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By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Publisher

ALABASTER – A special celebration for one of Shelby County’s most well-respected organizations is now set to help honor years of success during a milestone year.

For the past 30 years, Leadership Shelby County has pulled together top leaders from across the county and organized a class that lasts from August until May to help each person grow in their leadership skills.

Now, to celebrate hitting three decades, a special celebration will take place on Thursday, March 13 at the city of Alabaster’s new Senior Center Community Room next to the new amphitheater from 5-8 p.m.

The event aims to bring together as many alumni from past graduating classes as possible to help celebrate the program’s achievements as well as the achievements of all involved over the past 30 years.

“The ultimate goal is to equip all of these leaders with information and to inspire them and empower them to go into their own communities and make change if change is needed,” Williams said. “Every year brings a new excitement of new personalities, new stories and new backgrounds. We’ve seen it for 30 years and continue to strive for the same goals each year.”

At this year’s alumni breakfast to kick off the 30th year, Shelby County District Attorney Prosecutor Brooke Grigsby, who is a graduate of both the youth and adult classes, shared what a milestone mark it was for the program to make it to 30 years.

“We are celebrating 30 years of Leadership Shelby County,” she said. “That’s amazing. Good programs last 5-10 years, right? Exceptional programs are still standing and going strong after 30 years and I have no doubt the best is yet to come.”

Now, alumni will gather to celebrate that accomplishment on March 13 at this special event. It will be free to all paid alumni.

The event will be an opportunity to highlight the accomplishments of the program over the past 30 years and give alumni the opportunity to gather and reminisce about their class, which inevitably is known as “The Best Class Ever” for each.

In addition to gathering to reminisce, Williams said there are also hopes for the program’s three directors over the 30 years to speak and share about the program’s start and growth through the years.

Those three directors include Ellen Corbett, Carol Bruser and Williams.