McKenzie Officials, Community Leaders Participate in Leadership Training

McKENZIE — City officials, department supervisors, and members of the McKenzie Chamber of Commerce and McKenzie Industrial Board participated in leadership training led by Joe Barker, executive director of the Southwest Tennessee Development District, on Friday, March 21, at the Vera Low Center on the Bethel University campus.

McKenzie Mayor Ryan Griffin organized and hosted this free event, which was funded by Gresham-Smith, the planning contractor for West Tennessee.

Barker, who has 50 years of experience in public service, oversees the eight-county regional planning and economic development organization based in Jackson. His extensive background includes serving as mayor of both the City of Savannah and Hardin County. In 2003, Governor Phil Bredesen appointed him as Assistant Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. Three years later, he was appointed to lead Tennessee Tomorrow, a public-private partnership aimed at rural economic development.

In 2022, the West Tennessee City and County Mayor Associations selected Joe to represent local governments in the Ford/SK Innovation BlueOval City (BOC) project in Haywood County. Barker has also served on various national boards, including the Community Development Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the National Association of Development Organizations.

During the two-hour interactive session focused on effective leadership, Barker identified key qualities that strong leaders should possess. He emphasized that a good leader must have a vision for their community, personal values, and the ability to shape their organization in a way that reflects those values. Additionally, leaders should build coalitions, encourage innovation, and foster trust among their associates.

In contrast, poor leadership can lead to low trust, subpar performance from team members, increased costs, suspicion among workers, and higher turnover rates. Barker stressed the importance of showing compassion and maintaining effective communication. He reminded attendees that most public officials have limited time in office, so it is crucial to make a positive impact during their tenure. Public officials and their teams should strive to provide excellent customer service to the constituents they serve.

Barker encouraged the leaders to leverage their community’s assets. He noted that McKenzie is fortunate to have a four-year university and a TCAT school for technology training. He recalled a conversation with former Mayor Conger during a banquet in Jackson, where Conger expressed a desire for a river in his community. Barker realized that one of Hardin County’s most significant assets was the Tennessee River, which prompted the community to embrace the numerous opportunities it offers.

“Find that one thing that draws attention to your community,” Barker advised.

In conclusion, he urged attendees not to let naysayers dictate the future of their communities, referring to these individuals as “CAVE people” — citizens against virtually everything.