotary clubs.
A neighborhood HOA member, Whitlock got his start in local government as a member of the Duluth Downtown Development Authority and the Duluth Finance Committee. He was elected to serve as a Duluth City Council member in 2008 and served until 2024 when he was elected to a four-year term as Mayor. As a council member, Whitlock participated in the revitalization of downtown Duluth. As Mayor, he has hosted 53 neighborhood meetings in one year to meet citizens, provide updates on the city, and allow the residents to voice their concerns and make requests of the city.
He is proud of his success in establishing a group to support the economically disadvantaged parts of Duluth. The committee helped clean up home titles, qualified homeowners for HUD funds for home repairs, and connected the residents to needed services. He currently serves as a member of the Duluth Public Arts Commission.
Whitlock’s efforts for his community are seemingly non-stop. The Parade Chair for the Duluth Fall Festival for 15 years, he serves as the Donut Dash 5k Co-Chair and as the Area Coordinator Chair.
Duluth High School has also received his attention. Whitlock organizes and participates in a Student LEADS program, a leadership program for students. He also mentored ninth grade boys who were at risk of failing and needed emotional support.
A 2005 graduate of Leadership Gwinnett, he has served on numerous Learning Day committees and currently serves as the Steering Committee Chair.
At Duluth First United Methodist Church, Whitlock served on the Administrative Council. He was a middle and high school Sunday School teacher for 18 years and a Small Group Youth Counselor for six years.
Gwinnett County also received Whitlock’s focus as he served as a board member and officer of the Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services for ten years, and as a member of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce Chairmen’s Club.
Whitlock believes being a member of Rotary has greatly contributed to his success through networking which gave him a broader perspective of his community. Although he generally doesn’t do business with his fellow Rotarians, he said they have introduced him to their clients and to organizations that were a fit for his company.
In addition, he said, “By taking leadership roles in Sugarloaf Rotary Club, it helped me with confidence and communication skills that improved my professional image. These leadership roles also helped me with enough confidence to take on other service roles in my community like Leadership Gwinnett, the Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services, and running for political office.”
Whitlock views himself as very task-oriented, so being part of a social Rotary club helps him stay comfortable in large groups and continues to help him build his social skills.
A father of two grown children, Andrew and Olivia, he graduated from Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in Risk Management and Insurance in 1992. He is a certified Insurance Counselor and a Certified Risk Manager and completed diversity and inclusion training from the United Way of Atlanta, Gwinnett Chapter.
