Leadership Memphis

10/20/2026

Leadership Memphis President and CEO Dr. Reginald Porter Jr. and VISTA Data CEO and co-founder Reggie Manning joined Action News 5 to discuss the upcoming AI Leadership Institute and how leaders can prepare their organizations for the growing impact of artificial intelligence.

The three-day intensive will give executives and senior leaders an opportunity to identify valuable AI use cases, test practical workflows and develop strategies for organizational AI adoption.

NOV. 9-11, 2026
OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI
APPLICATION DEADLINE: OCT. 30

Ready to lead AI adoption in your organization? Learn more and apply:
https://vista-executive-program.netlify.app/

10/19/2026

AI is changing how organizations work. The question is: Are you prepared to lead the change?

Leadership Memphis, in partnership with Vista Data , presents the AI Leadership Institute, a three-day intensive designed for executives and senior leaders ready to turn AI opportunities into practical strategies for their organizations.

Participants will identify real-world AI opportunities, test practical workflows and develop a 90-day plan for responsible AI adoption.

Nov. 9-11, 2026
Oxford, Mississippi
Application deadline: Oct. 30

Ready to lead AI adoption in your organization?

Visit the AI Leadership Institute website to learn more and apply: https://vista-executive-program.netlify.app

10/09/2026

Leadership Memphis is excited to announce the FastTrack Fall 2026 Cohort — 20 rising leaders from across Memphis and Shelby County! Participants will strengthen their leadership skills, expand civic knowledge and connect with peers to drive positive change in our community.

Join us in congratulating the Best Class Ever!

10/08/2026

Leadership extends beyond the boardroom and into the community.

On Friday, Oct. 9, Dr. Reginald Porter Jr., president and CEO of Leadership Memphis and Volunteer Memphis, will join fellow Memphis business leaders for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis' 2026 CEO Build.

Dr. Porter will roll up his sleeves alongside other local leaders to help build a home and support Habitat’s mission of expanding affordable homeownership opportunities for families across our community.

The CEO Build is a powerful example of what can happen when leaders come together around a shared commitment to strengthening Memphis, one neighborhood and one family at a time.

Learn more about the CEO Build at: www.memphishabitat.com

10/07/2026

Memphis showed up for leadership and service.

Leadership Memphis and Volunteer Memphis welcomed a sold-out crowd to the 2026 Leadership & Volunteer Memphis Awards Luncheon on Sept. 24 at the Renasant Convention Center.

The annual celebration recognized the leaders, volunteers, organizations and changemakers whose service and commitment continue to make an impact across Memphis.

Thank you to our honorees, finalists, sponsors, partners, volunteers, alumni and guests who helped make this year’s luncheon a success. Your dedication to leadership and service strengthens our community and helps move Memphis forward.

Congratulations to all of this year’s honorees and finalists, and thank you to everyone who joined us for an incredible celebration.

10/07/2026

09/24/2026

TODAY’S THE DAY — AND WE’RE SOLD OUT! ✨
Today, Leadership Memphis and Volunteer Memphis welcome our community for the 2026 Leadership & Volunteer Memphis Awards Luncheon as we celebrate the extraordinary leaders, volunteers, organizations, and changemakers helping move Memphis forward.
We’re grateful to our honorees, finalists, sponsors, partners, volunteers, alumni, and every guest joining us today. Your leadership, service, and commitment to our city are what make this celebration possible.
We can’t wait to celebrate with you! 🏆💙💛
September 24, 2026 | 11 AM–1 PM
Renasant Convention Center
Tag us in your photos and moments from today!

09/23/2026

Meet the finalists for the 2026 Volunteer Memphis Non-Profit of the Year Award! 

RISE Memphis has empowered individuals and families to build financial stability and generational wealth since 1999. Through financial counseling, savings programs and financial education, RISE has helped eliminate more than $8 million in non-mortgage debt and supported families in purchasing more than 130 homes. 

Memphis Goodwill has spent more than 100 years creating pathways to employment, education and independence for people facing barriers. Serving 24 counties across Tennessee and North Mississippi, its work includes workforce development, job training and The Excel Center Memphis, Tennessee’s only free adult high school offering a state-recognized diploma. 

YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South continues a more than 170-year legacy of strengthening youth, families and communities. In 2025 alone, the Y provided before- and after-school care to 13,800 students, delivered more than 3,000 swim and water safety lessons and reached thousands of teens through youth development programs. Since 2020, the organization has also distributed more than 14 million meals across Tennessee and Mississippi. 

Three organizations creating measurable impact across our community. 

Join us at the 2026 Leadership & Volunteer Memphis Awards on Thursday, September 24, when the Non-Profit of the Year will be announced live! 

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09/22/2026

Meet the finalists for the 2026 Volunteer Memphis Non-Profit Leader of the Year Award! 

Rachel Haaga, Co-Founder and CEO of Restore Corps by Freed Life, has helped transform a grassroots response to human trafficking into a regional leader providing comprehensive, trauma-informed care. Restore Corps now receives approximately 200–250 survivor referrals annually while advancing survivor-centered systems of care across West Tennessee. 

David Jordan has served as President & CEO of Agape Child & Family Services since 1995. A social worker with more than 40 years of experience, David has helped grow Agape into both a major service provider and community backbone organization bringing partners together to address generational poverty and advance human flourishing. 

Cori Smith, Founder and Executive Director of Sweet Cheeks Diaper Ministry, transformed a grassroots diaper drive started in her garage into a trusted Mid-South resource. Today, Sweet Cheeks has distributed more than two million diapers while expanding its work to provide formula, period supplies, adult incontinence products and other essentials to families in need. 

Join us in celebrating three leaders whose work demonstrates the extraordinary impact of Memphis’ nonprofit community. 

The Non-Profit Leader of the Year will be announced live at the 2026 Leadership & Volunteer Memphis Awards on Thursday, September 24! 

09/21/2026

Meet the finalists for the 2026 Volunteer Memphis Adult Volunteer of the Year Award! 

Warren Banner serves his Orange Mound community through Gun Down in Orange Mound, supporting neighborhood cleanups, promoting community safety and providing encouragement and prayer to families impacted by gun violence. 

Kenneth Holman has contributed more than 1,700 volunteer hours to the American Red Cross since 2022, responding to more than 100 emergencies while supporting disaster relief, home fire prevention and the training of new disaster responders across Memphis and the Mid-South. 

Chima Onwuka, Founder and President of Grind City Cares, has mobilized hundreds of volunteers and built partnerships supporting education, health and wellness, youth development and families throughout the Mid-South. 

Three volunteers. Three incredible examples of what it means to serve. 

Join us at the 2026 Leadership & Volunteer Memphis Awards on Thursday, September 24, when the Adult Volunteer of the Year will be announced live!