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Leadership DeSoto Completes Another Successful Year
After seven months of getting a behind-the-scenes look at DeSoto County, twenty-eight leaders are ready to take on the challenges and opportunities that face all of us as we move toward the future.
In January, the group heard from economic development officials about the process of attracting new industries to the county and region. In February, members of the class went back to school, beginning the day with teacher shadowing, going into the classroom to watch DeSoto County teachers in action. The group then met at the DeSoto Center campus shared by Northwest Mississippi Community College and the University of Mississippi to hear about all levels of education in DeSoto County – from kindergarten through college level, both public and private. In March, healthcare was the topic, and in April, the class heard from officials from county and municipal government, as well as members of the criminal and civil judicial systems. The day was capped with a tour of
the DeSoto County jail.
A new addition to this year’s Leadership DeSoto program was an extra half-day in March, in which members of the class visited several different community service oriented organizations throughout the county. One group toured Palmer Home, another group visited the Samaritans, a third toured Impact Missions (formerly Sunrise Homes), and the fourth visited the offices and thrift shop of House of Grace. After two hours of touring the organizations and learning about what they do for the community, the large group met for lunch and one member of each small group reported about the organization they had visited.
In May, the group celebrated all the hard work they had done over the past seven months. The group of twenty-eight had been divided into four groups of seven, and each group worked on a project to assist the North Mississippi Homebuilders Association with a Parade of Homes. One project outlined an advertising plan for the event. Another group designed a sponsorship plan, while a third developed a plan to coordinate volunteers and items related to their efforts. Finally, one group planned a gala reception to kick off the parade of homes that will coincide with the DeSoto County Legislative Weekend in June 2008.
The graduates of Leadership DeSoto Class of 2007 are David Baker, Fisher & Arnold; Walter Banks, Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto; Brian Bloom, DeSoto Times Today; Angie Brazil, BancorpSouth; Lanny Charles, Parkwood Behavioral Health System; Kacy Collier, Junior Auxiliary of DeSoto County; James Edwards, University of Mississippi – DeSoto Center; Marty Garrard, BankPlus; Ashley Gray, University of Mississippi – DeSoto Center; Hazel Hammond, Sherwin Williams; John Heard, Neel-Schaffer; Angie Irving, Bob Leigh Associates Realtors; Nick Manley, Butler Snow O’Mara Stevens & Cannada; Denise Miller, Comfort Suites; Miles Mitchell, First Security Bank; Nick Naylor, Community Bank; Steven Parman, Entergy; Jon Pointer, Pointer Insurance Agency Inc.; Renee Powell, M&F Bank; Sean Reynolds, DeSoto Civic Center; Joey Ries, BancorpSouth; Stiles Rougeou, M&F Bank; Shad Sims, Atmos Energy; Angela Summers, Rhea & Ivy PLC; Beth Taylor, Northcentral Mississippi EPA; Amy Thornton, First Tennessee Bank; Evans Wells, Trustmark National Bank; Wayne Williamson, Renasant Bank. DeSoto County is in great shape with this group – already leaders, they now know where they can best ply their leadership skills.