Leadership conference scheduled Posted: Wednesday, April 4, 2012 6:00 pm
The Messenger 04.04.12 “Challenges and Opportunities” is the theme of the 14th annual African-American Leadership Conference, set for April 19 from 8:30 a.m.-1:45 p.m. at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center in Jackson.
The conference is made possible by the University of Tennessee at Martin WestStar Leadership Program, in partnership with AT&T, the City of Brownsville, City of Covington, FirstSouth Bank, Hardin County government, Tennessee Access & Diversity Initiatives, UT Institute for Public Ser-vice, Walmart and West Tennessee Healthcare.
The keynote address will be given by Dr. Reginald Coopwood, president and CEO of Regional Medical Center (the Med) in Mem-phis.
Coopwood joined the Med in March 2010 and was previously the chief medical officer at Nashville General Hospital at Meharry and chief executive officer at Metropolitan Nashville Hospital Authority. He has earned numerous honors for his work in healthcare, including being named one of Tennessee’s Healthcare Top 25 in 2007 and 2009, Memphis Magazine’s Who’s Who in 2010 and The Memphis Business Journal’s Health Care Hero in Administrative Excellence in 2011.
Registration and a continental breakfast are slated from 8:30-9 a.m. UT Martin Chancellor Tom Rakes and Charley Deal, UT Martin WestStar executive director, will speak from 9-9:15, followed by Coopwood from 9:15-9:45. “Gangs & Meth/Drugs: Things You Need to Know” is the topic from 9:45-10:30, presented by Patrick Willis, captain of special operations of the Jackson Police Department, and Barry Michael, deputy chief of the Jackson Police Department.
There will be free blood pressure and heart assessments during a break at 10:30.
At 10:45, a human resource directors panel will be moderated by Melissa Cox-Rayner, business development consultant for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m., followed by a presentation at 12:15 p.m. entitled “The Power of Forgiveness” by the Rev. Guy Hendree, pastor of Elcanaan Baptist Church in Whiteville. At 12:45, “Security & Identify Theft: Loans/Special Programs for Small & Minority Businesses” will be presented by Sharron Murden, site manager of CB & S Bank-Bolivar Branch. The final presentation, “Knowing & Understanding Your Num-bers,” will be presented at 1:15 by Dr. Theresa Woodard from Dowling &Woodard Medical Clinic in Brownsville.
The day will end with award presentations, re-marks and door prizes at 1:45.
Email registrations to Virginia Grimes, West-Star coordinator, at vgrimes@utm.edu or fax to (731) 881-7019. Registration also is available at www.utm.edu/weststar. The registration deadline is April 13. The conference fee is $35 per person or $60 for two. Checks should be made payable to WestStar.
The fee includes breakfast and lunch. For more information, contact Ms. Grimes at (731) 881-7298. , , | 
