Jason Fleming is no stranger to holding leadership positions during his long career with the Tennessee National Guard and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. His newest role as chief of staff for Covington Mayor Jan Hensley brought yet another opportunity to grow his leadership skills and professional network as a member of the 2025 WestStar Leadership Program class.
Fleming was among 34 participants in the 35th WestStar class sponsored by the University of Tennessee at Martin’s longtime leadership program. The graduation reception and ceremony were held June 17 at the Jackson Country Club in Jackson. WestStar was established in 1989 and now has 1,009 program graduates with the addition of the newest class. Legon Roberson was recognized as the 1,000th graduate.
Now in his third year with the mayor’s office, the UT Martin agriculture and natural resources management graduate transitioned from his USDA retirement in December 2022 following almost 40 years of service to serving the city of Covington in January 2023. The turnaround was quick, but Fleming was prepared for the challenge.
“I help to get the mayor’s vision implemented across the city,” he said of his primary responsibility. Besides executing this important role, Fleming works “to resolve problems before they land on his (the mayor’s) desk.”
A seasoned leader now in his third career, Fleming was familiar with the WestStar program and benefited from some key takeaways through his experience.
“Number one, the people – not only the people that are in your class or cohort, but the alumni as well,” he said. “Getting a chance to meet those people. … They may not know the answer, but chances are they’ll know somebody that does know the answer or that has gone through what you’re going through.”
Visiting multiple counties also provided perspective and ideas that will benefit Fleming’s work with the city of Covington.
“While counties and municipalities have unique needs, there’s a lot of commonality there – infrastructure, economic development, broadband access, those types of things,” he said. “Just being able to do that, see that, and then to collaborate with classmates, … to begin to collaborate about solutions to needs has been huge.”
Jake Bynum, UT Martin chief of staff and WestStar executive director, emceed the graduation, welcomed the class and guests, and introduced UT Martin Chancellor Yancy Freeman, who added his own welcome and congratulations for completing WestStar.
He asked the class to do two things as WestStar graduates.
“Go back to your communities and get more involved than you were,” Freeman said. “Second, make sure that you send us more people (to participate in WestStar).”
The Honorable Judge Mark Norris, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee and a 1999 WestStar graduate, was the evening’s featured speaker. Norris, a former Republican state senator who represented Tennessee District 32 from 2001-2018, reminded class members “that your leadership at the end of the day depends on your ‘followship.’”
“I’m a graduate of WestStar, graduate of Leadership Memphis and Leadership Tennessee, and all of our programs are similar,” he said. “You might say, ‘Been there, done that,’ but the difference is the people you meet, the relationships you form, the fellowship that becomes your ‘followship’ if you’re lucky.”
Norris highlighted the amount of change and information that people are exposed to daily, which emphasizes the need to focus on the important things in life.
“So, if you ever feel overwhelmed, confused, anxious, irritated – think about the pace of change and what really matters in this life: your faith, your family, your communities,” Norris said. “It’s your ‘followship,’ your fellowship that you really have to hang onto.”
In addition to recognizing graduates, Bynum announced several awards, including the C.P. Boyd Leadership Award. The award is presented to a class member who demonstrates the compassion, leadership and love for West Tennessee exemplified by the late Haywood County educator for whom the award is named. Madison Endres of Henry County was voted by her classmates to receive the award.
Also, the 27th Jimmy Daniel Make-A-Difference WestStar Leadership Alumni Award was presented to Melinda Goode of Dresden, a 2009 WestStar graduate and executive director of the Northwest Tennessee Development District. Selected by the WestStar Board of Trustees, the award is named for the late Jimmy Daniel, a 1990 WestStar graduate, founding board of trustee member and a West Tennessee field representative for the late Gov. Don Sundquist. The award is presented to a person who has made a positive impact during the past five years and has a strong record of leadership in West Tennessee during that same period.
The Nick Dunagan Leadership Scholarship went to Betsy Mantooth, a UT Martin sophomore sociology major from Martin. Her parents are Dr. Jamie and Katie Mantooth, both UT Martin staff members. Jamie is a 2019-20 WestStar graduate. The scholarship is named for Dr. Nick Dunagan, UT Martin chancellor emeritus, former WestStar executive director and also a WestStar co-founder.
The Vaughn RisingStar Leadership Scholarship, named for Cary and Lalania Vaughn of Millington, longtime WestStar supporters, went to Alli Kate Frilling, a recent Union City High School graduate. Her mother, Lindsay Theobald, is a 2011 WestStar graduate. Cary Vaughn is a 2012 WestStar graduate
Before concluding the program, Bynum announced that WestStar assistant director Jennifer Smiley was approved as an honorary 2025 class member by the WestStar Board of Trustees. Smiley, who lives in Martin, served as program coordinator before being named in 2024 as assistant director.
