DRAFFENVILLE – On June 17, 2015 the Leadership Marshall County program of the Kentucky Lake Chamber of Commerce conducted its graduation ceremony at the Chamber’s Biscuits & Business Breakfast held at Majestic Steakhouse in Draffenville.
This is Leadership Marshall County’s fourth class to graduate after the resurrection of the program by the Chamber in 2011. Nine out of this year’s ten participants in the program fulfilled the obligations and requirements necessary to graduate.
The only exception was Peter Herrmann, former Owner/Operator of the Draffenville McDonalds, who in February took another position with the McDonalds Corporation and relocated to Indiana.
All of these graduates also participated in a class project in which they got involved with the Happy Feet Equals Learning Feet, Inc. program and with the assistance of the school district’s Family Resource Centers identified local children who could use a brand new pair of athletic shoes for the upcoming school year.
This Leadership class raised enough funds to provide name brand shoes through the Happy Feet program for 155 Marshall County students, who in August will receive their new shoes just in time for the new school year.
At the Chamber breakfast, each individual was presented with an award, plus each provided comments on their experience with the program. Those participating in the program and graduating were: Kyle Johnson, Territory Manager for Harvest Energy Solutions, Cassandra Vaughn, Staffing Coordinator for People Plus, Inc., Lorrie Booth, Assistant Principal at Benton Elementary School, Willie Kerns, Owner/CEO of SmartPath Technologies, Laura Hammons, Director of Marshall County Health Department, Rachel Keller, News Reporter for Tribune-Courier, and Eve Kotter a May 2015 graduate of Murray State University with degree in Non-Profit Leadership.
Two graduates unable to attend the breakfast due to other commitments were: Allison Bynum, former Loan Officer for First Kentucky Bank and Kyle Terry, Mill Superintendent at Gerdau.
Leadership Marshall County is an educational program offered to persons residing or working in Marshall County. The purpose of the program is to assist in the development of personal and career-oriented leadership potential existing in our community. This is accomplished by exposing participants to as many facets of the community as possible to familiarize them with resources, organizations and entities that shape Marshall County.
Each monthly session of the program provides an in-depth look at topics such as: law/corrections, healthcare, government, tourism, economic development, communications/media, education, transportation and local charities. “Our initial goal of the program is to provide more in-depth information to the participants about different components that make up Marshall County, but the ultimate goal is to foster in them a desire to become active members in helping to improve and direct the future growth and development of our community,” said Debbie Buchanan, Director of the Kentucky Lake Chamber of Commerce.
“We have always had a great group of individuals each year who not only learned a great deal more about our community, but they also develop relationships and friendships that might not have ever occurred otherwise.”
If you are interested in learning more about participating in Leadership Marshall County either for yourself or an employee, please contact Debbie Buchanan at (270) 527-7665 or email to chamber@marshallcounty.net
In Photo L to R: Laura Hammons, Cassandra Vaughn, Lorrie Booth, Willie Kerns, Eve Kotter, Kyle Johnson, Rachel Keller.