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The ADVANCE, April 19, 2023/Page 2A
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Graduating Leaders in the Community
Photo by Makaylee Randolph
LGV CLASS OF 2023 - This year's Leadership Greater Vidalia class included a variety of leaders and professionals
from Toombs and Montgomery Counties. These men and women spent several months learning about the com
munity and cultivating skills which they may use to improve themselves and the society around them. First Row, L to
R: Co-Chair Rizza O'Connor, Daisy Manning, Mario Zamorano, Tiffany Yancey, Co-Chair Kailey Dees, Coordinator
Dana Brown. Second Row, Lto R: Kimberly Warren, Natasha Farmer, Adeline Branch, Jennifer Crutchfield, Third Row,
L to R: Tyler Salter, Tabatha Nobles, Senecca Underwood, Sarah Wardlaw, Fourth Row, L to R: Conner Thigpen, Ken
dall Bennamon, Michael Lane, Steve Freenor, Lee McCloud, Jordan Kight. Not pictured: Gerriell Craig.
Members of the Lead
ership Greater Vidalia
adult class gathered at
Durden Cabin at Partin
Park on Friday, April 14,
to present their final proj
ects, which reflect what
they have learned during
the course, and to officially
graduate from the pro
gram.
The morning may have
been filled with nerves and
emotions, but an atmo
sphere of joy took over the
room, as Leadership Great
er Vidalia Chairs Kailey
Dees and Rizza O’Connor
spoke to each graduate in
dividually, sharing their
own superlatives for that
participant.
Kendall Bennamon
“Reverend Fleek,”
as he was titled by the
co-chairs, never goes
anywhere that he is not
dressed for success. “As we
know, he is always dressed
to impress,” Dees empha
sized.
“Kendall, you said
something in your pre
sentation that made sense
with how you’re always
dressed to impress and
always ready,” she contin
ued. “You said that you felt
like, in the beginning, you
didn’t belong in the class.
But you talked about how
you dress for where you
want to be and improve
ment methods you have
planned. Even though you
are old school, you have
timeless taste.”
Adeline Branch
Branch was depicted
by the co-chairs as being
the “Future Leadership
Greater Vidalia Chair” be
cause of her passion for in
vesting in her community.
“During her presentation,
she talked about making
that decision - like many
of us - to come back and
be a big fish in a small
pond. There are so many
times that people see that
as a negative thing, but you
have really taken it and run
with it,” Dees told Branch.
“You talked about inten
tionally giving of yourself,
so I know where you’re
going to intentionally give
yourself in a few years
when you swim back to
lead at home and cultivate
new leaders.”
Jennifer Crutchfield
Described as being
the “Networking Ninja,”
Crutchfield was recog
nized for her value of build
ing relationships between
people in the community.
“Your presentation talked
about meeting new people
and becoming even more
active in the community,”
Dees told Crutchfield.
“I think we see how well
you’ve networked when
we see your signs every
where, and I know you will
continue to do well with
what you do.”
Natasha Farmer
Noted for her bright
and vibrant attitude, Farm
er was given the “Bubbles
Award” by the co-chairs.
“Every time you are around
her, you just want to smile,”
Dees emphasized. “In your
presentation, you talked
about being a ball of en
ergy, and I just think that
throughout this program,
everything that you have
touched has been that. You
always asked good ques
tions, you always had a
way of making people feel
good about themselves,
you bring people together
- you’ve just been wonder
ful.”
Steve Freenor
Freenor was ap
plauded on his ability to
promote peace in those
around him, as he was
deemed the class’s “Nobel
Peace Prize Winner.”
“As he moderated
for his group and really
brought the bigger picture
together, it was very obvi
ous, that is what you see
in someone who brings
people together and brings
world peace,” Dees ex
plained.
She continued, “In
your presentation, you
talked about being a ‘cul
ture changer,’ and that is
what you see in your at
tributes. One of the attri
butes you have that carries
over into everything you
do is that you leave it bet
ter than you found it. You
look to people and see the
good - you put yourself in
their shoes and I think we
can all learn from that.”
Jordan Kight
Kight, whom the co
chairs called the “Human
Fire Extinguisher,” was
celebrated for his ability to
handle conflict and spur of
the moment circumstanc
es. “I think we all knew
coming in that Jordan puts
out fires, but I think we
saw how much that hap
pens. When you see it first
hand, I think it makes you
appreciate it that much
more,” Dees said. “It’s what
you do every day - put out
fires. Yet, in doing that, you
work to make it better. So
often, after you’ve put out
fires, you walk away from
it. But Jordan cares enough
that he wants to make it
better and help improve
the lives of those he deals
with every day.”
Michael Lane
According to the co
chairs, Lane was among
the friendliest in the class,
earning him the “Smile &
Wave Award.”
“His smile and wave
are always sincere and al
ways real,” Dees empha
sized.
“From the moment I
met you - and I bet from
the moment everyone else
met you - you greeted
with a smile, a wave, and a
hug. There is something to
be said for someone who
can always make you feel
comfortable and welcome
- that is your gift, and you
know it because you do it
well,” she continued. “I
have seen Michael at so
many places throughout
the community doing the
same thing and doing it
well. You are the kind of
person that lifts other peo
ple up.”
Daisy Manning and
Tiffany Yancey
Manning and Yancey
were highlighted together
during the graduation, as
the co-chairs shared that
the pair reminded them
of their own friendship,
which is why they dubbed
them “Leadership Greater
Vidalia Galentines.”
“Rizza and I have re
ally grown in our friend
ship and it is really special,”
Dees began. “We were al
ready friends before this,
but going through this, we
have grown closer and we
love the fact that our two
girls who work for us have
grown closer and built a
friendship like that.”