Bynum concluded by urging the new graduates to use their WestStar experience to make a difference in their communities and the region.
“Great leaders don’t wait for momentum they want – they create it,” he said. “They understand that leadership is not a destination, but a daily choice to serve others with excellence. … West Tennessee is counting on you, not just as leaders, but to be difference makers who leave this region stronger than you found it. Go forth and lead with purpose.”
Information about WestStar is available by calling the WestStar Leadership Program at 731-881-7298.
Members of the graduating class are: Zach Bay of McNairy County, chief deputy, McNairy County Sheriff’s Office; Erica Bell of Weakley County, executive director, UT Martin Office of Regional Centers and Online Programs; Terry Bell of Chester County, city mayor of Henderson; Chasity Burns of Chester County, vice president and loan officer, Centennial Bank, Henderson; Sonya Covington of Lake County, president, Forcum Lannom Inc. in Dyersburg and Jackson; Dr. Keith Dooley of Weakley County, associate professor and department chair, UT Martin Department of Family and Consumer Sciences; Sheree Douglas of Haywood County, executive director, Brownsville-Haywood County Chamber of Commerce; Bethany Edwards, of Henry County, vice president for administration and finance, Paris Board of Public Utilities; Hayden Ellis of Crockett County, principal insurance agent, East Financial Services; Madison Endres of Henry County, marketing manager, West Tennessee Public Utility District; Jason Fleming of Tipton County, chief of staff, city of Covington; Dr. Mary Giles of Weakley County, assistant professor and Call Me Mister coordinator, UT Martin Department of Educational Studies; Rakaya Humphreys of Carroll County, program director, NWIEDC Head Start Program; Angela Inman of Decatur County, campus coordinator, Tennessee College of Applied Technology Crump – Parsons Extended Campus; Teena Jarman of Obion County, administrator, Promethean Foundation; Jennie Keel of Henderson County, principal civil engineer, TLM Associates in Jackson; Austin Kissell of Haywood County, assistant principal, Friendship Elementary, Crockett County; Derek Kissell of Lauderdale County, chief highway administrative officer, Lauderdale County Highway Department; Don McCorry of Madison County, executive director, Jackson-Madison County African American Chamber of Commerce; Lindee McCurley of Weakley County, assistant director of campus event services, UT Martin Boling University Center; Terry McDade Weakley County sheriff; Alisha Melton of Weakley County, executive director, UT Martin Office of Research, Outreach, and Economic Development; Jerri Moore of Dyer County, southwest regional coordinator, Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth; Dr. Skye Prince of Henry County, clinic director and physical therapist, Dynamic Physical Therapy; Legon Roberson of Madison County, director of grants and special projects, United Way of West Tennessee; Logan Rogers of Dyer County, director of business development, RFW Construction Group, Dyersburg; Bob Shutt of Hardin County, mayor, city of Savannah; Kenra Simpson of Gibson County, human resource supervisor, Gibson County Utility District; James Sneed of Tipton County, safety manager, CBRE, and Tipton County commissioner; Dr. Margaret Taylor of Madison County, community impact consultant, Tennessee Department of Health; Dr. Amanda Walker of Dyer County, vice president of external affairs, Dyersburg State Community College; Dr. Darren Walker of Tipton County, assistant principal, Tipton County Schools; Timbo White of Hardin County, economic development director, city of Savannah; and Chris Williams of Hardeman County, city councilman, city of Bolivar, and public information officer, Memphis Police Department.
PHOTO: Members of the 35th WestStar class are (front row seated, l-r) Margaret Taylor, Legon Roberson, Skye Prince, Chasity Burns, Chris Williams, Madison Endres, Timbo White, Sonya Covington, Kenra Simpson and Lindee McCurley; (second row, l-r) Rakaya Humphreys, Logan Rogers, Alisha Melton, James Sneed, Jerri Moore, Sheree Douglas, Darren Walker, Teena Jarmon, Erica Bell, Angela Inman, Jennifer Smiley (WestStar assistant director and honorary class member), Bethany Edwards, Amanda Walker, Jason Fleming, Keith Dooley, Terry Bell, Don McCorry and Dr. Mary Giles; (back row, l-r) Zach Bay, Bob Shutt, Derek Kissell, Jennie Keel, Terry McDade, Austin Kissell and Hayden Ellis.
