Leadership Vestavia Hills grads share their experiences

As Leadership Vestavia Hills introduced members of its newest this fall, past graduates touted how the organization has made a positive difference in the city —  and in their own lives.

The new members of the Vestavia Hills Class of 2015-16 held their first meeting Sept. 10 at Vestavia Hills Baptist Church, where they learned the history of the city and the program and played games to get to know one another. 

Vestavia Hills Mayor Alberto Zaragoza Jr. said connections and knowledge he gained from being a member of the 2006 class of Leadership Vestavia Hills helped prepare him to be a better mayor when he was first elected in 2008.

“I was fire chief and had worked for the department for 40 years, and thought I knew everything there was to know about Vestavia Hills,” Zaragoza recalled. “But I gained so much from one year in Leadership Vestavia Hills. Our city continues to benefit from the group even today.”

Leadership Vestavia Hills was formed in 1997 by Dennis Anderson, associate pastor of Vestavia Hills Baptist Church, the mayor said. He had a vision of creating an organization that would create Vestavia Hills’ future leaders, and allow citizens to gather together and discuss ideas to help move the city forward, Zaragoza Jr. said.

 “[Anderson] put a team together and brought his vision to life,” the mayor said. “A lot of our positive city initiatives have come out of Leadership Vestavia Hills.”

 Besides the mayor, several current Vestavia Hills city leaders are past graduates of Leadership Vestavia Hills, said Ann Hamiter, vice president of retail banking at Pinnacle Bank. Among them are three Vestavia Hills city council members (Steve Ammons, George Pierce and John Henley), Vestavia Hills City Manager Jeffrey Downes, Jefferson County Commissioner David Carrington, Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce President Karen Odle and Vestavia Hills Public Library Director Taneisha Tucker.

Tucker graduated from Leadership Vestavia Hills in 2007, the same year she became director of the city library. Being on with the group helped her perform her job better, Tucker said.

“I was new to the position, and it enabled me to learn so much about the Vestavia Hills school system, the city government and to meet key city leaders,” she said. “Leadership Vestavia Hills has helped make the city stronger.”

Members of each class perform various projects and research ways to improve the city, Tucker said. During the year she served, Leadership Vestavia Hills conducted a quality of life program that she later implemented into the Vestavia Hills Library.

Lisa Christopher, a membership consultant with the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce, said her experience as part of the 1999-2000 class of Leadership Vestavia Hills helped when she served as president of the city chamber a year later.

 “I was already involved in the city, having served as a PTA president,” Christopher said. “The key to the group that makes it so successful is that you get to learn more about Vestavia Hills and areas in which you can make a difference in the city.”

Christopher said members of the 2015-16 Class of Leadership Vestavia Hills will benefit from the experience. “The goal is for graduates to be more informed, more fired up and more willing to be leaders in our city,” Christopher said.

The new class will be assigned projects in October under the leadership of President Rebecca Olsen and class coordinators Ann Hamiter and John Henley. Results and implementation plans will be presented at graduation in April.