Student Affairs Hosts Leadership Panel Featuring Local Business Leaders
Posted on Sep 10, 2025 at 17:01 PM
The Ogeechee Technical College Division of Student Affairs hosted a Leadership Panel for faculty, staff, and students on Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 12 p.m. in a full JEK Auditorium. The panel featured local entrepreneurs and community leaders who shared personal insights, challenges, and lessons learned throughout their careers.
Panelists included Rachel Barnwell, vice president of the Development Authority of Bulloch County; Sean Fox, owner of Pioneer Design & Marketing; and Maria Proctor, owner of multiple retail stores in Statesboro including Mirror on Main, The Collective & Vine, Prom Bae, and The Quince of Your Dreams. Following brief introductions, the panel engaged in an open discussion, responding to audience questions about leadership, entrepreneurship, and personal growth.
Addressing the topic of collaboration, Fox emphasized the value of humility in leadership: “Collaboration stems from a posture that admits we don’t know everything. What makes someone a good leader is the idea that they admit they don’t know everything and that they are building a team of people who are smarter, better, and faster than them.”
When asked about handling criticism and the pressures of business ownership, Proctor stressed the importance of setting boundaries. “If you are your authentic self and people misinterpret that, it’s on them,” she said. “You must set boundaries. I’ve had to learn to know when it’s time to shut down from being an entrepreneur, put the phone down, and spend time with family.”
As the event neared its close, the panel was asked to reflect on significant lessons learned early in their careers. Barnwell highlighted the importance of staying focused on the bigger picture. “At the end of the day, we really are trying to do what is best for the community, to grow the community and provide higher-paying jobs so that growth continues.”
About Ogeechee Technical College:
Ogeechee Technical College (OTC) is a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia. OTC provides student‐centered academic and occupational programs and support services at the associate degree, diploma, and certificate levels. OTC utilizes traditional and distance education methodologies in state-of-the-art facilities while supporting adult education, continuing education, and customized business and industry workforce training. Visit www.ogeecheetech.edu for more information.
Contact Information
Sean Payne
Executive Director for Public Relations & Marketing
912.871.8559 | spayne@ogeecheetech.edu
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