For Immediate Release- Tahlequah-The Northeast Oklahoma Regional Alliance is proud to announce the Northeast Oklahoma Leadership Academy, Class III. Created for NORA by Executive Director Darla Heller, the Northeast Leadership Academy aims to bring future civic and business leaders of northeast Oklahoma together and understand the unique and diverse benefits and challenges in the region’s 14 counties.
The Northeast Oklahoma Leadership Academy participants are diverse from a variety of northeast Oklahoma corporate and civic institutions. The following make-up Class III:
Ben Barnett, Cherokee Nation Career Services
Dr. Janet Buzzard, Northeastern State University
Rusty Clark, Cherokee County Election Board
Donnie Crain, Grove Area Chamber of Commerce
Ed Culver
Shaunda Davis, Jay Public Schools
Kim Dorr, City of Wagoner
Dwayne Elam, City of Wagoner
Bob Haley, City of Wagoner Police Department
Nick Harris, Edward Jones Pryor
Sue Hensley, Cherokee Nation Career Services
Lisa Smith, Lake Area United Way
Lyndon Smith, Cherokee Nation Career Services
Jill Taylor, Cherokee Nation Commerce Department
Tim Thompson, OG&E
Tony Cordray, Northeast Tech
Bayly Wright, Cherokee Nation Commerce Department
"NORA strives to be the change-maker in northeast Oklahoma," said program chair, Stephen Highers. "This program is designed to produce a more informed and connected leaderbase to move our region forward."
The program focuses on topics relevant to current trends and issues. The curriculum provides a framework for understanding organizational and institutional processes and responsibilities for regional planning, problem-solving and community building. Local and regional experts address diverse topics, including ingredients of a successful region, community collaboration, education, economic and social trends. The 9-month program kicks off February 11, 2019.