Eleven members of the Leadership Franklin County program completed their 2025–26 service project by visiting Ozark Nursing and Rehab and Greenhurst Nursing Center in Franklin County.
They refreshed outdoor flower beds, played bingo with residents and provided prizes during their project day on Friday, April 24.
The cohort worked in partnership with United Way’s Project Compassion to determine the needs at each facility. The supplies needed for the project were provided through donations from Farm Credit, Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative Corporation and Blossomberry Nursery, along with personal contributions from cohort members.
“Somewhere between the early mornings, the meetings and the conversations that stayed with me, I realized Leadership Franklin County is about learning to lead through service to the people and place that raised you,” said Rhiannon King.
The following individuals, listed alphabetically with the organization they represent, are the 2025-26 members of Leadership Franklin County:
- Justin Baumgartner, Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus
- Blake Becker, Black Hills Energy
- Jordan Cater, Mercy Hospital Ozark
- Alex Dickerson, Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative Corporation
- Amanda Jennings, Telamon Corporation
- Charis Fox, ATU-Ozark Campus
- Pamela Gray, Franklin County Learning Center
- Rosemary Hall, Farm Credit
- Rhiannon King, Franklin County Circuit Clerk’s Office
- Brittany Page, Area Agency on Aging
- Mario Varela-Pecina, ATU-Ozark Campus
They will graduate from the program on Tuesday, May 19, at ATU-Ozark Campus.
“I cannot articulate what I feel after I finish my monthly leadership program…it is such an affirming challenge,” said Amanda Jennings. “LFC is very different than any of the other programs I have been through. It is an overall positivity that I walk away with.”
Leadership Franklin County is housed through ATU-Ozark and is led by Erin Brickley, program director. The program develops current and emerging leaders to serve the good of Franklin County and the surrounding area.
Participants in Leadership Franklin County meet regularly throughout the program year, collaborating on initiatives that positively impact the local community while building relationships across industries and organizations.
Application and nomination forms for the 2026-27 Leadership Franklin County cohort are being accepted. They available at www.atu.edu/ozark/lfc.
