(left to right) Amy Whitehead, director of the UCA Community Development Institute; the Bill Miller Award winner, Brad Lacy, president and chief executive officer of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce; and Dr. Houston Davis, UCA President, at the 31st annual Community Development Institute.
The University of Central Arkansas Community Development Institute concluded the 31st year with an awards ceremony and graduation to conclude the five-day training session.
Brad Lacy, president and chief executive officer of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, received the Bill Miller Award as recognition for his longstanding leadership and support of CDI, which includes many years of service as an instructor, advocate and sponsor. Lacy is also a member of the UCA Board of Trustees.
“I was absolutely speechless. I had no idea that was coming. It’s an honor because I knew Bill,” Lacy said. “So to get an award that’s named after him, he’s such a great man and did so much for Conway…I’m just grateful, thankful and surprised.”
(left to right) Sasha Grist, executive director of West Arkansas Planning and Development District; Amy Whitehead, director of the Community Development Institute; and Conya Spencer, community service program manager for Central Arkansas Planning and Development District at the 31st annual Community Development Institute.
The Central Arkansas Planning and Development District and Western Arkansas Planning and Development District were honored with the Friend of Community Development Award, offered each year to an individual or organization that demonstrates strong support for community development and CDI.
Amy Whitehead, CDI director, said, “On behalf of UCA and the CDI Advisory Board, I am pleased to recognize Brad Lacy and the planning and development districts for their consistent support of community and economic development within the state, and specifically their support of UCA’s outreach and community engagement efforts. Their involvement has been a tremendous asset in our work, and we look forward to many more years of partnership.”
In addition to the awards ceremony, the week’s activities featured Ben Muldrow, Partner at Arnett Muldrow & Associates, as the CDI 2017 Keynote Speaker and tours and simulations that took participants throughout central Arkansas. The CDI Advanced Year class also worked directly with the city of Alma to assist the community in their future community and economic development efforts.
A diverse group of over 130 community leaders from the mid-south region participated in the annual CDI held July 31 through Aug. 4.
For more information about CDI, visit uca.edu/cdi, or contact Shelby Fiegel at 501-450-5269 or sfiegel@uca.edu.
About CDI
The Community Development Institute, established in 1987 at the University of Central Arkansas, trains community and economic development professionals from Arkansas and surrounding states. The complete CDI experience is a three-year training program, with five days of training per year. Participants move through the program curriculum in cohorts, and are exposed to a comprehensive, applied approach to the field of community and economic development.
