Class XLI
2024-2025
Presenting Sponsor:
Contact: Rachel Ligon | rligon@wacochamber.com | 210-618-7667 mobile | 254-757-5613 office
We want to see your pictures! If you post throughout the class, make sure you tag us and use #LeadershipWaco.
LinkedIn: @LeadershipWaco | Facebook: @LeadershipWaco | Instagram: @GWCLeadershipWaco
About the Program
Leadership Waco benefits Greater Waco by developing informed, connected and activated community leaders.
Purpose & Objectives
PURPOSE
Leadership Waco, a Greater Waco Chamber program, is designed to educate, empower and engage current and emerging leaders to make a difference in our community and prepare them for future leadership roles.
Participants will observe our community's realities, opportunities, and challenges. Each class day, participants will be provided opportunities to discuss what they learned with classmates with the hope that each day's content will be personally impactful.
Each class day will feature lectures, panel discussions, dialogue among speakers, on-site visits, and participant interaction with session leaders.
OBJECTIVES
Leadership Waco is an educational program with the following objectives:
- Educate participants about Greater Waco’s history, government, economy, social issues, challenges, and opportunities.
- Motivate participants to critically evaluate and work to improve, if necessary, current and future community processes.
- Facilitate connections and dialogue among participants, presenters, and community stakeholders.
- Encourage participants to actively engage in future activities that contribute to Greater Waco's growth.
Class Calendar
Class XLI 2024-2025 CALENDAR
Aug. 13th Retreat
Sept. 17th Regional Services Day
Oct. 15th History Day
Nov. 19th Economic Development Day
Sponsored by Extraco Banks
Dec. 17th Nonprofit Day
Jan. 14th Education Day
Sponsored by Baylor University
Feb. 18th Leadership Development Day
Mar. 18th Healthcare Day
Apr. 22nd Tourism Day
Sponsored by Carpenter & Croft, PLLC
May 20th Visions for the Future Day
June 17th Government Day
June 24th Graduation Luncheon
Daily Debrief
The debrief portion of the class aims to help participants reflect on how their Leadership Waco experience can enhance their community involvement and professional growth.
In your assigned group of three ("triad"), use the provided metaphors to discuss today's experiences. Spend 20 minutes on this conversation. Afterwards, we'll regroup, and each triad will have the opportunity to share their insights with everyone.
Required Activities
Required Activities
Leadership Waco participants are required to complete two outside activities from the list provided below. Select one experience from Section I and one from Section 2.
Upload a photo of the agenda or a selfie at the event HERE.
Section I - Civic Leadership Event
Waco City Council meets on the 1st & 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. in the Bosque Theater at the Waco Convention Center. Agendas are posted on the City website 72 hours prior to the meeting on their website.
Planning & Zoning meet the 4th Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. in the Bosque Theater at the Waco Convention Center.
County Commissioners Court meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. in the Commissioners Court on the 1st floor of the McLennan County Court House. Agendas are posted on their website the Thursday afternoon prior to the meeting.
Waco ISD School Board Meetings are held on the 4th Thursday each month at 7 p.m. at the Waco ISD Administration Building Downtown. Call Waco ISD to confirm meeting schedule at 755-9473.
Any McLennan County school board meeting qualifies for this requirement. (Midway, La Vega, China Spring, Robinson, etc.)
Section 2 - Cultural Experience - choose one of these experiences that you have not done before
- Waco Civic Theater
- Waco Symphony
- Baylor Theater
- Martin Museum of Art | Baylor University
- Cultivate7Twelve Exhibit or Event
- Creative Waco event
- Waco Tours
- Texas Ranger Museum
- Mayborn Museum
- Dr Pepper Museum
- Waco Mammoth National Monument
- Texas Sports Hall of Fame
- Waco Independent Film Festival
- Art Center Waco AND Washington Gallery
Class Project
Class Project
Your Leadership Waco class is responsible for working together to complete a class project that benefits Waco.
Class projects could include:
- Neighborhood cleanup
- Playground Improvement at a neighborhood park or nonprofit such as Family Abuse, Talitha Koum
- Work collectively with the City Manager or Mayor on a common project
- Tree planting
- Serve at a non-profit's special event
- Special Olympics
- Waco Cultural Arts Festival
- Pick an organization (Mission Waco, Methodist Home) and fundraise for computer lab, playground, painting, repairs
The possibilities are endless. A family-friendly project that involves the entire family is encouraged.
We suggest choosing a class leader to help organize the group and the project.
A plan of work for the project must be completed and turned into Rachel by the January 14th class and the project must be completed by the last class day, June 17th.
Attendance Policy
Attendance Policy
Leadership Waco consists of eleven full class days, August through June.
Participants are allowed only two absences.
