William R. Atkinson

William (Bill) R. Atkinson was first elected to the Board of County Commissioners of Allegany County, Maryland, in 2022 for a four-year term.

Bill was born and raised in Frostburg, and currently resides in the Cumberland area. He is the son of the late Patrick and Edna (Warnick) Atkinson from the Georges Creek area and a graduate of Beall High School.

While his parents both went to work in the Kelly Springfield Tire plant and for the Celanese Corporation at young ages, his father encouraged Bill to attend college and to obtain a degree. Bill did so as a first-generation college student, attending Allegany College of Maryland and ultimately Frostburg State University where he received his bachelor’s degree.

Bill had a distinguished career in state and local government. Bill served as the Development Coordinator for the City of Frostburg, where he was instrumental in the redesign and improvements to Main Street. Bill also served in various roles within the Maryland Department of Planning, including Director of Western Maryland Regional Office, Principal Planner, and Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Program Manager. While there, Bill secured millions in federal investments for a variety of economic, social, and health projects.

Bill has served on various committees including being the Past President of Mountain Maryland Trails and the Allegany Trail Alliance. He has also worked in the development of the Allegany County Economic Development Strategic Plan, the I-68 Cluster Target Industry Study, both of which are driving strategies and industry growth. He has received many awards for his work, including the Maryland Office of Tourism Economic Engine Award in 2012, and national recognition for Planning Achievement Award for Innovation in Economic Planning & Development from the American Planning Associations 2014.

Bill is currently the President of Atkinson Econ LLC, a consultant for economic development projects.