Page 4 - Leadership of Greater LR 2020

4N SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2020 CLASS XXXV OF THE LEADERSHIP GREATER LITTLE ROCK • ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRATGAZETTE
MEET THE CHAMBER’S CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Congratulations, Class XXXV. All of you successfully completed our rigorous community leadership program. Even in the face of a pandemic and a movement to correct injustice and racial inequality, you did not falter. As a graduate of Leadership Greater Little Rock Class XVI, I know how difficult it is to continue to meet commitments to family, employers and
any community service you performed while completing all the leadership requirements.
Now you’re equipped to make a significant and meaningful difference for our community in the areas of education, community/neighborhoods, economic development, government and politics, military, criminal justice and public safety, health care and quality of life.
Each of you became a part of Leadership Greater Little Rock because you’ve earned the leadership title in school, on the job or in the community. Many of you are born leaders. You have also demonstrated personal and professional drive and a heart for the Greater Little Rock area. Now it is time to get to work to combine your assets and newly acquired knowledge to benefit businesses, nonprofits and government in Greater Little Rock.
Your class experienced the unforeseen challenges of COVID-19 and an awakening of the serious problem of racial inequality in our country and the world. I salute you for your diligence and commitment to Class XXXV, especially during the last months of class. With social distancing, we all had to adjust our work schedules, our responsibilities to our families and our leisure time, and even how we worship, to keep our community safe. For those of you who lost earnings, jobs or even businesses due to COVID-19, I encourage you to tap into the resources that made you and
Class XXXV successful. You can use those same principles for your own physical, emotional and financial recovery.
As you decide how you will contribute your leadership skills, I encourage you to consider how the Greater Little Rock area can benefit from a perspective that captures improving the plight of the marginalized in
our society. That includes those who can benefit from greater access to educational opportunities, health care and a fair and unbiased criminal- justice system. Economic development and government and politics are gateways to improving the lives of an entire
community when inclusiveness is part of the plan. If you accept this challenge, I want you to know it won’t be easy. Conversation will be difficult and uncomfortable, but I believe Leadership Greater Little Rock training changes people. It opens our eyes to truths that might not have been obvious before. If you agree, be a stronger leader than ever before. Make a difference for all of us.
The opportunities to improve Greater Little Rock are endless. I know you are up to the challenge. Thank you, and I’m proud of your success.
Ronald L. Dedman
Chairman, Board of Directors Little Rock Regional Chamber
GarverUSA.com
We’re invested in our people.
At Garver, we invest in our employees because we want to empower them to become community leaders. Congratulations to Creative Team Leader Guy Choate on graduating from Leadership Greater Little Rock. We’ve seen you make Garver look good, and we’re certain you’ll make Little Rock look good, too.
Community leadership was built into the foundation of our firm, and it continues to shape our values. We are proud to see our own Devin Bates recognized as a graduate of Leadership Greater Little Rock. On behalf of everyone at Mitchell Williams, we want
to thank all of these leaders for investing in a brighter future.
Devin Bates, Associate
425 W. Capitol Ave., Ste. 1800 | Little Rock, AR 72201 | (501) 688-8800
Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard, P.L.L.C | Jeffrey H. Thomas, Managing Director MitchellWilliamsLaw.com