Leadership Southeast Georgia, a premier regional leadership development program, recently announced 30 program participants were named from across the region for its class of 2018.
        The five-month program is designed to grow and inspire engaged community leaders to improve the overall quality of life in our area.
        Since in January 1999, leaders representing the business, local government and education communities in 10 southeast Georgia counties have taken part in the task of creating a regional strategic plan for community and economic development.
Participants live and work within Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh and Screven counties, which together are known as Georgia's Coastal Region. Leadership Southeast Georgia offers a unique opportunity for this area to build close working relationships, promote positive growth and develop strategic common goals that positively benefit our coast.
        The members of the Leadership Southeast Georgia class of 2018 from Bulloch County are:
Jason Boyles, City of Statesboro
Keely Fennell, NeSmith Construction & Land Development
Gloria Goosby, Georgia Southern University
Talmadge Johnson, Dabbs, Hickman, Hill & Cannon, LLP
Seth Roesel, TQ Constructors, Inc.
        "We had an overwhelming number of civic and business leaders nominated from across Coastal Georgia this year," said Lee Beckmann, a graduate of the class of 2013 and chairman of the 2018 board of directors, who also is the manager of governmental affairs with the Georgia Ports Authority. "Many factors are considered during the selection process to ensure that each class reflects the diversity of the regions we serve."
        Participants were nominated by the alumni of the Leadership Southeast Georgia program and by community business leaders in the coastal region. They will spend one weekend a month in surrounding counties learning about topics that affect the region such as healthcare, education, economic development and transportation.