Recognizing an Amazing Community Contributor

By Don Dunlap Chair, YLH Board of Directors

The Youth Leadership Henry Board of Directors is pleased to announce its first-ever Emeritus board member, Mrs. Susan Howington.

Many folks in Henry County will recognize Susan in her role at the University of Georgia Agricultural Extension office on Lake Dow Road in McDonough, at Heritage Park. In that role, she has had a very positive impact on agricultural and nutritional education in our community.

Youth Leadership Henry Board of Directors Chair, Don Dunlap, introduced the amendment to name YLH Board Member Susan Howington as Emeritus Director of the Board in recognition of her service to the organization.

In 1997, Susan completed the Chamber’s Leadership Henry program, which had only been in existence for five years at the time. She immediately recognized that the amount of knowledge she and other members of her Leadership Henry class had gained about our community as a result of their participation could also be a valuable addition to future leaders in our community. Namely, high school level students who have not yet contemplated what their role might be as post-secondary citizens in Henry County. Acting on that realization, she worked with some other Leadership Henry alumni to create a scaled-down version of Leadership Henry that would be appropriate and fit into the schedule of a high school student. She looked to identify students eager to learn about Henry County and how they could contribute to make it an even better Youth Leadership Henry Founding Member and Emeritus Director, Susan Howington place to live, work, and play.

Youth Leadership Henry Founding Member and Emeritus Director, Susan Howington

The Youth Leadership Henry program graduated its first class in 1998, and has been developing future leaders in our community ever since. Through its 20 year history (thus far!), Susan Howington has served these young people as Founder and Member of the Board of Directors, ensuring that the program maintains its fidelity to her original vision of creating competent and contributing leaders for our community.

Recognizing that we would be remiss not to formally celebrate the selfless contributions of a leader of Susan’s caliber, our board of directors amended our bylaws to create the Emeritus Director position on our board, and was pleased to unanimously elect Susan as the first such director.

As our selections committee works to select another class of sophomores from across Henry County, won’t you join us in celebrating the passion and commitment of the person who made their work possible, Mrs. Susan Howington!