The latest edition of the Leadership Marion County begins this week for the 19 chosen to participate. Marion County Development Partnership President Lori Watts said the 2018 class represents a good cross section.
“We have different ages, industries, churches, people from government, private industry and even some self-sponsored people,” she said.
This year’s participants include:
• Danielle Barber, Marion County Board of Supervisors, Beat 1 assistant
• Kevin Buckley, Helanbak, director of business development
• Ashley Clark, The Columbian-Progress, advertising consultant
• Daniel Clark, Citizens Bank, vice president, loan officer
• Carol Davis, Dungan Engineering, accountant
• Nick Davis, First Southern Bank, vice-president
• Dalena Gibson, Teacher, Self-sponsored
• Vaughn Gibson, Looks Great Services, safety/risk manager
• Robbie Gill, Marion County, constable
• Joe Paul Graves, C Spire, market manager
• Jason Mosteller, production manager, Crown Health Care Laundry
• Brandi Perry, self-employed Author
• Jay Rayborn, Columbia School District, assistant principal, Columbia High School
l Tammy Riley, Zellco Federal Credit Union, business development Director/Marketing
• Sharon Russell, retired- Columbia School District, special education teacher – Self-sponsored
• Dakota Ryals, Maxwell Pest Solutions, pest control technician
• Adam Smith, Topp McWhorter Harvey, principal
• Juanita Bolton Stovall, city of Columbia, water department
• Ryda Worthy, South Mississippi Regional Library, library director
Watts said the program “increases our county’s capacity to connect groups and businesses in working toward common goals.”
Leadership Marion County is nothing new for the MCDP, but last year’s class was the first since 2010. That group’s project was a new welcome sign that has been installed on Mississippi 13 North.
Watts said the group’s mission is to “clarify significant and crucial issues facing Marion County, it’s businesses, government and citizens; to provide a nucleus around which the participants can use their skills, knowledge and experience to act intentionally, and to launch the participants into positive engagement within their businesses and the community as change agents for a better Marion County.”
This year’s class will be introduced at the Catchy Friday breakfast at 7:45 a.m. in the Marion County BusinessPlex Community Room.
Then it will begin its training sessions and monthly meetings.
“We hope folks will come out and meet them and congratulate them,” Watts said. “We’re expecting great things from them and we’re excited to see what this class will pursue and achieve.”
