Leadership Southeast Georgia, a regional leadership development program, held the second of its five sessions for 2019 in Bulloch County with an agenda that took the members from Georgia Southern University’s campus to a working farm in Brooklet.

For 20 years, representatives of business, government, education and nonprofit organizations in 10 southeast Georgia counties have taken part in LSEGA, exposing these leaders to the many facets of the region’s complex economy and helping them establish networks with their peers.

The recent session had two focuses: agribusiness and educational opportunities in the region and their impact on economic development. Among the locations the group visited were Georgia Southern University’s Statesboro campus, Southeast Bulloch High School, Nellwood Farms in Brooklet and Ogeechee Technical College.

“This agenda was definitely packed,” said Kendria Lee, a member of LSEGA’s board and alum who’s the director for economic development and community relations at Georgia Southern University. “The class got a first-hand look at how an up-to-date rural high school prepares its students for chosen careers, and they also saw modern farming in action.”

The group heard greetings from Statesboro Mayor Jonathan McCollar, Bulloch County Commission Chairman Roy Thompson, Statesboro-Bulloch Chamber of Commerce President Phylis Thompson and Georgia Southern University Interim President Shelley Nickel.

An economic development overview of Bulloch County included presentations from local business leaders Darin Van Tassell, Keely Fennell and Andy Burns. The agriculture discussion panel was made up of David Cromley, Ryne Brannen and Jesse Bentley, who is also a board member and graduate of the program.

The Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education’s “Top Ten issues to Watch” in 2019 was discussed by a panel made up of Bulloch County Superintendent Charles Wilson, Effingham County Superintendent Randy Shearhouse and Bryan County Superintendent Paul Brooksher.

A workshop on business writing and a number of networking opportunities were also included in the session.

The third of the five sessions will be held in Camden County, where the focus will be on military impacts to the region and disaster preparedness. Camden County, on the Georgia-Florida line, is home to Kings Bay, a U.S. Navy submarine base.

The 2019 Leadership Southeast Georgia program sponsors include Evans General Contractors, Gulfstream Aerospace, Advanced Door Systems, The Sack Company, Georgia Power, Georgia Southern University, the Savannah Airport Commission, LS3P ASSOCIATES, LTD., FirstPage Marketing, Abshire Public Relations, Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA), Thomas & Hutton, HunterMaclean, Hussey Gay Bell, Coastal Electric Cooperative, AT&T, Sterling Seacrest Partners, Don Waters and P.C. Simonton & Associates.

The sponsors for the Bulloch County session include BBWH Insurors; Be A Hero-Hire a Hero, Southern Chiropractic; Braswell’s Food Company; Chicken Salad Chick; Development Authority of Bulloch County; Delores Groomes; Dabbs, Hickman, Hill & Cannon, LLP; Edward Jones – Financial Investor: Alex McGhee; Ellis Wood Contracting; Farmers & Merchants Bank; Hunter Cattle; Maxwell-Reddick & Associates, Inc; Michelle Davis; Queensborough National Bank & Trust Co.; Renasant Bank; Statesboro Convention & Visitors Bureau; Snella’s Place; and Synovus Bank.