Leadership Brunswick County organizers recently celebrated the graduation of 16 individuals from the nine-month program.  

Velva Jenkins, CEO of the YWCA of the Lower Cape Fear, gave the keynote address during the 2023-2024 Leadership Brunswick County Graduation Ceremony, according to a news release. In 1997, during her time as director of Brunswick Community College Small Business Center, she established the Leadership Brunswick County Program with the chambers.

"Leadership Brunswick County is a program sponsored by the Brunswick County, North Brunswick and Southport-Oak Island Area chambers of commerce to develop corps of informed, committed and qualified individuals capable of providing dynamic leadership for Brunswick County," the release stated. "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."

The 2023-24 Leadership Brunswick County graduates are William A. Alford, ILH Group; Jennifer Beck, Comfort Keepers; Tori Deviney, City of Southport; Carrie Dunlap, Lower Cape Fear LifeCare; Latania Edge-McGee, Brunswick County Parks and Recreation; Kate Grinstead, Brunswick County Habitat for Humanity; Stan Gurganus, Sunset Beach Police Department; Sue M. Hodgin, NC State Board of Optician; Tim Holloman, Lower Cape Fear Water & Sewer Authority; Hope John-French, Bald Head Island Club; ChyAnn M. Ketchum, City of Southport; Linda “Lin” Kovack, Coastal Conflict Resolutions; Shari Leone, Corning Credit Union; David Patterson, Freedom Boat Club; Brian Ross, Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office; and Ronell Thompson, Everwell Financial Group.

To graduate from Leadership Brunswick County, participants were required to attend an orientation retreat, a minimum of six sessions from the eight sessions held between October and 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 2024-25 Leadership Brunswick County program will be available in late July.