Leadership Jonesboro Holds Graduation

The song “Pomp and Circumstance” may not have been heard Friday, but 18 graduates of a leadership program made it through a year-long education program.

The Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted its Leadership Jonesboro graduation with a ceremony at the chamber office on Nettleton Avenue.

Chamber vice president Cari White said the program has graduated nearly 550 people since it began 28 years ago.

The students – culled from area businesses and civic groups – learn everything from industrial development to media relations.

The group also went on a retreat to rural Lawrence County, visited the state capital in Little Rock and met several business leaders.

White said the students also work as teams on a community project. This year, the group decided to support one project – the Miracle League of Jonesboro.

The $3.6 million field and sports complex just off Arkansas 1 – for children and adults with special needs – will open Oct. 25 with a ceremony.

Wixson Huffstetler, who graduated the program Friday and works as the Jonesboro city parks director, said the class volunteered to raise money for the program.

All of the class members worked on the project, including helping to raise cash during a bucket brigade, Huffstetler said.

The bucket brigade will be an annual event and will help to raise cash for the program.

Nearly 10% of Jonesboro’s population has a family member with special needs, Huffstetler said.

“We hope to provide needs for Jonesboro and a five state area,” Huffstetler said. “I encourage our classmates and people to volunteer for the Miracle League. You can help people walk the bases or bat the ball.”

Deania Vanhoozer, who also graduated Friday, said the program taught her many things.

“I was able to learn so much in a short period of time. I made connections with members of the class that I will never forget,” Vanhoozer, who is the director of business development at Express Employment Professionals, said.

In addition to Huffstetler and Vanhoozer, those honored Friday were:

· Blair Cook (office manager at Sissy’s Log Cabin in Jonesboro).
· Clare Dunham (physician recruiter at NEA Baptist Clinic).
· Gina Gomez (executive director of the Hispanic Community Services Center in Jonesboro).
· Tiffany Hayden (engineering team leader of configuration design at Hytrol in Jonesboro).
· Nanette Heard (executive director of the United Way of Northeast Arkansas).
· Rick Kreczmer (aftermarket sales manager for Camfill APC).
· Rob Lance (branch manager at First Security Bank).
· Justin McFarland (loan officer at First National Bank).
· Ethan McNece (marketing and public relations at Productive Staffing).
· Paul Pickens (director of St. Bernards Health and Wellness Institute).
· Amanda Porbeck (legal assistant for the McDaniel Law Firm).
· Rebecca Rasnic (information services librarian for the Craighead County/Jonesboro Public Library).
· Paul Sakowski (engineering and maintenance manager for Nice-Pak).
· Ernesto Saucedo (operations manager for SG 360).
· Jack Turner (real estate agent with Burch and Company Real Estate).
· Mike Weaver (assistant vice president for lending at Centennial Bank).