Chamber Celebrates 28 Years of Leadership, Announces 2016 Class

Front row: Allison Garner, Nikki Paine, Meredith Pittman, Cassidy Shoemake, Alison Green, Caitlin Hopper, Laura Martin. Second row: Amy Goodin, Rebecca Phillips, Amy Hartley, Deetra Wiley, Lee Ann Stubbs, Corey Ussery, Emery Newsom, Lisa Coleman. Third row: Chris Glaze, Cory Swain, Jason McCormick, Andy Miller, Campbell Helveston, Reggie Clayton, Ward Toler. Back Row: Seth Gaines, Nathan Smith, Cade Clanton, Hardie Meeks, Mike Gooch.
Photo credit: Joey Brent Photography.

The Oxford‑Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce kicked off its 2016 class of the Leadership Lafayette program in January and will run through September. The program began in 1988 and celebrates 28 years of leadership with this year’s class.

“I am very excited about this year’s program,” said Torie White, Leadership Lafayette chair. “They are a remarkable group, and we anticipate the work they will do through their projects will enrich our community. We are also eager to see them use their skills to get involved in different facets of the community beyond the program.”

The 2016 class includes:

Cade Clanton, Hayden Fiduciary Management Firm
Reggie Clayton, Titanium Services, LLC
Lisa Coleman, The Salvation Army
Seth Gaines, City of Oxford Park Commission
Allison Garner, FNC, Inc.
Chris Glaze, KNS Medical, Inc.
Mike Gooch, Baptist Memorial Hospital NM
Amy Goodin, Boys and Girls Club of North MS
Alison Green, Oxford School District
Amy Hartley, BancorpSouth Mortgage
Campbell Helveston, FNB Oxford Bank
Caitlin Hopper, Yoknapatawpha Arts Council
Laura Martin, McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement
Jason McCormick, University of Mississippi
Hardie Meeks, Oxford Police Department
Andy Miller, Trustmark National Bank
Emery Newsom, Baptist Memorial Hospital NM
Nikki Paine, The Oxford Eagle
Rebecca Phillips, The University of MS Museum
Meredith Pittman, The Second Line
Cassidy Shoemake, TeleSouth Communications
Nathan Smith, Visit Oxford
Lee Ann Stubbs, Visit Oxford
Cory Swain, Dex Media
Ward Toler, C Spire
Corey Ussery, Lee Family Dental
Deetra Wiley, University of Mississippi

This nine-month course is designed to ensure the continuity of leadership in the Lafayette‑Oxford‑University community. The class training builds community leaders through shared knowledge, skills and experience. The program emphasizes developing leadership skills through activities promoting community awareness, team building and project development.

Objectives of the Leadership Lafayette Program are to:

(1) Identify potential community leaders
(2) Develop individual leadership potential
(3) Acquire knowledge about community and current issues in Lafayette County
(4) Create dialogue and rapport among participants and current community leaders
(5) Provide opportunities to network with alumni of prior Leadership Lafayette programs
(6) Promote a sense of “community” through shared efforts benefiting the local community

“The Leadership Lafayette steering committee has been diligently working on details of the program, planning the sessions, speakers and agendas,” said Pam Swain, Leadership Lafayette program administrator and Senior Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce. “These volunteers have been through this program and similar programs and have spent countless hours ensuring that each session is of great value and interest to the class.”

The Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce is the most dynamic business organization in our community, where businesses and professionals come together to work to improve the business climate and quality of life for our area.

With nearly 700 members, the Chamber strives to undertake programs and projects which seek a positive business climate conducive to growth of the private enterprise system, raising per capita income and providing strong financial, physical and human resources for the citizens of Oxford and Lafayette County.

These goals are accomplished through a variety of avenues including networking opportunities, seminars, events, marketing opportunities, referrals, leadership programs or other resources available exclusively to Chamber members.

Follow HottyToddy.com on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat @hottytoddynews. Like its Facebook page: If You Love Oxford and Ole Miss…