She added, “When I
am telling people about
this program, I tell them
that it puts you in front of
people who have similar
goals and that you are so
similar in ways that you’d
never guess. You’d proba
bly never have met if it was
not for this, and then you
just kind of join together
and create a friendship that
is so special. To see how
y’all have grown together,
it is really special and what
the program is about. I
know y’all will go out and
continue your friendship.”
Lee McCloud
Depicted by the co
chairs as the “Energy Bus
Driver,” McCloud was
highlighted for his enthusi
asm throughout the class.
“During his presentation,
he talked about having a
‘game plan’ - that is what
you want out of a bus driv
er: someone who knows
where we’re going, who
knows the plan, and wants
everybody along for the
ride,” Dees told the group.
“When talking about char
acteristics, he talked about
his optimism, being a mo
tivator, and wanting to ex
ecute. So, thank you for be
ing the energy bus driver
of our group.”
Tabatha Nobles
Celebrated for her en
thusiasm and joy for oth
ers within the community,
Nobles was given the “Su
per Fan” superlative. “You
are who everybody wants
on their team cheering for
them; you are like the #1
cheerleader,” Dees empha
sized. “You are seen as the
biggest supporter, the big
gest cheerleader. You take
the bull by the horns and
you do it. What you’re in
volved in, you’re passion
ate about. What you’re
doing, you become - in a
good way - obsessed with
it, and you bring other
people in - and that is what
truly brings about change
in the community.”
Tyler Salter
Depicted as being the
“Leadership Greater Vi
dalia Bestie,” Salter was
recognized for the stability
and friendship which he
brought to the group. “You
are just everybody’s bes
tie,” Dees told him. “You
are so steady. You used
two words [in your pre
sentation] to really define
yourself as a trusted com
panion to the community,
but you are such a trusted
companion in how you
carry yourself. You’re gen
uine and so empathetic to
those around you. When
something does hit close
to home and impacts you,
what you do with that is
what really tells the story
- you go out and help oth-
ers.
Conner Thigpen
Thigpen was celebrat
ed for his loyalty, as the co
chairs gave him the “Always
on a Call” award. “From
a friendship standpoint,
I can say that Conner is
someone that will answer
your call, and I think he
demonstrated that in this
class,” Dees shared. “He
does it because he’s a good
friend, he’s loyal, and he
cares.”
Senecca Underwood
The co-chairs titled
Underwood, “Professor
Legal Eagle,” noting her
sophistication and knowl
edge. “When we want to
talk about steady and con
sistent, that’s who a lot of
people model after, that’s
who they look to men
tor them. There’s so many
layers to you, but you’re
so consistent in what you
do and you’re passionate.
You walk the line and set
an example, and there’s so
much to be said about that.
You’re such a light,” Dees
emphasized.
Sarah Wardlaw
“Alright, sol think any
one in the class could have
guessed this - this is the
true ‘Leadership Greater
Vidalia Mom,”’ Dees said
as she introduced Ward-
law.
“When I saw you cry
ing [during presentations],
I knew I was right - I saw
the tears in your eyes but
felt the love in your heart,”
she told Wardlaw. “It has
nothing to do with age; it
has to do with heart. You
love so well, and I think
that is such a good attri
bute to have — to be lov
ing — and that’s what you
see in mothers and fathers.
Thank you for loving this
community and wanting
to give back.”
Kimb erly Warren
Described for her mo
tivation for projects, War
ren received the “Go-Get
ter” superlative. “When
you were doing your
presentation, you talked
about ‘doing things that
matter,’ and you have done
so many things that matter,
and you plan to do more.
Sometimes, those types
of things don’t always put
you in the spotlight, but
those are the people who
make change a lot are the
people you don’t always
see on the front lines,”
Co-Chair O’Connor re
marked. “That is what you
have done; when you put
your mind to something,
you’ve done it.”
Mario Zamorano
Celebrated as being
the class’s very own “Jedi,”
Zamorano provided the
class with skillfulness and
knowledge. “When I think
about Mario as a Jedi, I
think about exceptional
skill, exceptional knowl
edge, exceptional ability,
also a rule follower, always
dressed well, drives up
with a clean car, every
thing,” Dees explained.
“Mario is to the point - he
gets it done, and it inspires
people. He brings people
up to his level with certain
things. Thank you for using
your passion for your vol
unteer hours and spending
it with our youth. Keep do
ing it.”
Reflections by Co-Chairs
“We feel that you all
have grown individually
and as a class, and we hope
you always remember this
moment,” O’Connor told
the class, as she empha
sized her hope that the
participants take what they
learned in their experience
at Leadership Greater Vi
dalia and apply it to better
themselves, their business
es, and the community.
Dees also reflected
on the program’s Class
of 2023. “What I learned
from y’all this year is awe
some. What each of you
individually possess, your
talents, is incredible. There
are so many things we
could say about everyone,
but thank you for letting
Rizza and me be a part of
this,” she remarked.
Leadership Greater
Vidalia Coordinator Dana
Brown added, “I’m very
thankful for all that Rizza
and Kailey have done for
this program. Their energy
and passion for growing
people in our community
is not overlooked.”
Brown noted, “Once
we finish today, you are
an alumnus of our pro
gram. There are going to
be things that you go on to
do within the community,
and there is a prestige that
is going to follow behind
you as alumni of Leader
ship Greater Vidalia - car
ry that with what it’s worth
and be a good steward of
the program you’ve been
through.”
and more
• Onion Ornaments
• Onion Kitchen and
linen towel sets
• Onion prints, framed
and unframed
• Jeweled wine glasses
• Onion postcards and
notecards
• Vidalia Valley Products
107 Jackson Street Vidalia
912-386-1217
