After a three-year break because of COVID-19, Leadership Brunswick County recently celebrated the graduation of seven individuals from the nine-month program, according to a news release.  

Joe Stanley, vice president of Joe & Moe’s Auto Services and president of Joe’s Photography, gave a keynote address during the 2022-2023 Leadership Brunswick County Graduation Ceremony. 

"His message focused on the importance of listening to those with viewpoints other than your own, leading from the trenches and the importance of giving back to your community," the release stated.  

Leadership Brunswick County is a program sponsored by Brunswick Community College and the Brunswick County, North Brunswick and Southport-Oak Island Area chambers of commerce "to develop a corps of informed, committed and qualified individuals capable of providing dynamic leadership for Brunswick County.  It is designed to identify highly motivated, emerging leaders and educate them about the needs of our community, as well as the dynamics of social and economic changes," according to the release.

The 2022-23 Leadership Brunswick County graduates are: Allayna Dail, city of Southport; Dorothy Dutton, city of Southport; Traci Kelly, Ocean Isle Museum Foundation; Donna McMillan-Aiken, First National Bank; Amber Merklinger, Brunswick County government; Catherine “Kate” Mohr, Dosher Memorial Hospital; and Rita Tatum, Corning Credit Union. 

To graduate from Leadership Brunswick County, participants were required to attend an orientation retreat, a minimum of 6 sessions from the eight sessions held between October-April, attend one regular municipal or county meeting, attend three enrichment activities provided by a chamber of BCC, attend the All County Chamber Business Networking After Hours Hosted by Brunswick Community College, and volunteer a minimum of 10 hours for a non-profit organization in our community.

Applications to participate in the 2023-24 Leadership Brunswick County program will be available in late July. 

Pictured left to right: Row 1:  Traci Kelly, Ocean Isle Museum Foundation; Amber Merklinger, Brunswick County Government; Rita Tatum, Corning Credit Union; Row 2: Catherine “Kate” Mohr, Dosher Memorial Hospital; Dorothy Dutton, City of Southport; Row 3: Donna McMillan-Aiken, First National Bank; Allayna Dail, City of Southport.