DECEMBER 2018
Small Town
America's
100
Most Influential People 2018 Feature Issue
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Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Rural Leader Magazine, LLC is a digital publication that highlights every day people doing extraordinary things nationally and abroad. www.RuralLeaderMag.com www.GetRuralLeaderMag.com
About Us
Launched in March 2014, Rural Leader Magazine, LLC is a digital publication with a mission to highlight every day people doing extraordinary things in business, education, music, community, art, sports, and leadership nationally and abroad. Rural Leader Magazine honors exemplary individuals on a variety of levels, such as the 20 under 20 Honors, 40 under 40 Honors, Best Small Town Restaurant, Small Town America’s 100 Most Influential People, the Scholars of Collegiate Distinction, Fifty under Fifty, and the Eagle Elite Club.— Reproduction in any manner, in whole or in part, in English, or other languages, is prohibited without written consent. Send editorial ideas to Kuanita Murphy, PhD, Editor-in-Chief editor@ruralleadermag.com Contact Us info@ruralleadermag.com Phone: 1-877-281-6505
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Contents
5 Fun and Accessible STEM Resources for Kids 6 Job Opportunities in Manufacturing Benefit America’s Veterans 8 The CordCutter’s Dilemma
9 Three Tips for Making Gifting Easier this Holiday Season
12 Twenty Eighteen Small Town America's 100 Most Influential People
Tell us what you think about our publications, if you have a great idea for a story, or to just share. We may print your comments in Rural Leader Magazine. By sending us your comments, you’re giving permission to call you for an interview. Please be sure to include your name, address, email address, and phone number so we can reach you. Write to us at info@RuralLeaderMag.com—
Editor’s Note Dear Readers, Inside this issue, there are a number of great articles about leadership best practices, building positive self-esteem and productivity! We hope you enjoy this issue. As always, I hope you enjoy this issue and continue to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google +, and LinkedIn. Thanks again for your continual support! Sincerely,
Photo Courtesy of TieFotos
Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
What you do matters. GetRuralLeaderMag.com | December 2018 3 @RuralLeaderMag
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Fun and Accessible STEM Resources for Kids Inspiring kids’ interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) now could help prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that occupations related to STEM are projected to grow 13 percent by 2022 - faster than projections for all other occupations over the same time. Although the need for professionals with STEM experience is growing, a recent survey of U.S. high school students shows that only 24 percent of boys and 11 percent of girls are interested in STEM careers. Research also shows that youth who have extracurricular STEM experiences before graduating from high school are more likely to explore higher education and career opportunities in STEM. To help meet the future demand for tech leaders, private companies are stepping up to help inspire kids’ passion for STEM and develop the next generation of skilled professionals. HughesNet, America’s No. 1 choice for satellite Internet, supports 4-H, America’s largest, positive youth development organization, to give youth across the U.S. the opportunity to engage in STEM activities. Since 2014, the two organizations have worked together to increase youth access to STEM education and, this year, introduced STEM Lab, a free online resource offering exciting, hands-on activities for youth ages 4 to 16.
“I found great activities for my kids on the STEM Lab website,” said Tracy Colliton, a mom from Maryland who tried the STEM Lab projects with her preschool-aged daughters. “STEM is exciting when you can teach ideas through hands-on activities that engage all the senses. They loved the Fizzy Foam Fun and Windmill experiments, and I will be on the lookout for the next cool project.” With STEM Lab, parents are empowered to guide their children’s early exposure to STEM, which is proven to increase their chances of pursuing those fields. Each STEM Lab activity includes easy, step-bystep instructions, discussion questions to help guide the experiential learning process and clear explanations of the scientific concepts at work. In addition, each activity includes a list of supplies, which are mostly basic household items, and a “Messy Meter,” ranging from “clean” to “mega mess,” to help parents plan their budding scientists’ activity. And to keep kids immersed and excited, new projects are added regularly for continual enrichment. “HughesNet wants to ensure that all children, no matter where they live, have access to hands-on, experiential STEM learning,” said Peter Gulla, senior vice president of marketing at Hughes. “It is a part of our company’s larger commitment to bridging the technology divide. Kids who tap into GetRuralLeaderMag.com | December 2018 5
Job Opportunities in Manufacturing Benefit America’s Veterans Following their military service, many veterans feel overwhelmed by the transition to civilian life and the decision about what’s next. While veterans may feel that it’s challenging to identify civilian jobs that match their skills, there are job opportunities across the country and in their own backyard - they just need help finding them. One industry that is especially relevant for the veteran workforce is manufacturing. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are more than 12,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs, and that number continues to grow. Manufacturing industry jobs require the strategy, logistics and leadership skillsets developed in the military. And these are companies that recognize the value, talent, education and work ethic that veterans add to the workforce. It’s up to employers to properly target veteran skillsets, and it’s up to veterans to use the resources available to them to find mutually beneficial job opportunities. Hankook Tire, for example, opened its first U.S. manufacturing plant in Clarksville, Tennessee, last year, less than 15 miles from Fort Campbell, a U.S. Army installation in Kentucky, and continues to hire local veterans to fill key positions as the company grows. Hankook has become an active employer of veterans in the Clarksville area, and as a result, more than 20 percent of the plant’s current employees are former U.S. military members. For many veteran employees, this job has provided them with a win6 RuralLeaderMagazine.com | December 2018
