Front row, from the left, are: Milligan President Dr. Bill Greer; Pat Hicks, Elizabethton, retired teacher/administrator; Betsy Beaver, Johnson City, community volunteer and Founder of “The River”; and Jeff Keeling, Johnson City, vice president of communications, Appalachian Community Federal Credit Union. Back row, are: Lisa Tipton, Johnson City, executive director, Families Free; Carolyn Kerr, Johnson City, office manager, Outpatient Cytopathology Center; Martha Laws, Johnson City, retired teacher; and Jeff Dykes, Johnson City, CEO, Johnson City Power Board.
Milligan College recognized seven local leaders who have demonstrated servant leadership in their careers and community at the college’s annual Leaders in Christian Service program yesterday on Tuesday during ceremonies in Milligan’s Mary B. Martin Auditorium located in Seeger Chapel.
“The purpose of this program is to provide examples of people who are doing an outstanding job of integrating their faith with their profession,” said Milligan President Dr. Bill Greer. “We see in these individuals wonderful examples of what servant leadership is all about and what it can look like on a daily basis in a variety of professions.”
This year’s keynote speaker was Jeff Dykes, CEO of the Johnson City Power Board.
An Elizabethton native and 1979 Milligan graduate, Dykes has served in this position since January 2013. He has over 25 years in the power industry having worked for Westinghouse at the Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina.
At Veolia in Kansas City, Missouri, Dykes served in numerous operations positions before he was promoted to vice president and general manager of Veolia Kansas City Energy and Veolia Missouri Energy. Dykes later served as general manager of the Elizabethton Electric System, as well as Newport Utilities, before coming to Johnson City.
He has served on various state and federal boards, as well as community organizations, throughout his career. Dykes has made presentations on subjects such as energy, leadership and other topics to community organizations, schools, churches and conferences.
The 2017 Leaders in Christian Service honorees include:
Betsy Beaver, of Johnson City, is a community volunteer and Founder of “The River.” She attends First Presbyterian Church, Johnson City.
Jeff Dykes, of Johnson City, is CEO of the Johnson City Power Board. He attends Southside Christian Church, Elizabethton, Tennessee.
Pat Hicks, of Elizabethton, is a retired teacher/administrator. He attends Southside Christian Church, Elizabethton.
Jeff Keeling, of Johnson City, is vice president of Appalachian Community Federal Credit Union. He attends Grandview Christian Church, Johnson City.
Carolyn Kerr, of Johnson City, serves as office manager of the Outpatient Cytopathology Center. She attends Piney Flats United Methodist Church.
Martha Laws, of Johnson City, is a retired teacher. She attends First Baptist Church, Elizabethton.
Lisa Tipton, of Johnson City, is executive director of Families Free. She attends Christ Fellowship, Kingsport, Tennessee.
