Meridian mayor-elect Cheri Barry was the guest speaker at the EMBDC's Business Before Hours Tuesday. Leadership Lauderdale students also graduated during the session.

Barry said Leadership Lauderdale is about making every effort to bring passion and help build Meridian to its fullest potential. Leadership Lauderdale is a nine-month course that began last fall.

"I think that each graduate that comes through gets a deeper appreciation for Meridian and for the community," said Barry. "And they feel comfortable enough to step out after these nine months and lead their community."

"It was my pleasure to be the guest speaker to talk to them about the love of their city," said Barry. "To love one's city and to be a part of its advancement and growth is the highest honor and dignity of a citizen. And we have so many wonderful new leadership positions and roles that are going to be in our community over the next four years."

In her speech, Barry asked the graduates for their help and said that Meridian needed them, their leadership, and their ideas to help improve the city.

"We want Meridian to grow and be the best she can," Barry said. "We have so many outstanding leaders in our community that are going to help me do that over the next four years."

She told the graduates that she believes Meridian's best years lie in the future.

"The next generation will stand on your shoulders and see a Meridian greater than ever imagined. I firmly believe that Meridian's best years are in front of her, and the best years are yet to come," Barry said.