| Today, the Delta Regional Authority named three Tennessee leaders as fellows of the 2021 Delta Leadership Institute Executive Academy which includes the Vice President of the Dyersburg/Dyer County Chamber Tammy Hall.
The Institute is an extensive, nine-month executive leadership program that brings together public, private, and nonprofit sector leaders from DRA’s eight-state region. The 2021 DLI class will consist of 30 fellows from all eight DRA states.
The leadership program empowers fellows with the tools, experiences, and networks needed to address local and regional challenges. Sessions led by local, regional, and national experts cover policy areas such as infrastructure and transportation, small business and entrepreneurship, workforce development, public health, and other fields necessary to facilitate economic growth in the Delta. As a result, DLI fellows graduate with improved decision-making skills, policy development know-how, strengthened leadership capacity, and a mutual understanding of regional, state, and local cultures and issues.
“To enact change, you need strong leaders with bold yet thoughtful ideas to move the needle in the right direction,” said DRA Federal Co-Chairman Chris Caldwell. “The three fellows selected for the 2021 Delta Leadership Institute Executive Academy are already leaders within their communities. With the knowledge and skill sets gained through DLI, they will evolve to become the change agents needed to address the most pressing issues facing the Delta.”
The 2021 DLI fellows representing Tennessee include:
- Tammy Hall, Dyersburg | Vice President, Dyersburg/Dyer County Chamber of Commerce
- Lauren Kirk, Jackson | Director of Performance Management, City of Jackson
- Catina Stark, Covington | Supervisor, Wright Medical
“Tennessee is fortunate to have a partnership with the Delta Regional Authority that develops local leaders committed to improving our state and the entire Delta region,” said Gov. Bill Lee. “I commend these leaders for being recognized as Delta Leadership Institute fellows and know they’ll be equipped with helpful training and skills to strengthen their communities.”
Since 2005, the DLI Executive Academy has provided leadership development to more than 500 community leaders from diverse backgrounds, sectors, and industries to strengthen skills development, information sharing, regional collaboration, and improve the economic competitiveness and social viability of the Mississippi River Delta and Alabama Black Belt regions. After graduation, DLI fellows will become members of the Delta Leadership Network, which provides peer-to-peer engagement opportunities for continued leadership development, information sharing, and collaboration with other leaders dedicated to the future of the Delta region.
DLI is a program of DRA in partnership with three institutions of higher education in the Delta region: Arkansas State University, the University of Louisiana Monroe, and the University of Arkansas. |
