INAUGURAL LEADERSHIP PATRICK COUNTY CLASS GRAUATIONS
May 20, 2014
On Wednesday, May 14, the first 9 graduates of the Leadership Patrick County program—a partnership between the Reynolds Homestead and the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce—were honored in a ceremony featuring keynote speaker Del. Charles Poindexter of the 9th District of the Virginia House of Delegates.
The program began as a collaboration among Homestead director Julie Walters Steele and Senior Program Manager Lisa Martin, and Tim Collins, Executive Director of the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce. The mission of the program is to encourage community leadership in Patrick County by developing participants’ leadership skills and equipping them with knowledge of issues facing the county.
The nine participants were sponsored by their employers, and they spent the year learning more about their own personal leadership skills, group dynamics, the local environment and infrastructure, economic development and land use planning, local and state government, education, social systems, health care, communications, arts, recreation and tourism.
The inaugural class included Justin Amos (Walmart), Christian Birkett (Ten Oaks, LLC), Heather Bowman (Chateau Morrisette), Erica Cipko (Law Office of Chris Corbett), Laura Clark (Clark Brothers Construction), Lou Arden Gregory (Primland), Casey Hudgins (Spencer-Penn Centre), Anna Lester (Clark Gas & Oil) and David Morrison (Patrick County Public Schools). The group also had to work together to create a community service project, which will be a series of videos for Patrick County High School students to view to allow them to learn more about the workings of the county and all of the resources it has to offer.
After a dinner catered and served by the Reynolds Homestead staff, Del. Charles Poindexter encouraged the leadership graduates to keep one goal in mind – to always be training their replacements. “No one is indispensable and you should always have someone in your organization who can step up and take the reins if needed,” he said. Del. Poindexter entertained the group in his office in Richmond earlier in the year, and all were treated to see the House subcommittee on Finance meet with him in action on the floor.
Tim Collins challenged the new leaders to always know the path they are on and to never become too comfortable in their roles. “The type of comfort I am talking about is the comfort that comes with the fear of change—Patrick County residents of all ages realize that in order for us to succeed, there will have to be change. I challenge you now to become that change,” Collins said.
The graduates also spoke, many reiterating how much they had learned about the county they had lived in all of their lives. “It’s amazing to realize how much we had not known about our own county,” commented Erica Cipko. “There is so much to make Patrick County a rich area to work and live and we are all appreciative of having the chance to learn more.”
The group presented Del. Poindexter a painting of the Reynolds Homestead and noted that the next cohort to come to Richmond will be expecting to see it on his office wall.
Julie Walters Steele noted that "It has been a pleasure getting to know the talented young professionals who participated in the inaugural class of Leadership Patrick County. With these young leaders engaging in civic leadership, Patrick County has a bright future."
The program will begin again in September, and any young professionals interested in participating should contact the Reynolds Homestead for more information. Likewise, any business organizations with up and coming leaders can submit their names for participation. Both the Chamber and the Homestead would like to thank all of the businesses and organizations who hosted the group throughout the county.
“Without the support of our local industries, tourism sites, non-profit organizations, and town and county leaders, this program would not have been possible,” said Lisa Martin, program director. “It speaks to the dedication of our county’s current leaders that they are willing to share information and help develop the new class of emerging leaders. We are very appreciative of their time and efforts.”
