CLARKSDALE, Miss. – Delta Regional Authority (DRA) has selected 35 community leaders from across its eight-state service region to participate in the 2025 Delta Leadership Institute (DLI) Executive Academy, an extensive leadership development program that brings together public, private and nonprofit sector leaders from the Mississippi River Delta and Alabama Black Belt regions. Representing Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi and Tennessee, the 2025 DLI Executive Academy Fellows were selected through a competitive application process led by DRA’s eight state governors and federal co-chairman.
“The Delta Leadership Institute Executive Academy is an essential instrument for nurturing community placemaking and capacity building in the Delta region,” said Dr. Corey Wiggins, DRA Federal Co-Chairman. “This program will give this dedicated and diverse group of leaders the tools they need to drive change within and outside their communities and accelerate prosperity across the region.”
Since 2005, the DLI Executive Academy has provided leadership development to nearly 700 community leaders from diverse backgrounds, sectors, and industries to improve economic competitiveness and social viability throughout the Delta region. DRA created the program to empower a corps of leaders with the tools, experiences and networks to address local and regional economic development challenges.
DLI fellows will participate in six in-person sessions led by local, regional, and national experts and will cover policy areas and skills related to public infrastructure, regional transportation systems, workforce development, coalition-building and other fields necessary to facilitate economic development in the Delta. Upon completion of the sessions, fellows graduate with enhanced decision-making skills, policy development know-how, strengthened leadership capacity, and a mutual understanding of regional, state, and local culture and issues.
The 2025 DLI Executive Academy fellows include:
Missouri
Teletia Atkins, Southeast Missouri Community Liaison, Missouri Foundation for Health; Sikeston, Mo.
Alisha Trammell, Executive Director, Dexter Chamber of Commerce; Dexter, Mo.
Taylor Clark, Community Development Specialist, University of Missouri Extension Office; Miner, Mo.
Dawn Bell, Community Development Director, City of Rolla; Salem, Mo.
Illinois
Jennifer Sigler, Director, Grant Development, Southern Illinois Hospital Services; Carbondale, Ill.
Rodney Woods, Mayor, City of Mounds; Mounds, Ill.
Kanci Houston, CEO, Community Health & Emergency Services Inc.; Tamms, Ill.
Jena Guined, Executive Director, Bald Knob Cross of Peace; Anna, Ill.
Alabama
Leah Banks, Community Relations Specialist, Alabama Power Company; Eutaw, Ala.
Dominic Combs, Deputy Director, Office of Evaluation and School Improvement, University of Alabama; Northport, Ala.
Anna Lee, Community and Economic Development Specialist, South Central Alabama Development Commission; Montgomery, Ala.
James Perkins, Mayor, City of Selma; Selma, Ala.
Gwendolyn Rogers, Mayor, City of Linden; Linden, Ala.
Arkansas
Allison Hestand, CEO and Director of Economic Development, Economic Development Corporation of Paragould; Paragould, Ark.
Melisa Logan, Mayor, City of Blytheville; Blytheville, Ark.
Grandon Gray, Senior Vice President and COO, The P3 Group Inc.; Marion, Ark.
Amy Williams, Regional Manager – Northeast Region, Arkansas Economic Development Commission; Cabot, Ark.
Kentucky
Alex Caudill, Field Representative, Office of Governor Andy Beshear; Henderson, Ky.
Marta Elliott, Community Programs Loan Specialist, USDA Rural Development; Hickory, Ky.
Bradford Rodgers, Community Liaison, USDA Rural Development; Mayfield, Ky.
Louisiana
Kade Jones, Principal Planner II, Acadiana Planning Commission; Breaux Bridge, La.
Garrett Monti, Director, General Manager, Quality Wholesale & Supply Inc.; Luling, La.
James Carlson, Chancellor, Northshore Technical Community College; Mandeville, La.
Sharon Gilmore, Legislative Assistant, Louisiana House of Representatives; Rayville, La.
Gene Logan, Managing Partner, R.A. Government Services, LLC; Vicksburg, Miss.
Mississippi
BoNita Harris, Executive Director, Sponsored Grants and Compliance, Hinds Community College; Ridgeland, Miss.
Anna Thames, Field Representative, Office of Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith; Brookhaven, Miss.
Rickey Jones, Director, Small Business Development Center, Jackson State University; Jackson, Miss.
David Peyton, Yazoo County Supervisor, District 4, Yazoo County Board of Supervisors; Yazoo City, Miss.
Charles Latham, Mayor, City of Grenada; Grenada, Miss.
Monica Smith, Supervisory Community Specialist – RPN, USDA Rural Development, Terry, Miss.
Tennessee
Meka Egwuekwe, Executive Director, CodeCrew; Memphis, Tenn.
Blake Swaggart, Regional Director, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development; Memphis, Tenn.
Adrienne Cooper, Program Director, DRIVE, University of Memphis; Pine Bluff, Ark.
Brian Wilks, Associate Director, Talent Innovation + Programs, Greater Memphis Workforce Development Board; Memphis, Tenn.
For more information about the DLI Executive Academy, visit www.dra.gov.
About the Delta Regional Authority
The DRA was established in 2000 as a formal framework for joint federal-state collaboration to promote and encourage the economic development of the lower Mississippi River and Alabama Black Belt regions. To fulfill this purpose, DRA invests in projects supporting transportation infrastructure, basic public infrastructure, workforce training, and business development. DRA’s region encompasses 252 counties and parishes in parts of Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee.