Twenty-one Coweta professionals graduated from Leadership Coweta on May 18, 2017 during a celebration lunch at the Newnan Country Club.

Sponsored by the Newnan-Coweta Chamber, Leadership Coweta provides existing and emerging leaders with unique opportunities to enhance their civic knowledge of Coweta County and to sharpen their leadership skills and to network with leaders from across the community.

Nine sessions were held between September 2016 and May 2017, and participants worked together to learn more about the community and leadership. They also worked on a group project, the installation of several Little Free Libraries across Coweta County. Little Free Libraries operate on the honor system in that anyone can take a book or leave a book, and all kinds of books are welcome. According to Littlefreelibrary.org, millions of books are exchanged each year through this network of neighborhood book exchanges. The most common form is a small wooden box, and the boxes hold books for both adults and children.

For more than 20 years, Leadership Coweta has provided participants a better understanding of how this community works, the opportunity to build relationships with the region’s leaders and inspiration to use their talents to serve the community.

Leadership Coweta participants represent a diverse group in terms of race, gender and occupation. Individuals represent areas such as business, social services, government and cultural and educational organizations.

Derek Waugh, president and CEO of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in Atlanta, was the guest speaker. Waugh is also a 2016 graduate of Leadership Georgia.

Sen. Matt Brass, R-Newnan, told the graduates he hoped they would get involved in alumni programs and become more active in the Chamber, including taking on leadership roles there.

Leadership Coweta graduates include Buck Anderson, Laura Benz, Cristina Bowerman, Patrick Brown, Jamie Brownlow, Dr. Joya Carter Hicks, David Cleveland, Joe Crain III, Amanda Fields, Courtney Harcourt, Earl Hines, Doug Kolbenschlag, Amy Lane, Monica Millians, Ben Norman, Pastor Tangela Reese, Martin Riggs, Dr. Scott Ross, Christine Swanson, Shelby Tidwell and David Watts.