Leadership Lowndes is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year with a theme of “Leadership: Translating Vision to Reality.” As part of this 20th anniversary celebration, Leadership Lowndes is looking back at how the program has positively impacted the community and how graduates of the program have put their experience to good use through public and community service. Previous graduates including J.R. Sessions, Mark Buescher, the late Inez Pendleton, Fred Davis, Ron Borders, Tim Carroll, Kelly Turner, Jason Wisenbaker, Jeana Beeland, John Kent Edwards, Amy Carter, John Fretti, Dick Shelton, Ray Corbett, Alvin Payton, and Peggi Shipman have all served in various elected positions including schools boards, mayor and city council, judges, state representatives, or state court solicitor. Several of these graduates currently holding elected offices agreed to share their thoughts and observations as to how Leadership Lowndes helped to prepare them for public service.

Amy Carter, State Representative is a graduate of the Class of 1997. She credits Leadership Lowndes with serving as the catalyst for her decision to seek public office and public service. “I feel that Leadership Lowndes was the defining event that started my preparation for public service. Its purpose to bring together 30 diverse participants each year, to present nine defined programs in the community throughout the year, and to further enhance each participant’s leadership potential is the perfect approach to encouraging public service.” Carter also felt that the educational aspect of the program as well as the relationships that are made are equally important. “The issues that are presented at each program serve as a driving force to become more involved in the community. The friendships that are made within each class last a lifetime. Personally I cannot think of a more enriching program than Leadership Lowndes. It was a poignant experience that I will forever cherish.”

Jeana Beeland of the Valdosta Board of Education was a graduate of the class of 1996 and also fondly recalls her experience. “Leadership Lowndes gives a good overview of the various aspects of our community. I learned things I never knew even after living here most of my life. I discovered that the reason Valdosta was such a great place to live was because so many people were willing to go above and beyond to make it that way.” Beeland also praised the networking opportunities the program provides its participants. “Since the classes are carefully chosen to reflect a wide variety of occupations, you meet people you’d never meet within your own work or social settings. Meeting these people, forming relationships, and being able to ask questions later has been a tremendous help and it makes life more fun. My husband Clinton and I both agree that the program gave us a greater knowledge of so many aspects of Valdosta…from government to quality of life… that have helped us with our company. Its impact led me to seek election to the Valdosta Board of Education.”

Councilman Alvin Payton is a graduate of the class of 2004. Payton also has high praise for the program. “Leadership Lowndes was much more than I expected. I have had an interest in public service since watching my dad serve in office in the 1980’s. Leadership Lowndes helped prepare me for public service by exposing me to different agencies, organizations (both private and public), church, local history, military (Air Force and Navy), law enforcement, educational, and other local and state governmental agencies that were serving the public in various ways. If I had not been a part of Leadership Lowndes there is no way I could have gotten exposed to so many different resources that help make our community what it is.”

He also credited Leadership Lowndes for motivating him to seek public office. “Leadership Lowndes did play a major role in motivating me to seek the opportunity to serve in public office. I believe it was the trip to Atlanta, in which our host was Valdosta City Manager Larry Hanson. Hearing Mr. Hanson talk to my class about the role local government plays in the quality of life and how important it was to be involved in one’s community really helped to solidify my desire to run for public office.”

Payton further praised the program for its impact on his life and career. “Leadership Lowndes has had an impact on both my personal and career life. The personal effect is seen in the relationship and friendship that I believe was established with my classmates in 2004, along with the common bond of all the former and future Leadership Lowndes participants. Knowing that members of my class and past classes are ordinary people with extraordinary responsibilities and passions for their leadership roles in the community they serve reinforces my belief in the role of Leadership Lowndes. The impact to my career has been twofold. I currently serve as the Executive Director of the program where I am employed and I will be going into my second year of Valdosta State University’s Doctorate of Public Administration Program. This is a decision and opportunity that I feel very fortunate to be a part of and one in which I have learned so much in the areas of public service. I believe being a member of Leadership Lowndes possibly gave those at my institution an opportunity to glimpse my potential leadership capabilities.”

Mayor John Fretti was a graduate of the Class of 1997 and praised Leadership Lowndes for its role in preparing future leaders.

“Leadership Lowndes actually helped prepare me for public service by offering me the opportunity to see my community up close and personal. The program opens up individual institutions, agencies, boards and elected bodies of government and shows that these entities, while all are leadership born and driven, are also comprised of individuals from every walk of life but have a special desire and drive to give in a selfless manner their time and talent.”

Fretti also feels that the program benefits participants both personally and professionally. “The positive impact on my career and personal life is immeasurable. The program is meant to make a positive impact on each individual class member. It is then up to each participant to later and collectively make a positive impact on our community. And it is working! I use the leadership tools from my Leadership Lowndes experiences, both as a class member as well as a day chair/board member every day. Leadership Lowndes reinforces, in the truest sense, that every day is an opportunity to lead, empower and make our community a better place than we found it.”