ning solution - a great job with growth opportunities in their local area. For many veterans, their biggest concern about transitioning out of the military is uprooting their families to find a good civilian job. This provides companies, in particular those with manufacturing facilities near military bases, with a huge opportunity to tailor their job descriptions, recruitment and training to veterans, to help them build successful careers and stay in their communities. Organizations like DAV (Disabled American Veterans) are dedicated to ensuring that the men and women who stood up for America have the tools, resources and opportunities they need to competitively enter the job market and secure meaningful employment. Those currently making the switch to civilian life, as well as those looking for new jobs, can take advantage of networking and employment resources at career fairs co-hosted with RecruitMilitary and Veteran Recruiting. You can honor and recognize veterans for their service through the Hankook Heroes program, which seeks stories about why veterans are heroes. Enter for a chance to receive a set of tires by submitting your story to www.hankookheroes.com by Nov. 12. A second set of tires will be donated to a local DAV chapter member who is instrumental in helping support his or her local veteran community.—
their curiosity and enthusiasm for STEM now will grow into the leaders of tomorrow - ensuring our country stays competitive in the global economy and powering our connected future.” Another fun way for kids to get involved in STEM is 4-H National Youth Science Day. Celebrated throughout October, this program centers on the “Code Your World” four-part challenge. “Code Your World” teaches kids and teens with little to no coding experience to apply computer science to the world around them with fun, interactive challenges. For instance, “Code Your Dance,” an unplugged activity, uses the power of dance to teach concepts like algorithms, loops and conditionals. With another activity, “Color Your World,” kids color and create maps to learn about graph theory, patterns and algorithms. Teachers and parents interested in National Youth Science Day can participate online or buy activity kits, which include supplies for up to 10 participants.— About Hughes Network Systems Hughes Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES) is the global leader in broadband satellite technology and services for home and office. Its flagship highspeed satellite Internet service is HughesNet®, the world’s largest satellite network with over 1.2 million residential and business customers across the Americas. For large enterprises and governments, the company’s HughesON® managed network services provide complete connectivity solutions employing an optimized mix of satellite and terrestrial technologies. The JUPITERâ„¢ System is the world’s most widely deployed High-Throughput Satellite (HTS) platform, operating on more than 20 satellites by leading service providers, delivering a wide range of broadband enterprise, mobility and cellular backhaul applications. To date, Hughes has shipped more than 7 million terminals of all types to customers in over
100 countries, representing approximately 50 percent market share, and its technology is powering broadband services to aircraft around the world. Headquartered outside Washington, D.C., in Germantown, Maryland, USA, Hughes operates sales and support offices worldwide, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ : SATS ), a premier global provider of satellite operations. For additional information about Hughes, please visit www.hughes.com and follow @HughesConnects on Twitter.— About 4-H 4-H, the nation’s largest youth development organization, grows confident young people who are empowered for life today and prepared for career tomorrow. 4-H programs empower nearly six million young people across the U.S. through experiences that develop critical life skills. 4-H is the youth development program of our nation’s Cooperative Extension System and USDA, and serves every county and parish in the U.S. through a network of 110 public universities and more than 3,000 local Extension offices. Globally, 4-H collaborates with independent programs to empower one million youth in 50 countries. The research-backed 4-H experience grows young people who are four times more likely to contribute to their communities; two times more likely to make healthier choices; two times more likely to be civically active; and two times more likely to participate in STEM programs. Learn more about 4-H at www.4-H.org, find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/4-H and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/4H.—
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The Cord-Cutter’s Dilemma TV viewers have more options than ever. You’ve made the decision to cut the cord. Now, how can you continue to enjoy all your favorite shows in a cost-effective and convenient manner? With multiple ways to access content in today’s home entertainment market, consumers face a challenge: how to get a premium TV experience - live TV, recording capability and access to popular streaming apps - without the premium price. How can you get a premium TV experience without the premium price? Consumers can opt to get many of their favorite shows through a subscription service on a streaming media player like Roku or Apple TV. They can also connect their televisions directly to HD antennas to watch local broadcast networks. While these options have benefits, neither provides an elegant, all-in-one solution. That’s the cord-cutter’s dilemma. Streaming media players offer limited access to live local news, weather and sports. HD antennas offer free TV programming, but most TVs, even those with combination antenna/DVR, don’t provide full program schedules, episode descriptions or pictures. Of course, you could choose to buy a streaming player and an HD antenna, but then you have to deal with juggling multiple devices and multiple remote controls. The good news? There’s a new device that offers the benefits of both - and more. The recently launched TiVo BOLT OTA for antenna is a live TV,
