2006

ECCC names WIRED team special to The Star Two area businessmen have been tapped by East Central Community College in Decatur to provide assistance to local communities in the area of economic development Dr. Phil Sutphin announced Tuesday that Joseph E. "Joey"

Kenna Jr. of Forest is the col– lege's new community devel– opment facilitator. J. Michael "Mike" Ellis of Carthage will be the civic leadership facili– tator. The new staffmembers will work closely with The Mont– gomery Institute in Meridian to help local communities in economic deve!opment an.d entrepreneurship.

Kenna

Ellis

Thetr offices will be in the college's Productivity Enhancement Lab at the Philadelphia/Neshoba County Career-Technical Center. Funding for the positions is provided through the U.S. Depart· ment of Labor's new WlRED-Workforce Innovation for Regional Economic Development- Grant Initiative, a $15 million dollar project. Thirty-six counties along the Mississippi/Alabama border are involved in the effort, designed "to create a regional workforce cre– dentialing system, develop entrepreneurship, linkeducation and training to business and industry needs.to create new jobs, and develop civic leadership that crosses boundaries to develop stronger regional partnerships for progress." Community development Joseph Kenna Jr. has 26 years ofmanagement experience and most recently served as manager ofT. Brown's!Animal Services in Forest. He has also worked in the automotive parts business and is a former branch manager at Citizens Bank in Meridian. He is a longtime member of the Forest Chamber of Com– merce and previously served on the board.of directors. He is an active member of Forest Baptist Church. In addition, be is a former commissioner and coach for the Forest Youth Sports organization. AMcComb native, Kenna hold a bachelur's degree in banking and :'\r~Cl:' tr T '' "·._..,·f ~:; .,.. l.izme: ~- "!,..also ato.:n~ Southwt>St Mi!'-Sissippi Commumt)' Lollege m mrrut. He and his wife, the former Lynne Chapman of ~ev.1on, have two sons, Drew and Ben. Civic leadership ]. Michael ''Mike" Ellis comes to ECCC from The Citizens Bank in Carthage, where he served as vice president He is also a former president ofCitizens National Bank in Carthage. In all, he has more than 35 years experience in banking. Ellis serves as vice president of the Leake County Industrial Board i a past director of the Leake County Chamber Com– APP merce. He is also a past president and current treasurer of the Carthage Rotary Club. He serves as deacon and treasurer of The Carthage Presbyterian Church. _ CAR He was recognized as Leake County's Volunteer ofthe Year for 2004 by the Mississippi Economic Development Council. SCC Ellis received a bachelor's degree in banking and finance from Mississippi State University and completed additional course– UN1 work through theAmerican Institute of Banking, Memphis School of Banking at then Memphis Stale University, and the School of WI" Banking of the South at Louisiana State University. His is married to the former Mary Ellen Barrett ofBrandon. SP!~ -----~==--=======-- OTHER ___________________

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