| WestStar’s first session to focus on transportation, agriculture |
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Posted: Thursday, November 29, 2012 9:06 pm
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By KEVIN BOWDEN
Staff Reporter
WestStar will be holding its first session in Obion County in early January 2013, with an impressive program focusing on the importance of transportation and agriculture in West Tennessee.
WestStar, the regional leadership development program based out of the University of Tennessee at Martin, recently announced the names of the 34 members of WestStar’s class of 2013. From Obion County, Dawn Tittle has been named to the class.
She is president of Center Point Business Solutions at the Titan Tire plant in Union City.
Ms. Tittle is a member of a class that includes company presidents, bankers, public officials, Chamber of Commerce officials and an attorney. This is the 24th year for the leadership development program.
Also a member of this year’s WestStar leadership class is Carol Reed, executive director of the Entrepreneur Center of Northwest Tennessee.
The opening WestStar session is scheduled for Dec. 13 at UTM. That session serves as an orientation for class members.
On Jan. 3, the class will begin its first full session in Martin with presentations from a variety of speakers involved in agriculture.
The next day, Everett-Stewart Regional Airport will host the morning program with planned presentations by state Reps. Bill Sanderson and Andy Holt, Obion County Mayor Benny McGuire, airport manager Jo Ann Speer and Obion County Joint Economic Development Corporation Economic Development director Lindsay Frilling.
Mrs. Frilling is still working on finalizing the agenda for the Obion County session.
She and WestStar officials have included a tour of Tyson Foods, a tour of the Obion County Public Library and a bus tour of Discovery Park of America.
The WestStar class will hear from former Congressman John Tanner as well as Robert Kirkland, Larry Snider and Jim Rippy, who will discuss plans for Discovery Park of America. Forcum Lannom’s Randall Rhodes will give an overview of the Port at Cates Landing project in Lake County.
“We are very excited to have the opportunity to host the WestStar class in Obion County,” Mrs. Frilling said. “The theme for the session is agriculture, transportation and regionalism and we have numerous assets that tie directly in to the theme — Everett-Stewart Regional Airport, the Port at Cates Landing, Discovery Park of America, Tyson Foods, farmers and farm implements.”
Mrs. Frilling is a 2011 WestStar graduate and continues to be actively involved in the program.
The first Obion County WestStar session has been months in the planning, and there has been strong support from the local business community. Several local businesses have stepped up to help sponsor the local program.
Staff Reporter Kevin Bowden may be contacted by email at kmbowden@ucmessenger.com.
Published in The Messenger 11.29.12 |
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