Tommy May didn’t do a cartwheel when he delivered the keynote address at Leadership Pine Bluff’s 30th anniversary reunion Thursday night, but if he could have, he would have.
Speaking from his wheelchair on a Pine Bluff Convention Center stage, May — chairman and chief executive officer of Simmons First Corp. — took on the role of a professor in giving his fellow LPB participants a graduate course in opportunities and post-graduate instruction in character. Along the way, he also engaged in a little cheerleading.
Reflecting on LPB’s first three decades of service, May said the program’s mission of “Making a Difference” will forever remain vital.
“Truly, that’s all we can do,” he said. “Leadership Pine Bluff has been a big part of laying the foundation for making positive differences here.”
May insists that progress is possible only with understanding.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“We have to understand the good and the not-so-good,” he said. “We have to understand the importance of networking, not just in coming together, but in actually sharing with each other.”
True networking, May said, is among the best tools for sharpening leadership skills.
May said that while Pine Bluff and Southeast Arkansas aren’t without flaws, there’s more right than wrong about the area, and everyone here can help to enable a brighter future by focusing and building on the good.
“Statistics don’t tell you everything,” he pointed out, noting that the Pine Bluff region can boast of industrial diversification, rare cultural offerings, expanding education programs, outstanding sports teams and unmatched fishing and hunting opportunities.
“We have a great quality of life,” he said. “Our infrastructure is unbelievable, the best in Arkansas. And we have opportunities for improvement.”
May said Pine Bluffians shouldn’t “be afraid if everything’s not perfect” when they “talk up” the city and region. He said the city has a “wonderful history” of accomplishments and producing assorted state and national leaders, but residents too often fall prey to Pine Bluff’s “negative perception.”
“Sometimes we’re our own worst enemies,” he said, suggesting that’s a weakness that strong leadership can overcome.
“True leaders command respect and don’t demand it,” he said. “They’re committed. They listen and collaborate. They’re team builders. They love what they do and maintain proper priorities. And, most importantly, they follow the ‘do-right rule.’”
May summarized his remarks by saying that being a leader isn’t as difficult as some might believe.
“The bottom line of leadership begins and ends with doing the right thing,” he said. “Simply be as good as you can be. Maintain the right attitude with positive thoughts, positive words and positive people.”
And in just a single sentence, he outlined a leader’s level of influence.
“The character of the leader,” said May, “is the destiny of the pack.”