November 8, 2022, was Election Day, but for Sonja Saylor it was her Graduation Day for East Tennessee Regional Leadership Association. Graduation was held at Hunter Valley Farm in Knoxville, and Ms. Saylor was one of the key planners of the event. She worked with representatives from Knox County and Cocke County to acquire the speaker, design and send the invitations, set the program, and organize a silent auction.

ETRLA afforded Sonja the opportunity to unite with other existing and emerging leaders from a dozen or so East Tennessee counties. Ms. Saylor networked and learned from an extensive set of classes with an interactive curriculum.. She spent two days in Sevier County in February to experience the benefits and concerns regarding tourism. Her classes continued for one day monthly from March through November. In March she traveled to Hamblen county for a class on workforce development, Manufacturing was in Claiborne Counrty in April, while Campbell County covered the diverse heritage of East Tennessee in May. In Loudon county, Ms. Saylor visited many examples of transportation logistics during the June program. A trip to Anderson County and Oak Ridge City offered environment and conservation in July. Science and technology was the topic covered by Roane County in August. Then in September Ms. Saylor traveled to Jefferson County to learn about agriculture. Economic development, and law enforcement and the judicial system rounded out the experience in Blount and Monroe counties prior to graduation in November.

Mindy Grimm will represent Union County in the ETRLA Class of 2023. Graduation from Leadership Union County is required to represent Union County at the region level. Classes for LUC begin in April. If you are interested in participating in these classes, contact Colleen Beeler: beelerc@bellsouth.net. Colleen can also share information on ETRLA.