Leigh Anne Bentley, chief marketing officer of Leaders Credit Union and founding president of the Leaders Education Foundation, received the Jimmy Daniel Make-A-Difference WestStar Leadership Alumni Award at the WestStar Leadership Program graduation ceremony held June 16.
The award is given in honor of Jimmy Daniel, a graduate of the 1990 WestStar class, a founding member of the WestStar board of trustees and a field representative for West Tennessee during the administration of the late Tennessee governor Don Sundquist.
The recipient of the award is chosen by the board of trustees for having a strong record of leadership and having made a positive impact on their city or county during the last five years. The recipient must also be an active participant in WestStar alumni seminars and leadership programs, and must embrace the importance of providing effective leadership to West Tennessee.
Bentley has been involved in the WestStar Leadership Program since her own graduation in 2018, and has consistently dedicated her time to improving her community. The Leaders Education Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded by the Leaders Credit Union in 2019, unites organizations, businesses and community-driven individuals in providing additional resources and opportunities to students across West Tennessee.
In addition to her work for the Leaders Education Foundation, Bentley has been recognized with various awards, including the Sterling Award, the 40 Under 40 Award and the Herbert Alexander Servant Leadership Award.
“For more than two decades, she (Bentley) has been one of the most respected marketing voices in our region, first in an agency world and, since 2016, as the chief marketing officer for Leaders Credit Union,” said Jake Bynum, UT Martin’s chief of staff and executive director of the WestStar Leadership Program. “But ask her about her work, and she’ll not tell you about campaigns or logos. … Like Jimmy Daniel, she built bridges across communities and found the greatest reward in serving others.”
When accepting the award, Bentley emphasized the joy she derives from her work and the pride she takes in her community. She also expressed her appreciation for everyone who took the time to go through the WestStar Leadership Program.
“I’m so proud to be part of the community,” Bentley said. “I’m so proud of my job at Leaders Credit Union and the Education Foundation. I feel like I get to work in a mission field every day for what we get to do for people.”
To learn more about the WestStar Leadership Program, visit www.utm.edu/weststar or call 731-881-7298. For more information about UT Martin, visit www.utm.edu or call 1-800-829-UTM1 (-8861).
PHOTO: Leigh Anne Bentley, chief marketing officer of Leaders Credit Union and founding president of the Leaders Education Foundation, received the Jimmy Daniel Make-A-Difference WestStar Leadership Alumni Award at the WestStar Leadership Program graduation ceremony held June 16 at UT Martin. Bentley (middle) is pictured following the award presentation with Jake Bynum (left), UT Martin’s chief of staff and executive director of the WestStar Leadership Program, and Jennifer Smiley (right), assistant director of the program.
