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Henry County Leaders Chosen for WestStar Leadership Program Class of 2019

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MARTIN, Tenn. – Travis McLeese and John Penn Ridgeway, both of Henry County, were selected to participate in the University of Tennessee at Martin’s WestStar Leadership Program class of 2019.

McLeese, executive director of the Paris-Henry County Chamber of Commerce, serves on the Downtown Paris Association Executive Board, the Paris-Henry County Healthcare Foundation and the R.E.A.L. Hope Youth board, among other positions. He is also the recipient of the Governor’s Star Award for Community Service and Henry County’s Loyal Patriot Award for his work with the Youth for the Arts Program. Ridgeway, vice president of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology-McKenzie, serves on the Northwest Tennessee Workforce board, the Tennessee Board of Regents Council on Buyers and the SkillsUSA Tennessee Postsecondary Advisory board, among other positions. He is also a recipient of the Oscar Owen Rotarian of the Year Award, was listed in the Jackson Sun 40 Under 40 Class of 2016, and received the SkillsUSA Tennessee Postsecondary Adviser Award, among other recognitions. Ridgeway is a graduate of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Leadership Academy.

McLeese and Ridgeway join 28 other participants from 15 counties at a series of seminars held through June that focus on topics such as economic development, public policy, education and technology.

The WestStar Leadership Program was founded at UT Martin in 1989 and is the state’s oldest and largest regional leadership program. The program equips regional leaders with new skills and knowledge designed to impact the educational, economic and social development of West Tennessee. The program also provides members with a growing network of community-minded people committed to serving the area. Dr. Charley Deal serves as WestStar executive director.

For more information about the WestStar Leadership Program, contact Virginia Grimes, program coordinator, at 731-881-7298.

WestStar, Henry County