Locate South GeorgiaLEADS announces inaugural class

Published 11:15 am Monday, August 15, 2016

By Staff Reports

AMERICUS, Ga. — The inaugural class of Locate South GeorgiaLEADS presented by Electric Cities of Georgia will kick off Thursday, Aug. 18, at Southern Woods in Sylvester-Worth County. With 33 participants representing 21 counties across South Georgia, Locate South GeorgiaLEADS (LSGL) is an eight-month leadership experience that will develop individual leadership skills while engaging participants in discussions of regional importance around economic development, identify and influence, workforce development, and community growth that are both unique and relevant to South Georgia.

A partnership with the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development at the University of Georgia, LSGL is the result of an 18-month strategic planning process looking at challenges, priorities and gaps in leadership across the region.

“As the largest regional leadership program in the state, South Georgia is raising the bar for leadership, economic development and civic engagement for existing leaders,” the press release said.

The 2016-2017 Locate South GeorgiaLEADS class includes:

Ben Hill County

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• Jason Dunn, executive director, Fitzgerald and Ben Hill Development Authority.

Berrien

• Jill Wise, director, Nashville Main Street.

• Hayden Hancock, producer, Atwater and Houston Insurance Agency.

Coffee

• Mackenzie Bennett, marketing director, Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Authority.

• Jeff Hennesy, owner, Hennesy Insurance Agency.

Colquitt

• John Mark Mobley, vice president, Mobley Gin Company.

• Tommie Beth Willis, president, Moultrie-Colquitt County Chamber of Commerce.

• Dug Schwalls, director of sales, Southern Valley.

Crisp

• Briley Edwards, vice president/Commercial Lender, Colony Bank.

• Anna Hurt, owner, Crimson and Clover Boutique.

• Terry Mille, managing director, Southwest Georgia Excursion Train Authority.

Dougherty

• Rob Collins, CEO, NEOS Technologies, Inc.

• William Hancock, president, Webb Properties, Inc.

• Mary Ligon. owner, Mary Ligon, etc./Leadership Albany.

• Matt Reed, president and CEO, Georgia CEO.

Grady

• Betsy McGriff, Archway professional, Grady County Archway Partnership, The University of Georgia.

Lee

• Lisa Davis, vice president, Lee County Chamber of Commerce and Development Authority.

• Darrel Finnicum, owner, Finnicum Motor Company.

• Donna Ford, K-5 curriculum director, Lee County Board of Education.

• Jennifer Johnston, CFO/COO, Horizon Community Solutions .

Lowndes

• Thomas Simpson, employment consultant, Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency.

Mitchell

• Paige Gilchrist, executive director, Mitchell County Development Authority.

• Jennifer Burnam executive director, Camilla Chamber of Commerce

Randolph

• Sherri Michaels, director of communications and marketing, Andrew College

Sumter

• Barbara Grogan, executive director, Sumter County Payroll Development Authority.