Dr. Vaughn Grisham, director of the McLean Institute for Community Development at the University of Mississippi conducted the opening session for Leadership Noxubee Monday.

The county leadership development program is a partnership between the Noxubee Economic and Community Development Alliance and Mississippi State University. It's designed to provide county residents with the essential skills for decision making and taking action.

“Leadership training helps people see the big picture,” said Grisham. “It helps put fire in the belly.”

Grisham is the author of four books and over one hundred articles on leadership development including "Tupelo: The evolution of a community". He has helped establish leadership development programs in more than three hundred counties in thirty-three states and two Canadian provinces.

Starting a leadership development program was one of the priorities identified by the residents in the Renaissance strategic planning sessions. This is the second session of an annual program.

“All of us want to live in a community where things get done”, said Brian Wilson, executive director of Noxubee Alliance. “That’s what happens with leadership training.”