The Leadership Classes are a part of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce and are a common practice among chambers. The year was 1980 and the idea was given out to young up and coming business people, whether self-employed or with a large company to participate.

Among the visits made by the 2006 Leadership Class were an orientation and review of the county history, a visit to the State Capitol, touring the county’s law enforcement agencies, and visiting various economic and industrial facilities. There are five individual teams this year, and Team One has been previously outlined.

Each team was given the challenge of putting into place a program that would not only benefit the county at this time, but would become a permanent benefit.

Team Two consists of Amanda Fields, Fayette County Development Authority, Cathy Cochran, Regions Bank, Ron Hatfield, Rinnai US, and Joe Domaleski, Southside Consulting, Inc. The chamber member serving this team as a mentor was Natalie White, Dogwood Forest Assisted Living Center.

Domaleski recounts that this team put on the “First Fayette Christmas Festival of Lights Contest and Tour.”

Contestants paid a small fee to enter, and corporate sponsorships added to the proceeds.

“During the contest and tour,” he said, “residents and businesses in the county decorated their hearts out and then allowed others to judge their work. A special tour map was created and those citizens wishing to take the tour were then asked to cast their vote.

“Once all judging was complete, prizes were awarded to winners in several categories,” he added. The winner in the residential class was Crystal Swygert, Inman, and in the business category, Glendalough Manor, Tyrone was the winner.

The proceeds of the event were $2,000 and benefited Fayette Senior Services.

This non-profit organization provides a place for seniors to spend the mornings, and provides various activities and trips. It also conducts the “Meals on Wheels” program, which delivers a hot lunchtime meal to homebound seniors.

This plan will continue to benefit Senior Services, will become an annual one, and plans for 2006 are already underway.

Team Three arrived at an idea to benefit the patients and visitors at the Piedmont-Fayette Hospital.
The team consists Lori Whatley, Prudential Realty, John Hall, Peachtree National Bank, Carl Martin, Rinnai US, and Alice Mallory, Mallory Aviation Inc. Its mentors were Vickie Turner, AIS Computers, and Melodie Reed, Regions Bank.

The team met with Mark Wertz, Administrative Director of Special Projects, and Ryan Duffy, Administrative Director of Community Services for the Piedmont Fayette Community Hospital. Several options were discussed but the group kept coming back to the idea of providing a much-needed six-seater golf cart.

The hospital currently has 476 parking spaced in its existing main parking lot as well as the 97 spaces currently at the Cardiac Care entrance. There are also 307 spaces for employees. Upon complete of the current building plan, there will be 700 more spaces available, Wertz explained that the hospital currently has two carts that were loaners. They had been refurbished and were driven by the hospital auxiliary volunteers. One of them unfortunately was going to have to be returned.

The task for Team Three was clear, obtain the funds needed to buy a six- seater.
Hall contacted several cart dealers hoping to work out something concrete, and through a personal friend, found one that would give a six-seater if a new one was purchased. The price for a new cart was $6,000.00.

Soliciting that $6,000 took several months. With personal and corporate donations, the goal was finally reached.

The Piedmont-Fayette Community Hospital will soon be receiving two golf carts to transport its patients and visitors to the proper entrance.

Wertz wrote to this team, “I must say that fate dealt us the ‘perfect team members’ for the hospital project. You guys have done a great job and a great thing for our community. You should be proud!”

All Fayette Countians share in this pride. The Leadership Classes have contributed in very meaningful ways to the betterment of its fellow citizens. Teams four and five will be outlined at a later date.

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