Emerging business and community leaders selected to participate in Leadership Dallas,
the Dallas Region’s premier leadership development program.
DALLAS (August 6, 2018) – The Dallas Regional Chamber today announced the 44th class of Leadership Dallas, the premier leadership development program in the Dallas Region.
Founded in 1975, Leadership Dallas prepares a diverse group of leaders to serve as agents and sustainers of positive change for the quality of life in the Dallas Region. The program serves as a opportunity for individuals who are both acknowledged and aspiring leaders to continue their professional development and further cultivate a demonstrated commitment to the serving the community.
“The Leadership Dallas Class of 2019 was selected based on each individual’s commitment to community and high potential for leadership within their organizations and in the Dallas Region,” said Dale Petroskey, President and CEO of the Dallas Regional Chamber. “It is an honor to welcome this new class, and we at the DRC look forward to continued collaboration as we help make Dallas the best place in America to live, work, and do business.”
During the 10-month educational program, participants develop leadership capabilities as they build strong relationships with fellow classmates and current community leaders. Through lectures, discussion groups, on-site visits, simulations, class projects, and other leadership development activities, participants gain a deeper understanding of the critical issues facing the Dallas Region and are challenged to apply their talents towards addressing these issues in the future.
“Leadership Dallas participants are immersed in the history and current affairs of the Dallas Region to identify the challenges we face as a community,” said Cindy Masters, Director of Leadership Programs for the Dallas Regional Chamber. “It is our hope that each Leadership Dallas graduate will use the knowledge and enhanced leadership skills gained through the program to bring positive change to the Dallas Region.”
Leadership Dallas has more than 2,200 graduates who continue to provide positive change in the region. Many alumni have achieved the top executive role at their current organizations, founded their own businesses, or gone on to a career in public service. Leadership Dallas alumni include former police chiefs, former U.S. Ambassadors, and elected officials at the city, state, and national levels.
The members of the Leadership Dallas Class of 2019 are:
| Name | Company | Title |
| Michelle Reed | Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP | Partner |
| Sara Kite | AT&T | Director of Executive Communications |
| Billy Turner | Axxess | Director of Human Resources |
| Samir Bhavsar | Baker Botts, LLP | Intellectual Property Partner |
| Jaime Walkowiak | Baylor Scott & White Research Institute | COO Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, SVP Baylor Scott & White Health |
| Ben Riemer | Bell Nunnally | Partner |
| Troy Ashby | Benchmark Search | President and Founder |
| Greg MacPherson | Big Thought | Senior Director of Research, Evaluation & Design |
| Bharath Thankavel | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas | Medical Director of Value Based Care |
| Jimmy Tran | CBRE | Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development |
| Jadd Masso | Clark Hill Strasburger | Partner |
| Will Haynes II | Colliers International | Associate |
| Andy Scripps | Communities Foundation of Texas / Educate Texas |
Deputy Director, Strategy |
| Leah Williams | Dala Communications | President & CEO |
| Patrick Dougherty | Dougherty Wealth Management, LLC | President |
| Jayda Batchelder | Education Opens Doors | Founding Executive Director |
| Andrea Carter | Ernst & Young | Partner |
| Elizabeth Sobel Blum | Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas | Senior Advisor of Community Development |
| Jason Freeman | Freeman Law, PLLC | Founding Member |
| Jonathan Hall | Frost Bank | Vice President |
| Maria Gomez | GFF Architects | Principal |
| Matt Shem | Hill & Wilkinson, General Contractors | Vice President |
| Brooks Quinlan | Hope Cottage, Inc. | Chief Executive Officer |
| Chauncey Lane | Husch Blackwell LLP | Partner |
| Molly Lang | J.P. Morgan | Vice President |
| Joanna Singleton | Jackson Spalding | Partner |
| Kyle Masters | JE Dunn Construction | Vice President |
| Brooke Bailey | Junior League of Dallas, Inc. | President-Elect |
| Michael Horne | KIPP Texas Public Schools – Dallas-Fort Worth |
Regional Superintendent |
| Greg McAllister | Littler | Employment Defense Attorney |
| Elliotte’ Dunlap | Microsoft | Senior Partner Solution Sales Executive |
| Jessica Spaniol | Munck Wilson Mandala, LLP | Senior Associate |
| Justin Parscale | Perkins+Will | Associate Principal |
| Amber Scanlan | PNC | Senior Vice President & Director of Client & Community Relations |
| Tisha Vaidya | Presidium | Director, Acquisitions & Development |
| Crystal Wright | PwC | Managing Director |
| LaurieGrace Bouldin | Rethink Results LLC | CEO & Founder |
| Renita Joyce Garrett | Sendero | Senior Manager |
| Angela Zambrano | Sidley Austin LLP | Partner |
| Monica del Rio | Southwest Airlines | Senior Regional Leader, Airport Affairs |
| Heather Bonfield | Talent Suite | Vice President, Client Engagement |
| Rea Foster | Teach For America – Dallas-Fort Worth |
Chief Operating Officer |
| Paul Howell | Texas Capital Bank | Executive Vice President, Head of Corporate and Commercial Banking |
| Ashleigh Kinney | Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children | Director of Patient Experience |
| Gabrielle Madison | Thomson Reuters | Director, Community Relations |
| Ana Meade | Toyota Motor North America | Senior Manager, Social Innovation |
| Damion Pourciau | Turner Construction Company | Project Executive |
| Leandre Johns | Uber Technologies | External Affairs Manager |
| Ashley Brundage | United Way of Metropolitan Dallas | Senior Vice President of Community Impact |
| Cynthia Perez Vadillo | University of North Texas at Dallas | Assistant Director of External Relations and Development |
| Colbey Walker | UT Southwestern Medical Center | Administrator of Emergency Medicine |
| Shan Zaidi | VF Partners | Principal |
| Stephanie Wilcox | WFAA | Director of Community Marketing |
| Lillian Jersa | Willis Towers Watson | Director, Retirement |
| Mirjam Kirk |
For more Leadership Dallas information visit: www.dallaschamber.org/leadership.
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About the Dallas Regional Chamber
The Dallas Regional Chamber is the voice of business and the champion of economic development and growth in the Dallas Region. We work with our 1,200 member companies and regional partners to strengthen our business community by advocating for pro-growth public policies, improving our educational system, attracting talented workers from around the world, and enhancing the quality of life for all. Our goal is to make Dallas the best place in America to live, work, and do business.