Leadership DeKalb celebrated the completion of its tenth class with a dinner and graduation ceremony on June 17th. The event was held at Barbara’s Cedar House Restaurant.
Members of the Class of 2008 are: Larry Briggs; Unipres USA; Michelle Burklow DeKalb Co. Board of Education; Brian Craven, SHIROKI North America/Sunbelt Realty; Chase Ferrell, DCHS student/Rotary Scholar; Michelle Fowler, Stones River/DeKalb Community Hospital; Lisa Garrison, Liberty State Bank; Tim Hintz, owner, Fresh Chairs/Off Beaten Path Studio Tour; Shawn Jacobs, WMOT-FM/MTSU; June Keith, DeKalb Community Bank; Terry McPeak, DTC/MTEMC; Kate Miller, Family Medical Center Pharmacy; Jane Ramsey, Smithville Elementary School; Tara Jane Atnip-Summers, Atnip Chiropractic Clinic; Tyler Woods, DCHS student.
The graduation opened with a welcome from Kerry Davis, President Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce. An invocation was led by class member Tyler Woods. Key-note speaker Tecia Puckett Pryor, local attorney and Leadership DeKalb Alumni Association Community Leader of 2007, entertained and inspired with the amazing story of bringing Habitat for Humanity to DeKalb County. All fourteen members of the Class of 2008 participated in the graduation. They began their presentation with a song from class member Chase Ferrell, followed by a Year-In-Review in a “time capsule” format. Members of the class spoke on each of the nine sessions from the year and placed a memento of that session in a box for the Class of 2028. The overview also included an inventive and fun PowerPoint presentation, assembled by Brian Craven, honoring the class members and highlighting favorite speakers and activities throughout the year. Alumnae and chamber board member, Sandy Brown, brought many laughs to the group with some comments celebrating 10 years of Leadership DeKalb. Plaques of completion were awarded to each graduate by Jen Sherwood, Leadership DeKalb program director, and Suzanne Williams, chamber of commerce executive director.
The Leadership DeKalb program consisted of nine sessions over nine months. It covered local and state current issues in government affairs and economic development, challenges in education and health care, and an exploration of resources and opportunities for DeKalb County and its citizens. Discussions with current local leaders and leadership skill-building topics such as team-building, leadership styles, group dynamics, problem solving, and community service were also fundamental training elements for the class. Leadership DeKalb will begin a new class in September of 2008.
For more information on becoming a member of the upcoming class, please contact Jen Sherwood at 597-4851 or the chamber of commerce at 597-4163.
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