MARTIN, Tenn. – Travis McLeese and John Penn Ridgeway, both of Henry County, are members of the University of Tennessee at Martin WestStar Leadership Program’s 2019 class.
McLeese is executive director of the Paris-Henry County Chamber of Commerce. He is a previous recipient of the Governor’s Gold Star Award for Community Service and Henry County’s Loyal Patriot Award for his work with the Youth for the Arts Program. McLeese currently serves with the Downtown Paris Association, the Paris-Henry County Healthcare Foundation, the R.E.A.L. Hope Youth Board, Paris-Lakeway Kiwanis and several other local organizations.
Ridgeway is vice president of Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McKenzie. He is a graduate of the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology Leadership Academy and is the recipient of many awards including the Oscar Owen Rotarian of the Year Award, the Presidential Volunteer Service Award and inclusion in the Jackson Sun’s 40 Under 40 list. Ridgeway currently serves on the Northwest Tennessee Workforce board, SkillsUSA Tennessee Postsecondary Advisory Board, the Tennessee Board of Regents Council on Buyers and the Henry County Youth Baseball board.
The WestStar Leadership Program, created in 1989, is the state’s oldest and largest regional leadership program. Boasting more than 800 graduates to date, WestStar continues to serve West Tennessee by offering leadership development and education for selected participants. The 2019 class is the 30th in program history.
For more information about the WestStar Leadership Program, contact Virginia Grimes, program coordinator, at 731-881-7298 or by email at vgrimes@utm.edu.
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