Locate South GeorgiaLEADS is proud to announce the graduation of its third cohort, with 25 graduates committed to the development of a strong leadership pipeline across South Georgia. Presented by Electric Cities of Georgia (ECG), Locate South GeorgiaLEADS (LSGL) spent the day in Bainbridge-Decatur County, learning firsthand from a community about leadership, resiliency and revitalization.

Members of Locate South GeorgiaLEADS heard from Amanda Glover, the City of Bainbridge’s Downtown Development Authority Executive Director, as well as Doug Young, President of PDC Construction, regarding ongoing redevelopment projects in the downtown district that will enhance capacity for downtown living in Bainbridge. The day culminated with a graduation ceremony at The American on Thursday, March 21, sponsored by Georgia Power Company and hosted by the City of Bainbridge, Bainbridge Downtown Development Authority, the Development Authority of Bainbridge and Decatur County, and the Bainbridge-Decatur County Chamber of Commerce.

Rob Cohen, founding co-owner of Pecan Ridge Plantation in Bainbridge-Decatur County served as the graduation keynote speaker. Rob, along with his brother Eric Cohen, serve as an entrepreneurial success story for South Georgia, having grown their pecan business to over 1,400 acres encompassing five counties from Thomasville to Lake Seminole and as far south as Greenwood, Florida, in just under 20 years. Diversifying their portfolio in 2014, Rob and Eric began pressing some of their pecans to produce all-natural pecan oil; and in 2016, they began producing the first pecan truffle oil on the market. Hard hit by Hurricane Michael in 2018, Rob shared lessons of perseverance and resiliency with Locate South GeorgiaLEADS graduates and guests.

With representation from 21 counties across South Georgia, LSGL is an eight-month leadership experience that develops individual leadership skills while engaging participants in discussions of regional importance around economic development, identify and influence, workforce development, and community growth that are both unique and relevant to South Georgia. Presenting sponsor Daryl Ingram, Senior Vice President for External Affairs and Economic Development for ECG states, “LEADS is a dynamic and powerful leadership experience that empowers current and future leaders of Southwest Georgia. Its regional participation aligns with today's need for regional foresight and collaboration."

The 2018-2019 Locate South GeorgiaLEADS class is as follows:

Ben Hill
Kristy Henderson
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College

Ben Hill
Holley Lee
Dorminy Medical Center

Ben Hill
Jim Puckett
Mayor, City of Fitzgerald

Brooks
Greg Icard
Moultrie-Colquitt County Development Authority

Coffee
John Henry
Douglas-Coffee County Economic Development Authority

Colquitt
Anna Ligon
Secure Records Solutions

Colquitt
John Peters
Ag Georgia Farm Credit

Crisp
Amber Jenkins
Colony Bank

Decatur
Rollins Miller
Premier Group Realty

Dougherty
Joe Harvey
Dougherty County School System

Dougherty
Chad Warbington
Shutters Plus, Inc.

Grady
Trey Gainous
Cairo-Grady County Chamber of Commerce

Lowndes
Ellen Hill
Valdosta Main Street & Central Valdosta Development Authority

Mitchell
Caitlyn Hatcher
Pelham Chamber of Commerce

Mitchell
Karla Noble
Camilla Gym & Tan

Randolph
Courtney Milliron
Andrew College

Randolph
McKenzie Ragan
Andrew College

Randolph
Hallah Sauls
Andrew College

Sumter
Sandra Fowler
Georgia Southwestern State University

Sumter
Lori Gadson
New Horizon Habitat for Humanity

Sumter
Don Porter
Georgia Power Company

Terrell
Savannah Hughes
Terrell County Chamber of Commerce

Thomas
Landis Thomas
New Hire Solutions

Tift
Renata Elad
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (Tifton)

Tift
Shedrick Gaskins
University of Georgia, Tifton Campus

Worth
Rob Martin
UGA Small Business Development Center

Recent graduate Greg Icard shared his excitement about the program, “South Georgia has always held a very special position in my heart, not just as my birthplace, but a place I have always considered to be my home. Now that I have been able to return, my strongest desire is to make it a place for my children and others that is filled with opportunity for success so they never want to leave.”

He continued, “As an Economic Development Professional that has a passion for rural counties, I understand the importance of communities working together. LSGL allows me to work with other like-minded people to help make South Georgia prosper and grow. I am excited for the future of South Georgia and look forward to what lies ahead.”

The purpose of Locate South GeorgiaLEADS is to develop informed, aware, and educated leaders to promote and grow South Georgia by:

- Increasing awareness of assets and resources;

- Creating a shared sense of regional pride and ownership in both action and solutions;

- Strengthening partnerships and alliances; and

- Enhancing political influence and acuity to support the needs and opportunities of South Georgia.

As the largest regional leadership program in the State, South Georgia is raising the bar for leadership, economic development and civic engagement for existing leaders.

Sponsors of this year’s program included: Electric Cities of Georgia, Georgia Power Company, Webb Properties, Inc., Georgia CEO, Ameris Bank, LRA Constructors, Locate South Georgia, Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Development Authority, Mitchell County Development Authority, Sumter County Development Authority, Leadership Worth, and the Sylvester-Worth County Chamber of Commerce.

Recruitment and nominations for next year’s class (2019-2020) will open in April, with the program set to launch its fourth cohort in August 2019. Interested applicants may contact their local Chambers of Commerce or Economic Development Authorities, or Locate South GeorgiaLEADS directly at https://locatesouthgeorgia.com/leadership-development/.