Mary Ann LeRay shares how the Leadership Jones Grassroots Leadership Conference is bringing affordable, impactful leadership training to Jones County
In Episode 27 of The Filling Station Podcast, executive director Mary Ann LeRay shares her excitement about two major milestones for Jones County — the completion of the organization's 2025 annual report and the upcoming Leadership Jones Grassroots Leadership Conference, scheduled for March 19th and 20th.
Mary Ann paints a vivid picture of what makes this conference unlike anything else in the region. For just $50, attendees will have access to what she describes as "thousands of dollars worth of education" — a remarkable investment made possible through partnerships with North Carolina Cooperative Extension, North Carolina A&T, Chick-fil-A, Duke Energy, State Employees Credit Union, and other committed community partners. The conference is designed to bring together grassroots leadership alumni, faith leaders, local government partners, nonprofit professionals, and emerging change makers from across Jones County.
But perhaps the most compelling thread running through this episode is Mary Ann's reminder that the real value isn't in the event itself — it's in the process. Leadership Jones has already surpassed its original goal of 30 graduates, now celebrating more than 50 community leaders who have completed the program. That growth didn't happen by accident. It happened through intentional investment in people and process.
Whether you're a lifelong Jones County resident or someone newly planted here, this episode is an invitation to lean in, show up, and help build something worth leaving behind. As Mary Ann puts it: "It's one thing to build something. It's another thing to prepare it for those who you will never meet."
