Leadership celebrates largest class
Forty-nine Texarkana area residents completing the year-long Leadership Texarkana community leadership program were honored by the Leadership Texarkana organization at an end-of-year celebration April 26 at the home of Executive Director Ruth Ellen Whitt.
The sponsoring partner for the event was State Bank.
“During each monthly session of the year, members of the LT Class of 2022 were also challenged through Strategic Doing-focused groups to lead the way as change agents, in maximizing our ecosystem’s capacity to attract, retain and unleash the talent foundational for excellence,” according to a Leadership Texarkana news release. “At the same time, class members were also learning the basics of the powerful and proven Strategic Doing processes for gathering groups in working together for progress.”
Class projects included:
• Amtrak Station Beautification to ensure community gateway excellence
• GOTXK content developed to inform the public of community resources
• New networks to promote youth programs in the community
• Workshop to engage youth with Texarkana history
• Fostering GOTXK focus through What’s to Love Fun with Tiktok
• New video resources to attract talent to Texarkana
• Foundational plans created for Activated Alleys in downtown
Leadership Texarkana has been offered for 43 years. Applications for the 2022-23 can be found and completed online at Leadershiptexarkana.com. The deadline for application is June 23.
On Thursday, June 9, Leadership will host an after-hours recruitment social for area residents interested in applying to the 2023 class.
2022 Graduates
Amber Adams, director, Partner Development, Texarkana Chamber of Commerce
Shelby Akin, director, Marketing and Communication, Pleasant Grove ISD
Marcus Bellamy, executive pastor/ head of school, Trinity Baptist Church
Toni Braley, assistant vice president, Mortgage Lending, Commercial National Bank
Doug Brubaker, superintendent, Texarkana ISD
Chiquita Burks, co-owner, C&C Attitudes Hair Salon
Lamoya N. Burks, head librarian/adjunct instructor/faculty adviser, Texarkana College
Samantha Coleman, principal, North Heights, Texarkana Arkansas School District
Justin Copeland, credit manager, Truman Arnold Companies Jennifer Cunningham,
director of student Relations, University of Arkansas-hope/ Texarkana
Emily Curry, loan servicing workleader, Farmers Bank & Trust
Val De La Garza, director of Human Resources, Tamolly’s
Patrick Dodd, financial adviser, Edward Jones Investments
Rhonda Dolberry, retired social worker, Texas Department of Human Services
Del Doughty, dean, College of Arts and Science, Education; Texas A&M University-texarkana
Jay Ellington, city manager, City of Texarkana, Arkansas
Vashil Fernandez, interim director, Planning/commercial Development, Texarkana, Texas
Gary G. Gathright, Engineer, Ledwell
Hunter Gillispie, quality engineer, Cooper Tire/goodyear
Wesley Goodson, licensed professional counselor, Wesley Goodson Counseling
Brittney Haynes, marketing representative, Signature Care Emergency Center
Natalie Haywood, director, Events and Communication, Texarkana Chamber of Commerce
Jacob Hill, associate attorney, Norton, Wood and Floyd
Belinda Hutcheson, pediatrician/medical director, Temple Memorial Pediatric Center
Drake Kennedy, deputy director, Logistics, Red River Army Depot
Chuck Lincavage, loan officer, Commercial National Bank
Luke Loe, Minister, Lewisville Church of Christ
Stephanie Maddox, real estate sales agent; Better Homes and Garden Real Estate Infinity
Brock Mccorkle, president, State Bank
Megan Mcmahen, corporate sales Trainer, BWI Companies
Scott Megason, Services Division commander, Texarkana, AR Police Department
Angelo Mitchell, chief information officer, Red River Credit Union
Samantha Mitchell, escrow officer, Capital Title of Texas
John Moran, chief financial officer, Texamericas Center
Meghann Neely, project manager, CHRISTUS St. Michael
Lucia Jayde Ochoa, coordinator, Bilingual Curriculum/ Instruction, Texarkana ISD
Suki O’neal, senior marketing specialist, CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System
Jarrett Sharp, warehouse shift supervisor, Cooper Tire and Rubber
Mendy Sharp, executive director, Business Development, Texarkana College
Rex Simmons, senior manager, Accounting and Finance, Truman Arnold Companies
Ashley Smalley, Community Outreach Marketing, Special Health Resources
Jennifer Smith, co-owner/director of Marketing, TXK Gameday/marketing Agency
Scott E. Stevens, justice, 6th Court of Appeals
Wendy Stotts, fund development manager, Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund
Stacy Tidwell, director, Donor Relations, Evergreen Life Services
Leslie Rowe Warner, Wealth Management adviser, Farmers Bank & Trust
Manuel (Manny) Western, commercial lender, Bank OZK
Keisha Willingham, Realtor, Griffin Realtors
Lydia Wommack, director,special Projects, Vertical Alliance Group