County Mayor Chosen for Delta Leadership Institute

Haywood County Mayor Franklin Smith has been selected by Gov. Phil Bredesen to attend the Delta Leadership Institute. Governors from Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Louisiana, Illinois and Tennessee selected 27 participants to attend this regional leadership institute, which is sponsored by the Delta Regional Authority.

The Delta Leadership Institute provides a year-long leadership development program for current and emerging regional leaders desiring to prepare themselves to meet the challenges in the 21st century.

The purpose of the Delta Leadership Institute is to develop and support these leaders as they become accomplished in collaborating regionally to stimulate change. The training consists of six sessions, which meet Wednesday through Friday at various locations throughout the Delta Region. Participants work in teams to solve "real-world" problems faced by regional leaders.

Along with Smith, Gov. Bredesen also selected the following West Tennessee people to represent the State of Tennessee: Lisa Hankins, Executive Director Lauderdale County Chamber, Ripley; Dennis Henderson, President TLM Associates, Jackson; and Ken Thorne, Director of Economic & Community Development Northwest Tennessee Development District, Martin.