B U S I N E S S + C U LT U R E 33 South GeorgiaLEADS coordinator Mary Beth Bass, center, is joined by J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development Assistant Director and Public Service Associate Brendan Leahy, left, and Director Matthew Bishop at the 2017-2018 graduation ceremony at Raisin’ Cane in Lowndes County. “An added benefit, for which I am most proud of, is the individual conversations I’ve had with participants, who told me how the program has given them confidence, knowledge of the issues, and belief in their communities and region,” Bass said. “They have taken that content home and applied it to projects and growth opportunities in their home counties.” Bass said LSGL is impacting communities across South Georgia through the power of its graduates who are willing to invest in their communities after graduation. “I learned a lot about how to capitalize on my strengths as a leader as well as how to manage others in a way that would highlight their strengths,” said Michael Williams, assistant dean of Academic Affairs at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, who is a 2017-2018 LSGL graduate. “The networking portion of the program was invaluable. I made a lot of good friends and contacts.” Williams said the program provided him with a greater understanding of the importance of collaboration in improving the region. “In addition to being a lot of fun,” he said, “this program provides real-world benefits and valuable connections that will inevitably benefit your career and help you to improve your local community and your region.” Sponsors of LSGL include Electric Cities of Georgia, AT&T, Webb Properties, Georgia Power Company, Georgia CEO, Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Development Authority, One Sumter Economic Development, Leadership Worth, and the Sylvester-Worth County Chamber of Commerce. Recruitment for the 2018-2019 LSGL class will open in June with the program scheduled to start in August. 2017-2018 LOCATE SOUTH GEORGIA LEADS CLASS Shawn Haralson, Ben Hill County Nessa Williams, Ben Hill County Ty Schultz, Berrien County Mesha Davis, Coffee County Steadman Taylor, Colquitt County Quentin Bates, Colquitt County Jack Loyd, Colquitt County Jeffrey Hester, Crisp County Christy Bozemanm, Crisp County Adrienne Harrison, Decatur County Jonathan Siskey, Dougherty County Jim Ligon, Dougherty County Jake Reese, Dougherty County Clifton Bush, Dougherty County Booker Gainor, Grady County Laura Register, Grady County Sara Heady, Grady County Molly Giddens, Irwin County Mike Harris, Lee County Michael Williams, Lowndes County KaCee Holt, Miller County Alyssa Blakley, Mitchell County Shealy Dixon, Mitchell County Taryn Roberson, Randolph County Kirsten Cochran, Randolph County Whitney Kimbrough, Sumter County Ivy Oliver, Sumter County Rachael Oliver, Sumter County Jessica Wright, Sumter County Larry Plank, Thomas County Audrey Luke-Morgan, Tift County Lequrica Gaskins, Tift County www.onesumter.org/locate-south-georgia-leads.html marybeth@onesumter.org Mary Beth Bass, 229.815.1669