Medley graduates from DLI Executive Academy

Friday, October 16, 2020
Kathy Medley

SIKESTON — Learning about local and regional economic development, Sikeston’s Kathy Medley was one of five new Missouri graduates of the Delta Leadership Institute (DLI) Executive Academy.

Medley completed the year-long DLI Executive Academy, a leadership development program that brings together public, private, and nonprofit sector leaders from DRA’s eight-state region. The program empowers those in the program with the tools, experiences and networks to address local and regional challenges, improve decision-making and policy development while also strengthening leadership capacity and mutual understanding of regional, state, and local cultures and issues.

The graduating class marks the 15th year of DLI-trained regional leaders equipped to improve the economic competitiveness and social viability of the Mississippi River Delta and Alabama Black Belt.

“It was a great experience,” said Medley, the executive vice president of the Sikeston Regional Chamber. “I learned so much from the sessions, speakers, the onsite visits and networking with leaders of other Delta cities.”

Medley and the other graduates participated in six training sessions over the past year to educate them on the regional and local economic and community development best practices employed across the Delta to catalyze innovative solutions implementable in their own community and region.

DLI participants learn from local, regional and national experts in infrastructure and transportation, small business and entrepreneurship, workforce development, public health and other fields necessary to facilitate economic growth in the Delta.

“I’ve always loved the Delta region; the landscape and the people,” Medley said.

“But you certainly come away from the experience with an even deeper appreciation for all that it has to offer, and also how each state and community is dealing with similar issues that we do.”

Medley said she learned how some cities have revitalized abandoned buildings and made them useful again while also seeing how programs like community kitchens, artist programs, entrepreneur and co-working environments and place-making economics were interesting and beneficial to their respective cities.

She said she has gotten several ideas for programs and tourism promotions through other cities and contacts.

“Programs that promote work-based learning in high school and place-based economic development strategies were very beneficial,” Medley said. “Some of these ideas are similar to what we have already started here, and it’s great to see that we are on a progressive path.”

DRA Federal Co-Chairman Chris Caldwell said the Delta Leadership Institute is a dynamic tool within DRA to promote the economic advancement of the Delta.

“DLI’s diverse curriculum provides the next generation of economic and community development leaders with the tools needed to create change within their communities,” Caldwell said. “I congratulate the DLI graduates and challenge you to use this new skill set to shape the development a more resilient Delta economy.”

Other local Missouri graduates were: Hannah Barnett of Dexter, the executive director of the Bootheel Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission and Shad Burner of Cape Girardeau, the project manager for the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

“The networking and friendships you form with people from other Delta communities is great,” Medley said. “The program allows you to meet and connect with people from large and small cities in the Delta and form a good network of contacts. Everyone stays in touch and reaches out to each other when they need some advice or help with a project or program.”

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: