Reeves speaks at Leadership Lauderdale graduation

Published 4:05 am Friday, June 10, 2016

Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves congratulated the graduates, touched on education in the state and described the ingredients that make an outstanding leader at Thursday’s Leadership Lauderdale 2016 graduation ceremony at the Riley Center.

Thursday’s event was sponsored by the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation and strives to provide existing and future leaders with opportunities to grow their civic knowledge and civic network. The program helps participants better comprehend the inner workings of the local community and build relationships with the area’s current and future leaders and inspire participants to focus their talents in a way that will best serve their community.

Leadership Lauderdale is jointly presented by the EMBDC, MSU Riley Center, Mississippi Power, Anderson Regional Medical Center and Midway Baptist Church.

Twenty-eight graduates received plaques during the ceremony. Community projects during the 10-month class included Back the Badge Initiative, Live Well Lauderdale, Spring Dream Art Show for middle school students and a youth fundraiser. 

“It is people like you in this class who exhibit energy to make a difference. People like you give me great reason for optimism,” Reeves said. A passion for your community is what you have shown. I commend you for your service projects for they are not simple ideas. They improve the quality of life. Big ideas and leadership go hand in hand.”

To succeed as a whole, Reeves said the state must improve its educational system.

“If we are going to see long-term economic growth in Mississippi, e must improve our educational attainment level of our citizens,” Reeves said. We’ve spent $400 million in public education than five years ago. We must also be willing to reform our educational system. I believe that every citizen – no matter their zip code or what mom and dad do for a living – deserves an opportunity for success.”

Reeves said three leadership traits include vision, strong belief in one’s self and listening to other’s ideas.

“A strong leader crafts the vision to make their goal a reality,” Reeves said. “I campaigned on raising achievement levels of our children. I worked hard to push broad-based reform. We are seeing significant progress in student achievement in our state. We have great administrators and teachers  who are doing the things necessary. Numbers matter. Results matter and the results show improvement.”

Reeves said the state high school graduation rate has increased from 70 percent to 78.4 percent over the last five years.

“Here in Meridian, your community college is ranked one of the top five in America. We believe in raising expectations. Mississippians will rise up and meet those expectations.”

Reeves said Mississippi is the only state to improve in its MAEP fourth-grade reading and match scores.

“While some would like to harp on the negative, I believe being a leader is to harp on the positives.”

Reeves said leaders stand their ground in controversial topics.

“Sometimes you have to take a stand on difficult issues,” Reeves said. I’ve taken a few positions my enemies have disagreed with. In 2005, we entered into a lawsuit that was opposed by the Attorney General and others. I had just been elected and calls from supporters were saying ‘we were with you . We want to see you succeed in politics. Your decision is to take on the politically entrenched crowd. I was 30 years old and those words stuck with me. The decision was not hard. If this decision is doing what is right, then so be it. Sometimes you’ve got to stand up and do what’s right no matter the consequences.”

Reeves said leaders have the ability to compromise.

“Leadership requires listening to other people and be open to their ideas,” Reeves said. “The problem that has become in vogue is that if you don’t agree with somebody on something, they automatically become your enemy. I don’t have enemies. I have picked people for committees who represent the state and represent all races.”

Reeves said the system has imperfections.

“We’ve passed more than 1,000 bills as Lt. Gov. Some of those I’d like to change, but I’ve learned to be a quality leader, you can’t allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good.

“I wish you good luck in making Lauderdale County your little place on earth a great place to live,” Reeves said.

Graduate Kristen McAllister, who works in sales for Mitchell Signs Co., said the program taught her some valuable lessons.

“The program taught me leadership skills, how to work with different personalities and ,” McAllister said.

Another graduate, Jamey Sharman, is marketing manager at A&B Electric Co. She said the program taught her confidence.

“The program really taught you the actual qualities you can apply to being a true leader,” Sharman said. “Leader is so much more than a word; it’s a way of life.”

Asuriuon supervisor and graduate Quantanna Hill said the program improved her communication skills.

“The class made me more of an effective leader. It sharpened my skills and taught me how to be more effective in communicating,” Hill said.

The 28 graduates also included Tabb Jones, Jennifer Bell, Matthew Betts, Samantha Blackwell, Margaret Brewer, Steve Coney, Tyler Covington, Phillip Culpepper, Will Davidson, Paige Derby, Melissa Dienhart, Melissa Dutton, Matt Edwards, Jamie Feasel, Mike Gipson, Cory Griffin, Casey Hendricks, Tahsha Lee, Melissa Miller, John Northam, Jaquitta Patton, Brad Sears, Stacey Thompson, Heather Woodall and Barbara Zeller.

Griffin shared his thoughts in closing remarks.

“I always thought leadership was a lot like starting a conga line at a wedding reception; all that is required is that you stand up and get people to follow you.” Griffin said. “However, I have learned that true leadership is much more. It is about having courage and being decisive. Having the courage to stand when the time comes (and) not being afraid of a decision. But it’s also about loyalty, responsibility, integrity, honesty and communication. Perhaps more importantly, it’s about accountability. It’s often about teamwork and mel;ting all that down to achieve a goal. It’s to obtain success.”