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recording and streaming device all-in-one that’s perfectly designed for cord-cutters who are looking for that next-level TV experience without the high price. Consumers can watch and record available broadcast programming, plus stream 4K Ultra HD movies and TV shows from Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu and more. Better still, it offers access to all this programming on large and small screens, both inhome and on the go. It doesn’t stop short on today’s most innovative technologies either, offering voice commands through the included remote and hands-free control using Alexa-enabled smart home devices like the Amazon Echo. A variety of cool features enhance the entertainment experience, like one that skips right past commercials on select recorded episodes, which means that you don’t have to futz with the fast forward button. Speed-watch any program without losing sound quality. Additionally, the included four TV tuners can store up to 150 hours of HDTV programming, allowing you to record up to four shows at once without worrying about storage space. The bottom line? Cord-cutters no longer have a dilemma. The TiVo BOLT OTA for antenna offers live TV, recording and streaming in one simple, fun and money-saving device.—
Three Tips for Making Gifting Easier this Holiday Season From shopping for gifts, planning holiday travel or parties and wrapping up work projects, the weeks leading up to the holidays can be full of activity. For those tackling their shopping list, finding the perfect gift for a special loved one may sometimes feel overwhelming. However, for savvy shoppers who leverage the following tried-and-true tips, holiday shopping can be stress-free, fun and convenient. * Find the perfect gift for everyone on your list. There’s no better feeling than watching a loved one open your gift and knowing they’re going to love it. Take a step back and think about what the perfect gift looks like for everyone on your list. Whether that person values gifts that give back, hard-to-find fashion or tech toys, many retailers group gift ideas by personalities to help customers take the guesswork out of shopping in-store or online. * Join a loyalty program. Being a rewards member at your favorite retailer allows you to not only get the perfect gift, but enjoy wonderful bonuses for yourself
as well. For example, Nordstrom’s new Nordy Club combines everything you loved about the Nordstrom Rewards program with enhanced services and experiences. You can earn points faster to receive notes, which can be used like cash for purchases in-store, in the app or online. As a member, you also get “First to Shop” select brand and product launches, access to beauty and style workshops, free basic alterations, and can reserve online to try on in-store or use curbside pickup. * Find shortcuts. During the holiday season, time is of the essence. From using convenient services like Buy Online Pick Up in Store, engaging with a salesperson to help find that perfect gift or locating the holiday gift-giving or gift-wrapping section at a store, look for ways to shave time off your shopping trips. To learn more about The Nordy Club visit nordstrom.com.—
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Small Town
America's
100 It is with great pleasure that we present the 2018 Small Town America’s 100 Most Influential People. For the second year, our anonymous panel of judges received scores of nominations with the daunting task to select 100 individuals who met the following baseline criteria: 1) nominee must reside within the United States and live or work within a small town or city with a population of 80,000 or less; (Note: we included a number of individuals from larger urban areas with considerable more population, however, may be considered small by other standards; and 2) be least 18 years of age and have made a significant contribution to community in his or her genre. Honorees self-nominated or were nominated by an individual, group, or organization. 10 RuralLeaderMagazine.com | December 2018
We thought it important to convey a broad range of successful and influential people whose level of involvement, commitment, and intense effort to improve their communities sometimes go unnoticed. This year’s class includes influential people from a variety of sectors including business, art, music, theatre, health, government, law enforcement, education, and the faith community. They are everyday people doing extraordinary things. The full scope of their individual contributions may never be fully realized by those who do not understand the small town dynamic. Collectively, these exemplary individuals represent the heart and soul of small communities.— Congratulations to all honorees!—
Robert Aaron Superintendent
Terrell County Schools (GA)
Dawson, GA
Brendon Barber, Sr. Mayor Georgetown, SC
Roslyn M. Brock
Civil rights leader, HealthCare Executive & Activist Fort Pierce, FL/ Elkridge, MD
Fred Armiseen
Actor, Comedian, Writer, Producer and Musician Hattiesburg, MS
Brenda Bethune Mayor Myrtle Beach, SC
Debra F. Brown
Care Coordinator Five County Mental Health Authority & NAACP National Board Member Emporia, VA
Matt Arthur
Commissioner Technical College System of GA Raburn County GA
Lloyd J. Austin
Retired U. S. Army General Thomasville, GA
Theodore Boesen, Jr.
