Dresden, Tenn.–The Board of Directors of Northwest TN Economic Development Council has recently appointed Mrs. Cheryl Oglesby-Townes as the Executive Director of Northwest Tennessee Economic Development Council located in Dresden. She replaces Don Ridgeway of Paris, who recently retired.
Oglesby-Townes’ appointment to the position of Executive Director is a very historic moment for the Agency as she is the 2nd female appointed to serve in this position and the first African American female to serve in the position.
Northwest TN Economic Development Council is the local Community Action Agency in Northwest Tennessee serving the counties of Benton, Carroll, Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Henry, Lake, Obion and Weakley Counties. The Agency provides services to children and families in the northwest service area through the programs of CSBG (Community Services Block Grant), LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program), TEFAP (Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program) and the Head Start/Early Head Start Program. The Head Start/Early Head Start Program provides services in the 8 counties of Benton, Carroll, Gibson, Henry, Lake, Obion, Madison and Weakley.
Cheryl Oglesby-Townes has served as a 30-year employee of Northwest TN Economic Development Council and has previously served in various roles with the Agency, and most recently the role of Human Resource Administrator.
Oglesby-Townes is a 1988 graduate of McKenzie High School and received her Bachelor’s degree in Management and Organizational Development from Bethel University. She also received her certification from SEACAA (Southeastern Association of Community Action Agencies) as a Certified Community Action Manager in August 2002. She is a former Head Start parent and Early Head Start and Head Start grandparent. Ms. Oglesby-Townes resides in McKenzie, TN and she is married to Jessie Townes, Sr. Vice Mayor for City of McKenzie and mother to Breonna Oglesby. She has two bonus children, Jessie, Jr. and Samantha and five grandchildren.
For more information regarding Northwest TN Economic Development Council, you can go to the website at www.nwcommunityaction.org.