Contributed Photo/Courtesy Project CENTRL: Pima Town Manager Vernon Batty has been selected to participate as a member in the 32nd class of the Arizona Center for Rural Leadership.
Contributed Article
PIMA – Vernon Batty is a 5th generation Arizonan from the humble town of Pima, where he now resides with Tiana, his wife of 18 years, and their six children.
He worked in the HVAC industry for 22 years and has owned his own company specializing in the installation and repair of residential and light commercial systems for 14 years.
In 2021, Vernon accepted the position as the Pima Town Manager where he has been able to apply his business management experience while taking the opportunity to broaden his horizons and learn many skills necessary for his new career in local government. As the manager of a small town, Vernon has hands-on involvement in a multitude of town businesses including, but not limited to, grant writing, land management, and budget preparation. He is also responsible for overseeing all town departments such as Town Hall, the Police Department, and Public Works. Along with his role as manager, Vernon represents the interests of the town on a variety of boards including the Southeastern Arizona Government Organization and the Graham County Chamber of Commerce
Vernon was recently selected to participate as a member of the 32nd class of the Arizona Center for Rural Leadership. This organization equips and empowers leaders to meet the needs of rural Arizona. The flagship program, Project CENTRL has trained over 700 Arizona leaders since 1983. Project CENTRL’s impact on rural Arizona is significant and substantial as participants hold many leadership positions around the State.
Sixteen participants were competitively selected for Class 32, which held its first seminar June 1-3, 2023 at the Wild Horse Pass Hotel in Chandler, Arizona. Project CENTRL Class 32 will be traveling the state over the next 12 months participating in nine seminars including Effective Communication, Natural Resources, and the Rural Economy, State Budget Basics: Healthcare, Education & Corrections, Agriculture in an International Border Community, and Public Policy in Arizona. They will travel to Sonora, Mexico; Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. to explore leadership lessons from all perspectives. The program culminates with a team of “Make A Difference” projects where class graduates address how they would help address and solve some of rural Arizona’s crucial issues and challenges.
The Fundamentals of Leadership seminar at Wild Horse Pass provided important opportunities to learn personal communication and learning styles and make connections among each other and alumni. The venue also served as the final seminar and graduation ceremony for the outgoing Class 31 of Project CENTRL. Scott Koenig, MBA and alumnus of Class 21 serves as the program’s fifth Executive Director based out of the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.
Arizona Center for Rural Leadership is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization committed to ensuring rural Arizona is healthy, vibrant, and sustainable. Since 1983 it has developed leaders and established a network of problem-solvers, decision-makers, and spokespersons for rural Arizona. Visit www.centrl.org for more information.
