Leadership group to study county

As a member of Leadership Columbia County's inaugural class, Grovetown Merchants Association President Sonny McDowell hopes to network within the group and learn more about resources available in the county.

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"I'm real interested in learning how governments can work together," said McDowell, president of Grayco Detention Equipment Inc.

McDowell is among 25 others chosen to be part of the first Leadership Columbia County class.

After meeting for orientation Tuesday, the group was introduced at the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce's bi-monthly Success Columbia County Style networking event at Savannah Rapids Pavilion.

The chamber is managing the leadership program, which is intended to promote the development of leadership within the community.

"Not only are they learning, but they're being made aware of what might happen in the future and how they, as community leaders, can help resolve those problems," said Tammy Shepherd, the chamber's director of programs.

The first course, to be held Thursday, will educate the members on the county's history with a trip to Savannah Rapids Pavilion, Clarks Hill Lake, the old courthouse in Appling and museums in Grovetown and Harlem.

An overnight retreat and team-building exercise is scheduled in September.

Throughout the nine-month program, the class also will learn about such topics as media, criminal justice, local government, military, health care, arts, tourism, economic development, state government, local industry, regional economic development, public safety and fire, education, and community service. Some classes will cross county lines, Shepherd said.

Pat Goodwin, the chairwoman of the Columbia County Convention and Visitor's Bureau, was selected to co-chair the program with chamber board member Barry Barth, vice president and general manager of WFXG-TV, Channel 54, serving as vice chairman.

"They are dynamic," Goodwin said of the group. "This is going to be an exciting year."

Goodwin, who graduated from Leadership Augusta in 2001, said she hopes class members gain a sense of community trusteeship through the program.

A total of 14 class sessions will be held, complete with homework assignments. Class members will graduate in May and must complete a class project that is designed to help the community, Goodwin said.

"They're going to meet a lot of key leaders," she said. "It gives them a realm of influence."

Kanta Kondur, owner of Best Western and Baymont Inn and Suites, said she joined the group to learn more about community affairs.

"It's kind of neat to know you're going to be the charter class," she said.

The members of the inaugural Leadership Columbia County class are:

Trey Allen, Learning Express Toys

Stacie Adkins, Columbia County

Craig Archer, SRP Federal Credit Union

Tina Baggott, Comcast Cable

David Bagwell Jr., Bagwell Insurance

Rhonda Banks, Keystone Homes

Charles Bennett, Queensborough National Bank and Trust

Darrell Byrd, Regions Bank

Bobby Christine, lawyer

Casey Cliatt, Augusta Telephone

John DeFoor, DeFoor Realty

Leah Eldridge, CSRA Federal Credit Union

Sean Frantom, Spherion Staffing Services

Jesse Hughes, Hughes Business Services

Deborah Humphrey, MCGHealth Inc.

Scott Johnson, Columbia County

Stephen Kendrick Jr., Kendrick Paint and Body

Kanta Kondur, Best Western

Debbie McCord, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions

Sonny McDowell, Grayco Detention Equipment Inc.

Chris McLaughlin, Georgia Bank and Trust

Lee Ann Meyer, Red Oak Manor

Troy Post, Development Authority of Columbia County

Jenny Stanley, The Stanley Group

Karen Swim, Doctors Hospital

Tommy Vigneri, Serotta, Maddocks, Evans and Co.