Franklin County’s Junior Leadership Program helps high school students in Franklin County make decisions about their future careers and goals, but it has also positively impacted adults in the community. Aaron Harbin is one of those adults who has seen the impact the program has on the community, and it even sparked his interest in joining the Chamber of Commerce.

“I’ve worked with the Junior Leaders giving tours with G&G Steel,” Harbin said.

A mechanical engineer with a degree from Auburn University, Harbin is a project manager for Franklin Manufacturing. He is also a Russellville graduate.

Harbin’s first year with the chamber was 2018, and he is starting 2019 as the vice president of the board of directors.

“I’m humbled by the nomination. It’s an honor,” he said. “Everybody does such a good job. I’m excited and nervous.”

He said his experience being on the chamber’s board of directors has expanded his view of the county geographically and his knowledge about its communities.

“I know Russellville, and there are places in Franklin County that I’ve been multiple times,” Harbin said. “But because of the chamber, I’ve been all over the county and have visited new areas and places I didn’t even know about.”

As far as involvement in the county, Harbin said he has learned just how involved the chamber is – even in ways most people don’t know, like everything that goes into the Watermelon Festival and the side projects that are a part of it. The amount of effort the Junior Leaders put into the
county was also news to him.

“It’s great because it gets them involved, and they can experience different aspects and parts of the county and see all that it has to offer,” he said. “Hopefully it makes them more willing to stick around after graduation.”

Being a part of the industrial side of Franklin County, Harbin said he appreciates how the Junior Leader Program ties into the industries in the county through job shadowing and volunteer efforts.

“Franklin County has a lot to offer: good jobs, places to work, good school systems, recreational facilities,” he said, “and we’re in a good, accessible spot to larger cities.”