Carroll Breaux
Jimmy Buffett
Dr. Blake Busbin
CEO Iowa Primary Care Association Urbandale, IA
Musician, Songwriter, Author, Actor, & Businessman Pascagoula, MS/ Mobile, AL
Mayor Springhill, LA
2018-2019 Teacher of the Year Auburn High School Auburn, AL
Larry Bagwell Mayor Easely, SC
Ruby Bridges
Civil Rights Activist Tylertown, MS
Jimmy Carter 39th President Of United States Plains, GA
Biloxi, MS
Rosalyn Carter Former First Lady United States Plains, GA
Michael Chestnut Councilman & Entrepreneur Myrtle Beach, SC
Carolyn Q. Coleman Commissioner District 7 Guilford County, NC & NAACP National Board Member Savannah, GA/ Pleasant Garden, NC
Mercedes Collado Program Manager Special Populations SIHF Healthcare East St. Louis, IL
James W. Crowell, III. Civil Rights Activist And National Board Member for NAACP Biloxi, MS
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Patti Cullen
Executive Director
River Valley Regional Commission Coleman, GA
Vince Dooley
Former Head Football Coach & Athletic Director UGA Mobile, AL/Athens, GA
Debra Geiger, JD, MBA Savannah Technical College Paralegal Studies Department Head Savannah, GA
Joyce Helens
President Great Basin College Elko, NV
Sandra D. Deal
First Lady of GA (2011-2018) Educator, Author, Historian, Volunteer Gainesville, GA
Timothy Dougherty Mayor Morristown, NJ
Dr. Robert H. Grubbs Victor & Elizabeth Atkins Professor of Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, CA Marshall County, KY
Greg Hembree
Senator South Carolina, District 28 North Myrtle Beach, SC
Ellen Degeneres Comedian & Talk Show Host Atlanta, TX
Edward O. Dubose
Owner, Everlasting Peace Counseling & Consulting & NAACP National Board Columbus, GA
Pelicia Hall
Johnny Depp
Actor, Producer & Musician Owensboro, KY
Marion Fedrick
Dr. Shirley Hardin
Dr. Judith L. Hatch
Stand-up Comedian, Actor & Writer Pensacola, FL
Former English Professor & Director of AA Studies at Valdosta State University Valdosta, GA/Tallahassee, FL
Jack Hicks
Donna D. Haladay
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Author & Motivational Speaker Athens, GA
Clayton English
Commissioner Mississippi Department of Corrections Shubuta, MS
Mayor Haughton, LA
Barbara Dooley
Mayor City of Newburyport, MA
President Albany State Univ. Albany, GA
Owner Holistic Healthcare in Albany, LLC. Albany, GA
Larry Holmes
Former Professional Boxer 1973-2002 Cuthbert, GA/Easton, PA
Evander Holyfield American Former Professional Boxer (1984-2011) Atmore, AL
Billy Keyserling Mayor Beaufort, SC
Arline LaMear Mayor Astoria, OR
Carolyn E. McClain
CEO Rural Health Services, Inc. Aiken, SC
Lorrette M. Hoover President Columbus Tech. College Columbus, GA
Rev. Dr. Boise Kimber Minister & Civil Rights Activist Phenix City, AL/ New Haven & Hartford CT
Gloria Sweet Love
Chair, Southeast Region V NAACP Leadership Caucus & NAACP National Board Member Brownsville, TN
Leighton Meester Actress Marco Island, FL
Dr. Andrew Hugine, Jr. President Alabama A &M University Green Pond, SC
Dr. Mae C. Jemison Engineer, Physician& NASA Astronaut Decatur, AL
Edward R. Jones Mayor Grambling, LA
Actress and Comedian Seven Points, WS
Spencer Kiper
2018-2019 Teacher of the Year Elm Grove Middle Bossier City, LA
Miranda Lambert
Dr. Kathy S. Love
Dr. Chris Markwood
Jeffrey Maxey
Kathy Kinney
President
Savannah Technical College
Savannah, GA
Larry Milledge
CEO Gladiator Instructional Services, LLC Desoto, GA
President Columbus State University Columbus, GA
Karlous Miller
Comedian Oxford, MS/Atlanta, GA
Singer& Songwriter Lindale, Texas
2018-2019 South Carolina Teacher of the Year Starr Elementary School Starr, SC
Dr. Robert Mohrbacher President Centralia College Centralia, WA
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Dr. Jere Moreland, JD. President University of Georgia Athens, GA/Lakeland, FL
Pink
Singer and Songwriter Doylestown, PA
Alfred Rankins, Jr.
