Nineteen members of the 2013 Leadership Forney class graduated on April 18. The graduates attended seven, daylong classes, beginning in September 2012 and ending in April 2013. This was only the second Leadership Forney class, and there are plans to continue with additional classes. The graduation was attended by some members of the previous class, as well as members of the Chamber of Commerce, the Forney ISD, Mayor Darren Rozell, and special guest speaker W. Herbert Hunt.
Nineteen members of the 2013 Leadership Forney class graduated on April 18. The graduates attended seven, daylong classes, beginning in September 2012 and ending in April 2013. This was only the second Leadership Forney class, and there are plans to continue with additional classes. The graduation was attended by some members of the previous class, as well as members of the Chamber of Commerce, the Forney ISD, Mayor Darren Rozell, and special guest speaker W. Herbert Hunt.
Leadership Forney provided the nineteen class attendees with an opportunity to learn much more about the City of Forney and its various departments, the Forney ISD, the Economic Development Corporation, and the legislative process. They had the chance to learn about the Forney Chamber of Commerce, local businesses, and local charities.
The class toured the Forney Police Department, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Rockwall, the new Lake Pointe Emergency Department, and the Lake Pointe Imaging Center in Forney. They also took a tour of the new Three Forks Senior Living of Forney, as well as the Spellman Amphitheater. At the February class, the Forney Fire Department brought out engines and trucks, and Chief Townsend discussed the growth of the FFD. Some members of the class will be going to Austin this week for a tour of the Capital and to see the legislative body in action.
Each of the members of the 2013 Leadership Forney class were recommended by either a previous class graduate or a member of the Leadership Coalition Team. The Coalition Team members are: Laurie Barkham, Keith Bell, Brian Brooks, Kim Buttram, Larry Coker, Michael Holland, Ryan Kile, Darren Rozell, and Susan Seabolt.
2013 graduating class members included: Audra Carr, Heath Carroll, Vicki Cook, Eric Creekmore, Wes Crenshaw, Jim Goldston, Judy Griffin, Darrell Hobbs, Matthew Malone, Matt Mosier, Mary Penn, Shannon Runyan, Marian Stewart, Sherri Thornhill, Denise Vreeland, Mike White, Barbara Wood, Denise Yudovitz, and James Yudovitz.
Before each graduating member received their diploma, Mr. Hunt, from the Petro-Hunt, LLC, and a driving force behind the Gateway Bridge in Forney, spoke to the class. He applauded the class members for taking the classes and for wanting to be “active citizens.” He said, “I'm glad that you are here and that you're interested in what's going on around you.” Hunt joked with the class about his age after telling them that “time goes fast.” He quipped, “Old age is like toilet paper, it goes so fast near the end.” That joke left the room in laughter.
Hunt praised the Forney community, as well as former Mayor Darryl Grooms, Mayor Darren Rozell, and City Manager Brian Brooks for their help in getting the Gateway Bridge project underway. He said, “This is a good community, good schools. I don't consider it risky to invest here.” He expects that the bridge itself will be completed by October of 2013 and he envisions a 10-year build out of the 2200 acres surrounding the bridge. Hunt said that Forney can expect shops, retail, commercial, and residential growth along the Gateway Bridge off Highway 80.
