Leadership McMinnville holds 20th graduation

The 2006 Leadership McMinnville class recently held its graduation with 16 members completing the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored program, according to chairman Clair Cochran.

?This was the 20th graduating class of the McMinnville-Warren County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program,? Cochran said. ?There were 16 graduates and this year?s class was co-chaired by Debby Boyd and myself.?

Cochran said the goals of the class is to produce community leaders.

?The purpose of the Leadership program is to introduce members to the inner workings of every facet of local governments,? Cochran said. ?When you look at our class itinerary it covers the full scope of the community, education, city government, county government, history, quality of life, every aspect of what makes our community function. That?s our first goal, to introduce those aspects to existing and potential leaders.

?The Leadership program is not only for up and coming individuals in business, education, industry, banking or commerce. It?s also for those who might be new to the community, like our River Park CEO Chris Dux, who was in this year?s class.?

The main class project was the Autumn Street Fair, and Cochran said that project netted around $11,000.

There were a couple of innovations added to the Autumn Street Fair by this year?s Leadership class, according to Cochran. It was the first year the event had a Web site, and the first year a tier vending model was used.

?Tier vending is pricing by location,? Cochran said. ?Where before it was all one price, this year we did it in tiers and the price for vending space depended on location, so we added a sense of competition.?

Cochran said the group is also looking at some new ideas on how to best utilize the money.

Cochran says the group hopes to set up an Education Foundation plan that will be self-supporting and continue past this year. Once the foundation is formed and adequately funded, then the interest on the principle would be used to fund projects in the community on a continuing basis.

This year?s class also chose a unique way to commemorate the class graduation, which is becoming somewhat of a tradition, since last year?s class utilized it as well.

Tennessee Technology Center students created computer machined brass paperweights for each of the class members depicting the year and a class insignia.

The 2006 Leadership McMinnville graduating class includes Dawn Cantrell, Patti Davenport, Rebecca Hodge, Cheryl LeCornu, Cyndi Cantrell, Chris Dux, Richard King, Tim Miles, Terrie Mullican, Sam Nuthalapaty, Tim Prater, Jason Rowland, David Snowden, Bill Myers, Kevin Rhoton and Jeff Vance.