Commissioner of Higher Education MS Institutions of Higher Learning Greenville, MS
Nancy Rogers
2018-2019 Teacher of the Year Thomas County Middle School Thomasville, GA
Ken Novak
Vice President Alabama Power Eufaula, AL
Brad Pitt
Actor & Producer Shawnee, OK
Teddy Reese, JD.
Director of Community Operations & Affairs Georgia Appleseed Center for Law & Justice Gordon, GA/Columbus, GA
Mark Ruffalo
Actor, Producer, & Political Activist Kenosha, WS
Kevin O. Olusola
Beatboxer, Singer, SongWriter, Musician & Record Producer Owensboro, KY
Rachel Pucko
2018-2019 Teacher of the Year Northport Elementary Nort Port, AL
Winfred Rembert Folk Artist Cuhbert, GA
Mark Saliba
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Mayor Dothan, AL
Pete Panepinto Mayor Hammond, LA
Lou Radkowski Mayor Saint Marys, PA
Dr. Larry Robinson President Florida A & M University Tallahassee, FL
Dr. Phillip Allen Sharp Geneticist and Molecular Biologist Falmouth, KY
Suzan-Lori Parks
Playwright, Screenwriter, Musician & Novelist Fort Knox, KY
Dr. Rina Ramirez, MD, FACP Chief Medical Officer Zufall Health Center Dover, NJ
Stewart Rodeheaver Brigadier General U. S. Army (Retired) Owner Vizitech USA Eatonton, GA
Zestlan Simmons
2018-2019 Alabama Teacher of the Year Booker T. Washington Magnet High School Montgomery, AL
Dr. Amit B. Singh
Clarence C. Smalls
Dr. Billy W. Stewart
Freddie Summerset
President Edmonds Community College Lynwood, WA
President East Central Community College Decatur, MS
Charlene Tuttle 2018-2019 Rhode Island Teacher of the Year Lawn School Jamestown, RI
Kent M. Williams
Senator South Carolina District 30 Marion, SC
Councilman Georgetown, SC
Dr. Janet F. Smith President Columbia State Community College Houston County, TN/ Columbia TN
Taylor Swift
Community Organizer Blakely, GA
Singer and Songwriter Wyomissing, Pennsylvania
Carrie Underwood
Gloria Jean Watkins
Singer Checotah, OK
Wandra A. Williams Senior Management Executive, Community, Activist, & Elected Official & NAACP National Board Member Alexandria, LA/ Ellicott City, MD
A.k.a. Bell Hooks Author, Feminist, & Social Activist Hopkinsville, KY
Oprah Winfrey
Media Executive, Actress, Talk Show Host, TV Kosciusko, MS
Dr. Gary Lee Spears President Northwest Mississippi Community College Senatobia, MS
Robin Thompson 2018-2019 Teacher of the Year Florence High School Florence, AL
Geneva West
Founder, Real Impact Center, Inc. Pineview, GA/ Macon, GA
Dr. Richard Woods Georgia’s School Superintendent Tifton, GA
Eddie Stapleton Pastor & Community Activist Blakely, GA
Jessica B. Timberlake Actress, Model, Producer & Singer Ely, MN
Nikema Williams
GA Senator District 39 Talladega, AL/Atlanta, GA
Kayla Yeargin
2018-2019 Teacher of the Year Troup High School LaGrange, GA
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