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Aug. 15, 2011 For more information, contact: MRPC’s Sink-Blair completes Delta Leadership Institute program ST. JAMES – Meramec Regional Planning Commission’s Project Development Manager Kelly Sink-Blair recently completed a year-long leadership program, Delta Leadership Institute (DLI), to strengthen her ability to collaborate regionally while seeking community improvement. DLI is a program sponsored through the Delta Regional Authority (DRA). Created in 1999, DRA is a federal-state partnership serving 240-counties in eight states. Four Meramec counties—Crawford, Dent, Phelps and Washington counties—are in the area designated as the Delta Region. Led by Federal Co-Chairman Chris Masingill and the governors of each participating state, the DRA is designed to remedy severe and chronic economic distress by stimulating economic development and fostering partnerships that will have a positive impact on the region’s economy. Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon serves as the states’ co-chairman for DRA. Sink-Blair participated in DLI sessions from September 2010 to June 2011. To participate in the program, she had to complete an application process and be appointed by Gov. Nixon. Sink-Blair participated in DLI’s Executive Academy: Legacies in Leadership program, sponsored by the University of Alabama,along with 41 other leaders, including five from Missouri. Participants of DLI worked in teams to solve “real-world” problems faced by regional leaders. The program included lectures, seminars and workshops centered on several themes. For the theme of leadership, Sink-Blair and other participants focused on topics such as leading change, embracing diversity, team building, mediated communication, public speaking and influencing. Participants learned about regional demographics and how to think and act regionally through the theme of understanding the Delta Region and its challenges. Lastly, participants were engaged with regional issues such as health care, information technology, education, transportation, public policy and infrastructure. “The leadership focus was very important to help me develop as a member of MRPC while working with our communities. The experience I gained by being able to work with my peers in different states and regions was very valuable. I saw the best practices and new ideas that I can bring to our area to advance our region,” Sink-Blair said. Participants worked in teams on projects throughout the year. “My team worked on analyzing energy efficiency in the Delta Region. We presented the project at graduation in June. The project lead us into the communities and schools and also pulled together a diverse group to study, implement and present to the Delta Region.” After DLI graduation, participants become members of the Delta Leadership Network. This network of regional leaders is encouraged to continue working on multi-state projects for the good of the entire Delta Region. “We are proud of Kelly’s accomplishment. She is our first employee to complete the Delta Leadership Institute,” said MRPC Executive Director Bonnie Prigge. “Our cities and counties will benefit from Kelly’s training and we appreciate the time she devoted to the effort.” Born and raised in Missouri, Sink-Blair is a graduate of Neosho High School and received her Bachelor of Science degree in geological engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology. Promoted to project development manager in March, Sink-Blair began working for Meramec Regional Planning Commission in 1999 in the planning and development department. She is primarily responsible for assisting communities in developing projects and obtaining funding. She writes state and federal grant requests for projects ranging from water and wastewater infrastructure to community facilities. Sink-Blair has served on the boards of the Optimist Club of Rolla and Leadership Phelps County. She is a 2005 graduate of Leadership Phelps County. As a mother of two active little boys, she stays very busy with local sports and school activities. She is a member of the Missouri Stream Team Association and is an avid hiker, bicyclist and camper. Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. A professional staff of 28, directed by the MRPC board, offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities. MRPC is located at 4 Industrial Drive in St. James. Russell Scheulen of Osage County serves as board chairman while Gary Brown serves as vice chairman. Rounding out the slate of officers is Secretary T.R. Dudley of Potosi and Treasurer Mary Heywood of Potosi.
MRPC Project Development Manager Kelly Sink-Blair’s leadership skills have been enhanced through a regional leadership program.
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