Leadership Hart

04/28/2026

Last Thursday, we celebrated the graduation of the Leadership Hart Class of 2026, and what a class it is. 🎓

Seventeen leaders. Countless hours of learning, growing, and yes, figuring it out together. These men and women have spent the past several months diving deep into Hart County, into leadership, and into themselves, and Thursday night we had the privilege of watching them cross that finish line.

But Thursday night wasn’t just a graduation ceremony. It was also the launch of something new. The Leadership Hart Alumni Association is officially open, and with it, every class that has ever walked through this program is now connected in a way they haven’t been before. To every Leadership Hart alum, welcome home. We are so glad to have a place to bring you back together.

To the Class of 2026, we are so proud of you. Hart County is better because you said yes to this journey. Now go lead.

📸 Scroll through to see our graduates and the alumni classes who came out to celebrate with them!

03/24/2026

Evan is one of this year's Leadership Hart participants. The last several months have been trying for him and his family. Even through his diagnosis, Evan has still participated until he was no longer able to. Consider supporting this cause.

🌿 March 28th – Our Biggest Sale of the Year 🌿
In honor of our good friend Evan Herring

Join us for a special day of community, plants, and giving back. 💚

🗓 Saturday, March 28th
⏰ 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 1586 Parkertown Rd.
Lavonia, GA 30553

🌱 Ways to Give & Participate:

1. Win a Free Fruit Tree! 🍎
Wear a Perfect Peace hat or shirt — OR donate $20+ — and you’ll be entered into a giveaway!

2. Free Plant Wagon Access 🌿
Donate $25+ and shop from our Free Plant Wagon.

3. Special Tribute Plants 🌸
Purchase a featured plant in honor of Evan — 100% of proceeds go to the family.

4. Homemade Treats 🍪
Stop by and visit Adler & Maudy for baked goods made in Evan’s honor.

5. Shop & Support 🪴
Browse our full inventory — a portion of all sales will be donated.

⸻

Come out, bring a friend, and help us support a wonderful family while celebrating a life that means so much to us all. 💚

03/04/2026

A wonderful new day of Leadership Hart, and this one was all about agriculture.

We began the morning at the Hart County Ag Center, where Brian Fleming, local row cropper and farming advocate, presented our county’s Farm Gate report. He walked us through the economic impact agriculture has in Hart County and how we rank among other counties across Georgia. It was impressive to hear just how strong our agricultural output truly is. Huge thank you to Sierra Burke at Hart County Extension/ 4-H for providing the data for us.

From there, we toured the facility with Steve Burton of Hart College and Career Academy. Mr. Burton is not only an integral part of our school system but a farmer himself, helping educate our youth about agriculture. Both Steve and Brian have been instrumental in the success of the Northeast Georgia Ag Expo each year.

In the afternoon, Jason Ford and Rosanna Cruz-Bibb led a session on Start With Why by Simon Sinek, challenging us to think deeper about purpose-driven leadership.

We wrapped up the day with Pat O’Hara and Donna O’Hara (and Bama, their dog) at O'Hara's Nursery, learning about plants and the early-spring planting processes happening right now. It felt like the last glimpse of calm before their busy season officially begins this Friday morning.

Another meaningful day connecting to the people and industries that shape Hart County. 🌱

01/09/2026

Leadership Hart had a great day of learning and behind-the-scenes access this Wednesday.

We kicked things off at Haering Precision, where we dove into conversations around industry and economic development with Andrew Carnes, Regional Manager with Georgia Power Economic Development, and Terri Partain, Economic Development Director with the Hart County Industrial Building Authority. We saw firsthand how economic development impacts the entire fabric of our community, from taxes to workforce.

After a facility tour and lunch at Haering Precision, the group headed to Ritz Instrument Transformers for an up-close look at how transformers are built right here in Hart County. Seeing these operations firsthand really drives home the impact our local industries have on jobs and the economy.

A big thank you to our hosts and speakers for making it such a valuable day. Experiences like these are what Leadership Hart is all about—learning, connecting, and understanding the forces shaping our community.

01/07/2026

We had a great time at Chamber After Hours last night hosted by The Station of Hartwell.

Today we visit Haering Precision and Ritz Transformers to learn how industry affects our local workforce and economy, making our community stronger. 🧡

12/05/2025

Leadership Hart this Week!

10/04/2025

Leadership Hart took the classroom on the road this month learning about local government in action right here in Hart County!

Our October session was all about local government, and the class got a behind-the-scenes look at the people and places that keep Hart County running. We started the morning with Jason Ford, who helped us understand the different government structures and offices in our community. From there, Dr. Rosanna Cruz-Bibb joined us for a conversation about the Archway Partnership and UGA’s role in Hart County.

Then it was time for our “field trip.” Jason led the way as we toured Hartwell City Hall, followed by a stop at the Hartwell Police Department with Asst. Chief Stan Sayer and Lt. Darin Rucker. Then we visited the Hartwell Fire Department with Chief Alan Daniel before heading to the Hart County Courthouse, where Clerk of Court Frankie Gray guided us through the courtroom and several offices, introducing us to Probate Judge Merry Kirk, Tax Commissioner Karen Martin, and the staff of Magistrate Judge Thomas Jordan and Superior Court Judge Chris NeSmith.

The afternoon took us to the Hart County Administration Offices and 911 Dispatch Center, where we met Board of Commissioners Chair Marshall Sayer, County Administrator Terrell Partain, and Coroner/EMS Director Mike Adams.

It was a full day, but our class loved every stop on this deep dive into local government. Thank you to all of our guides for opening your doors to us, and a special thanks to Jason and Rosanna for helping to set the stage with our morning session.

We’ll stick to the classroom next month… but only after this adventure sinks in!

07/24/2025

There's still an opportunity to join the 25-26 cohort of Leadership Hart. The deadline for applications has been extended to August 1st, giving you more time to take advantage of this chance to develop your leadership skills. Don't miss out on the opportunity to be part of a transformative experience.

07/22/2025

Leadership HART applications close TOMORROW!
Don’t miss your chance to be part of something bigger—where leaders like Steve Burton came together to make a real impact on the future of our community.

🌟 Network. Learn. Lead.
📅 Apply now and help shape Hartwell’s tomorrow.

👉 https://www.hart-chamber.org/leadership-hart