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 Sixth Class of Leadership Benton County Announced
The Steering Committee of Leadership Benton County recently announced the members of the sixth class for 2007-2008. A reception for class members was held on Aug. 2 at Northwest Arkansas Community College, followed by an overnight retreat Aug. 23-24 facilitated by the Soderquist Center for Leadership and Ethics at John Brown University in Siloam Springs.
The community leadership development program provides leadership training specific to the regional issues facing Benton County. The program is a joint project of the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce, the Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce, and the Siloam Springs Chamber of Commerce.
Leadership Benton County serves as the chamber’s training ground for future leaders in the county, offering awareness and understanding of all facets of the community. Goals of the 12-session program include identification and motivation of individuals with leadership potential; acquainting participants with community needs, challenges and opportunities; offering a forum for dealing with community issues; and challenging future leaders to become involved with local issues and the process of decision-making. The presenting sponsor of the program is The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas.
Participants will meet monthly from August to May 2008. Sessions will focus on local and county government, education, economy, human services and nonprofit agencies, health care, cultural arts, state government, regionalism, and leadership skills and theories.
Simmons First Bank provided the sixth Marvin Griffin Memorial Scholarship to one of the class participants in honor of Griffin’s outstanding leadership in the community.
Representing Rogers-Lowell in the class are Bill Hodge, GA Engineers; Robert Landreth, Kennametal, Inc.; Janet Hargus, Rogers Historical Museum; Erin Banks, Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard; Zack Tadlock, Cooper Realty Investments; Lesli Ossenfort, Rogers Adult Wellness Center; Jeb Turner, Kennametal, Inc.; Mick Dragash, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.; Maria Miller, sponsored by the Rogers Community Support Center; Karen Parker, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.; Jene Huffman, Arvest Bank-Rogers; Gwen Bryant, Beall Barclay & Company; Scott Hood, Crafton, Tull, Sparks & Associates, Inc.; Drew Davidson, Metropolitan National Bank; Brian Jackson, Hight-Jackson Associates, P.A.; Joy Hagerty, sponsored by the Rogers Community Support Center; Erica Preston, Simmons First Bank of NWA; Debbie Foliart, The Morning News; Jim Zink, Bekaert Corporation; Shelle Summers, Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce; Bill Akins, Bentonville Software Associates
From Siloam Springs, participants include Matt Anderson, DaySpring Cards; Trey Coleman III, A. G. Edwards and Sons, Inc.; Mike Cooper, La-Z-Boy Arkansas; Shannon Harrison, Liberty Bank of Arkansas; Kerstin Moeller, Arvest Bank-Siloam Springs; Andrea Phillips, John Brown University; Janet Sanford, Arvest Bank-Siloam Springs; Melissa Thomas, Siloam Springs Chamber of Commerce; Matt Wilkerson, La-Z-Boy Arkansas; Tonya McCratic, Cobb-Vantress.
Bentonville/Bella Vista representatives in the class are Jon Simpson, Bentonville Police Department; Willa Lyon, St. Mary's Hospital; Elizabeth Bowen, Benton County; Rebecca Powers, A Safe Haven; Adam Roark, CEI Engineering Associates, Inc.; Mike Finstrom, Arkansas National Bank; Jill Wagar, NWACC; Brenda Bradley, Sylvan Learning Center; Rob Featherston, First Security Bank; Sara Staton, Staffmark; Jeff Mores, Benton County Daily Record; Lloyd Jones, Metropolitan National Bank; Brad Crain, Arvest Bank-Bentonville.
The Leadership Benton County Steering Committee is chaired by Pam Scism of State Auto Insurance. Other members include Linda Phillips, St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation; Tina Winham, Cott Beverages USA; Leslie Folsom, The Whistler Group; Keri Wilkinson, Rogers Adult Wellness Center; Brooke Benoit, United Way of Northwest Arkansas; Mike Jones, Benton County Daily Record; Jean Anderson, NWACC; Bruce Branch, Bank of Arkansas; Don DeSpain, Cuisines Gourmet to Go; Dick Trammel, Arvest Bank-Rogers; Tony Fletcher; Jeff Thacker, The Morning News; Penny Lacy, Arvest Bank-Siloam Springs; Ron Drake, DRC Investment Group; Georgette Ferus, Staffmark; Shelly Moran, Siloam Springs Herald-Leader; and Scott McCollum, Arvest Bank-Siloam Springs.
Program Information
LBC6 Dates
For more information on the Leadership Benton County program, contact:
Megan Cuddy
Program Administrator
Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce
317 W. Walnut St.
Rogers, AR 72756
479-619-3188
megan@rogerslowell.com
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