Click to Watch an Interview with Ronessa Williams

The key to community prosperity is strong local leadership. Unfortunately, often the same set of individuals serves in various leadership roles and, as a result, experiences burnout. Additionally, local citizens who could be potential leaders lack the knowledge on how to engage.
In Ash Grove, MO, Growth in the Rural Ozarks (GRO) leader Ronessa Williams is challenging sustainable leadership head-on. Ronessa Williams is a Real Estate Agent at Keller Williams Greater Springfield and the Modern Homestead Boutique business owner. Williams is deeply invested in the development of Ash Grove and takes on several roles alongside her teammates on the GRO team.
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In February this year, Williams and the team challenged local leadership by starting a local Chamber for the businesses in Ash Grove. Connecting business owners and the community’s efforts to combine resources and build a network of sustainable leaders for Ash Grove to continue its progress. After the first few meetings, the team could have 25 business owners in Ash Grove join and have started having regular meetings.
Williams wishes to use her new Chamber to integrate members into the economic development efforts within Ash Grove and, in return, bring more members to the Ash Grove GRO team.