Bell receives Emerging Leader Award

Pictured with Bell (center) is Evelyn C. Robertson Jr., of Hardeman County and a member of the WestStar class of 1997, and Carolyn Flagg, a resident of Haywood County, conference committee member and member of the WestStar class of 2008.

The African-American Leadership Conference, held April 22, 2014 in Jackson, presented its Emerging Leader Award to Gem Bell, a supervisor for the Tekor Apex Tennessee Company, Brownsville, and a 2013 WestStar graduate. 

Bell currently serves as chairman of the Boys and Girls Club of Brownsville. He also serves on the board of directors for the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce, Haywood County Leadership, the library, the Boys and Girls Club of Jackson, First State Bank and Southwest Workforce Investment Act. Bell was also the recipient of the Jonathan Fain Award, which was given by Haywood Company for having the ability to cut costs in certain areas. 

The award criteria notes that the nominee has made a positive impact in his city/county during the past year, has a strong record of leadership during the past five years in West Tennessee, has been an active participant in the African-American leadership conferences and embraces the importance of and provides effective leadership to the concept and practice of regionalism in West Tennessee.