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LinkedIn: Amanda M. Richardson
 
I started working for the Delta Regional Authority in 2010, with roles in major event coordination, scheduling and public affairs. In August, I was named director of the Delta Leadership Institute, the agency’s annual training and certification experience for leaders in the eight-state Delta Region with more than 300 graduates who make up our Delta Leadership Network. As a Little Rock native, I also find time to stay an active volunteer with City Year Little Rock/North Little Rock, the Little Rock Marathon and the Junior League of Little Rock.

PRESSING QUESTIONS:

Why do you love your career?
I love that I get to work with folks who inspire, engage and amaze me every day. Through DLI, our leaders are committed to finding regional solutions to community challenges, and it’s changing the Delta for good.

What are your goals for the future? 
DLI began a collaborative delivery model this year with universities in Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana. Through this partnership, I believe we can grow DLI into the one-stop-shop for tools and resources to help improve lives in the Delta.

If you weren’t doing this job what would you be doing?
When I am not doing this job, you can usually find me doing something Junior League related. In an alternate universe, though, I’d be able to write full-time for my hypothetical blog, “#TodaysView,” which covers travel, television and current events.

Knowing what you know now, what’s the best advice you could have given yourself when you were first starting out?
Remember: Man plans, God laughs. There’s a decent chance you are going to end up doing something different than you expected, so always pack bug spray, galoshes, an extra change of clothes and a battery pack for your cell phone.

How did you know this is what you wanted to do? 
Love of travel, service and country runs in my family. My work brings all three together. While I can admit it is sometimes exhausting, regularly reflecting on incredible moments reminds my heart that this is the perfect place for me.

PERSONAL FAVORITES:

Restaurant: Anything local, but I tend to rank my favorites based on their cheese dip.
Song: “Angel from Montgomery” by John Prine
Book: A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
Gadget: My under-the-cabinet jar opener built using plywood and metal teeth. Handcrafted and installed by family friends - the most useful housewarming gift ever.
Vacation Destination: I love pretty much any place with a front porch and a cup of coffee, where I can breathe and enjoy the view before the rest of the world wakes up.