Two local businessmen graduate from WestStar

Posted: Monday, June 21, 2010 9:40 pm

Kevin Herrell and Jody Kizer, of Obion County, were recently honored for completing the WestStar Leadership Program sponsored by the University of Tennessee at Martin.
UT Martin’s WestStar program — created in 1989 to serve the 21 counties of West Tennessee by providing leadership development and training for selected participants — now has more than 580 graduates in its 21st year.
The program identifies and educates people to assume leadership responsibilities in the economic and social development of West Tennessee. Class members participate in a series of seminars designed to provide information about major issues facing West Tennessee, a spokesman said.
Seminars feature different speakers who focus on subjects that go hand-in-hand with leadership and community progress issues such as education, health care, community and resource development and leadership skills. WestStar graduates already hold key leadership positions throughout the state in every West Tennessee county.
Herrell is the owner of Higher Ground Coffee Co. and the Growth Coach of Northwest Tennessee.
He has served on numerous committees for the Obion County Chamber of Commerce and is currently the chamber’s president.
His honors include 2008 New Business of the Year for Higher Ground Coffee Co. and 2005 graduate of the GM Dealer Management Academy.
Herrell is a graduate of Leadership Obion County.
Kizer is the northwest regional president of First Citizens National Bank in Union City.
He is immediate past president and current board member for the Obion County Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Joint Economic Development Corp.
He also serves on the board of directors for the Obion County Fair; was a member of the Union City Rotary Club and Main Street Union City Inc.; is a member of the Tennessee Bankers Association Young Bankers board of directors; and is a member of the West Tennessee Area Executive Council for the Boy Scouts of America.
In 2007, First Citizens National Bank recognized Kizer as the 2007 Northwest Loan Production Officer of the Year.
Published in The Messenger 6.21.10