CDI 2024 Year 3 (graduating class)
A diverse group of over 200 community leaders from across Arkansas and eight states—Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, and Tennessee—participated in the 38th annual Community Development Institute (CDI) at the University of Central Arkansas. The five-day training session, held July 29 through Aug. 2, concluded with a special graduation and awards ceremony.
Mayor Gary Baxter of Mulberry, Arkansas received the Bill Miller Award as recognition for his leadership and support of CDI. The Bill Miller Community Development Award recognizes an individual who has had a significant, positive impact on UCA’s Community Development Institute. Baxter is a 2013 graduate of the Community Development Institute, where he was selected by his peers for the coveted Ernest Whitelaw award. He has served as Mayor of the City of Mulberry for the past 13 years. Prior to his public service, he served for more than 27 years on active military duty in the U.S. Air Force, retiring with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas was honored with the Friend of the Community Development Award, offered each year to an individual or organization that demonstrates strong support for community development and CDI. Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas generates, sells and delivers reliable and affordable wholesale electric energy and provides education, public relations, governmental affairs and other support services to its 17 member-owners who are the electric distribution cooperatives in Arkansas. The organization has been a long-standing supporter and advocate of the Community Development Institute as well as a critical partner in community and economic development work across the state.
CDI Director Shelby Fiegel said, “Mayor Baxter and the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas are among some of our biggest champions at UCA CDI. Mayor Baxter is a tireless advocate for rural communities across our state, as well as the Community Development Institute, and serves as a mentor to mayors and community leaders. The Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas has served as a long-standing partner of CDI and our team at UCA. We are thankful to be connected to both Mayor Baxter and the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas.”
The CDI 2024 graduating class chose Misty Hawkins of the Arkansas River Valley Library System as the Ernest Whitelaw Award recipient. The Ernest Whitelaw Award recognizes an individual for exemplifying the following points: dedication to professional community development practice; proven involvement in the CDI educational experience, demonstrated by enthusiastic individual and group class participation, willingness to assume leadership roles and regular class attendance; a spirit of caring and inclusion shown by a willingness to assist, enable and involve fellow students in the CDI experience; and strong personal integrity.
Venesha Sasser of Walnut Hill Communications and Malik Barnes of Americans 4 Action were chosen by their cohort as the CDI Year 1 Champions. Two CDI Year 2 Class Champions were chosen by their peers: Michelle Viney of Communities Unlimited and Amanda Killingsworth of Entergy Arkansas.
Forty-eight (48) leaders graduated from the Community Development Institute (list attached).
In addition to the graduation and awards ceremony, the week’s activities featured Janet Harris of the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute as the CDI 2024 Keynote Speaker. Participants also participated in several simulations, case studies and leadership development activities. A group of CDI graduates called the CDI Advanced Year also worked directly with Vilonia, Greenbrier, and Morrilton to explore their communities and engage in discussions about their future community and economic development efforts.
List of 2024 Community Development Institute Graduates:
- Allison Hestand of the Paragould Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Allyson Coleman of the Greater Grenada Partnership
- Amber Mikles of the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Logan County
- Ashley Williams of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission
- Ashley Sikora of Entergy Arkansas
- Ashton Pruitt of the Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce
- Beth Brumley of Main Street El Dorado
- Bonnie Keith of Southern Aluminum
- Brooke Rosson of the City of Ozark
- Candace Baker of Sankofa Consulting and Counseling Services
- Cassandra Caldwell of the Arkansas Waterways Commission
- Councilman Chad Gardner of City of Maumelle
- Chantell Jones of Arkansas Hometown Health Improvement
- Mayor Charlotte Young of the City of Camden
- Chelsey Weaver of the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District
- Colton Leonard of the City of Bryant
- Cydney Thompson of the City of Maumelle
- Emily Yates of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission
- Erica McBride of Entergy Arkansas
- Francine Lloyd Arkansas Workforce Connections Office of Employment & Training
- Grandon Gray of The P3 Group, Inc.
- Jaylin Sprout of Winrock International
- Jennifer Kline of the Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Jennifer Roberds of the Paris Area Chamber of Commerce
- Jonathan Reynolds of Carter Credit Union
- Kellie Wall of the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce
- Keri Perot Vance of the Panola County Chamber of Commerce
- Krista Patrick
- Lee Elliott of the City of Linden
- Matthew Smith of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission
- Michael Rosenberg of the Western Arkansas Planning and Development District
- Misty Hawkins of the Arkansas River Valley Regional Library System
- Pamela Reed of the University of Arkansas – Little Rock
- Robbie Alberson of the City of Conway
- Scott Sikora of Arkansas State University – Three Rivers
- Shawanna Rodgers of the City of Conway
- Stacey West of the City of Alexandria
- Stephanie Adams of the Fort Smith Housing Authority
- Mayor Stephanie White of the City of Keo
- Susan Flores of the Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation
- Tanya Williamson of Tanya Associated Business Services
- Teresa Branch of the Paragould Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Councilwoman Terry Williams of the City of Maumelle
- Tiffany Henry of Arkansas Capital Corporation
- Tracie Spivey of the University of Central Arkansas
- Trevor Villines of the Saline County Government
- Vickie Vital of the Central Arkansas Development Council
- Wilson Marseilles of the Harrison Regional Chamber of Commerce
For more information about CDI, visit uca.edu/cdi, or contact Fiegel at 501-450-5269 or sfiegel@uca.edu.
CDI Bill Miller award honoree Mayor Gary Baxter of the City of Mulberry (pictured left to right): Shelby Fiegel of the University of Central Arkansas Community Development Institute, Mayor Gary Baxter, and Julie Murray of the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce
Year 1 Class Champions Vanesha Sasser and Malik Barnes (left to right): Bill Luther of the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce, Venesha Sasser of Walnut Hill Communications, Malik Barnes of Americans 4 Action, Talicia Richardson (formerly with Main Street Fort Smith; now a mental health therapist and consultant), and Shelby Fiegel of the University of Central Arkansas Community Development Institute
CDI Year 2 (Purple) Champion Michelle Viney of Communities Unlimited (pictured left to right): Julie Allen of the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce, Michelle Viney of Communities Unlimited, Julie Murray of the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce, and Shelby Fiegel of the University of Central Arkansas Community Development Institute
CDI Ernest Whitelaw award honoree Misty Hawkins of the Arkansas River Valley Library System (pictured left to right): Kevin Sexton of the Hot Springs Village Property Owners Association, Misty Hawkins of the Arkansas River Valley Library System, Shelby Fiegel of the University of Central Arkansas Community Development Institute, and Lisa Johnson of the Bossier Chamber of Commerce
CDI Year 2 (Gray) Champion Amanda Killingsworth of Entergy Arkansas (pictured left to right): Tandee White of Entergy Arkansas, Amanda Killingsworth of Entergy Arkansas, Shelby Fiegel of the University of Central Arkansas Community Development Institute, and Chris Wasson of Entergy Arkansas
