Bulloch County resident John Lester will serve as a site coordinator for the 2021 Leadership Southeast Georgia, a professional development program. Lester, who is vice president of University Communications and Marketing at Georgia Southern University, was named to the five-member team of community leaders who will be site coordinators.

Established in 1999, Leadership Southeast Georgia works to educate community leaders to effectively promote positive growth while improving the quality of life in the coastal Georgia region. The 2021 site coordinators will guide participants through a five-month program held at various locations in the 10 counties the Leadership group serves.

“I am excited about our 2021 site coordinators,” said Brynn Grant, president and CEO of the United Way of the Coastal Empire, a Leadership graduate and chair of the board of directors. “I especially love seeing new leaders joining our returning veterans. We are so confident in the team that’s come together and are thrilled for the members of the Leadership Southeast Georgia Class of 2021 and the Class of 2020 that will complete their program this year as well.”

Joining Lester as site coordinators are:

• James Coughlin (Camden County)

• Justin Callaway (Glynn County)

• Leia Dedic (Chatham County)

• Randy Mayfield (Bryan and Liberty County)

The 2020 program was interrupted due to the pandemic and has now been rescheduled in alignment with the 2021 program. 

The 2021 program kicks off in February in Glynn County. Justin Callaway, executive director at United Way of Coastal Georgia, will cover natural resources. Following in March, a symposium on education and agriculture will be led by Lester in Bulloch County.

April’s program will be focused on economic development to both the 2020 and 2021 classes. James Coughlin, executive director of the Camden County Joint Development Authority, will lead the three-day session held in Camden County.

Two returning site coordinators will close out the 2021 programming for the two classes. In May, Bryan and Liberty counties will host the military impact and disaster preparation sessions led by Randy Mayfield of Georgia Power Company. Leia Dedic, vice president of Strategy and Partnerships at Savannah Economic Development Authority, will coordinate the final session on health and infrastructure in Chatham County in June.