Arriving to class 2 hours late or leaving 2 hours early constitutes a full day's absence.
Absent from class for more than 30 minutes constitutes a half day, unless prior approval has been given from the Leadership Waco Director.
Class Roster
November - Economic Development Day
Learning Objectives:
- Exposure to broader economy (where Wacoans work)
- Understand the definition of ED (primary sector job growth)
- Understand the plan & strategy for the ED of the community
(infrastructure, housing, workforce, etc.) - Understand who does what for business recruitment and Waco's strategic edge
Agenda and Dress Code
Daily Debrief
November Triads:
- Chrissy Brault, Ramon Vigil, Raven Peavy
- Mark A. Ard, Sr., Austin Linebaugh, Haley O'Brien
- Jacob Bradshaw, Jacob Hogan, Catia Sykora
- Krista Rosas, David G. Henry, Sr., Jake Dickson
- Chet Beene, Lorena Palacios, Danny Chavez
- Brandal McCormack, Rick Bradley, Abbie Ramirez
- April Rosier, Lauren Montgomery, Cody Spillers
- Megan Washington, Brian Sullivan, Jean Wright
- Jovan Overshown, Blu Kostelich, Jacky Chandler
- Kelly Contella, Lindsay Meadors Waite, Dominic Braus
- Kimberly Bobbitt, Craig Schwartinsky, Diego Loredo
- Becky Odajima, Michelle Cornelissens, Corey Hancock
- Terra Tipton, Aryn Bolton, Glenn Coward
Presentations
Additional Links & Resources
Attendance Policy
Leadership Waco consists of 11 full class days, August through June.
Additional Required Activities
Class Project
October - History Day
Learning Objectives:
-gain a perspective from our history that will inform our future
-gain an awareness of your surroundings
-appreciate all of Waco's history: the good, bad, and ugly
Agenda and Dress Code
October 15, 2024
History Day - Sponsored by M. Lipsitz
Prior to class, please download the Waco History app to your phone. We will be utilizing it throughout the day.
Dress Code: Casual; ready to walk
We will be doing a lot of walking outside. Please dress for the weather (shorts are permissible; the high is forecasted to be 100 degrees!) and definitely wear shoes built for walking.
Bring a refillable water bottle and your LW journal and a pen. Since we'll be walking, consider a backpack for these items (instead of a heavy purse, ladies). We will only be on the bus for half of the day. So, you won't be able to leave your items on the bus during the latter part of the day.
Please wear your lanyard with your nametag.
7:50 - Meet at the Chamber in the Cooper Room. We will depart right at 8:00. Please be on time.
8:00 - Depart the Chamber
8:10 - Breakfast at the Mayborn Museum
8:30 - The Politics of Rocks - Dr. Joe Yelderman
9:10 - Waco History App - Dr. Stephen Sloan
9:40 - Travel to East Side tour
9:50 - Historical Walking Tour - East Side of the River - Adrienne Cain
10:50 - Travel to Oakwood Cemetery
11:00 - Tour Oakwood Cemetery - Clint Lynch
11:45 - Travel to Alico Building
12:00 - Lunch at the Alico - Presentation my Mary Lou Castillo of Casa de Castillo and Alico Team
1:30 - 1953 Tornado Presentation - Harry Harelik
2:00 - Walking Tour of West Side of the River / Waco's Downtown - Mark Firmin, JD & Bobby Horner
3:10 - Dr Pepper Hour at Cultivate 7Tweleve / Undercroft - Emily Embry
4:15 - Daily Debrief & Survey (see tab for triad assignments)
4:50 - Walk to Chamber
5:00 - Dismiss
Daily Debrief
October Triads:
- Chrissy Brault, Jacob Hogan, Jake Dickson
- Becky Odajima, Austin Linebaugh, Haley O'Brien
- Brandal McCormack, Ramon Vigil, Aryn Bolton
- Kelly Contella, Blu Kostelich, Catia Sykora
- Kimberly Bobbitt, Mark Ard, Brian Sullivan
- Jacob Bradshaw, Megan Washington, Diego Loredo
- David Henry, Dominic Braus, Rick Bradley
- Jovan Overshown, Corey Hancock, Glenn Coward
- Terra Tipton, Craig Schwartinsky, Abbie Ramirez
- Lauren Montgomery, Raven Peavy, Jean Wright
- Chet Beene, Jacky Chandler
- Michelle Cornelissens, Cody Spillers
Presentations
Additional Links & Resources
If you'd like to continue learning about Waco history, check these out:
Home Texas Ranger Hall OF Fame
Dr Pepper Hour | Student Activities | Baylor University
City of Waco Presented with the 2018-2019 Baylor Founders Medal
September: Regional Services Day
Learning Objectives:
Gain understanding of the intricate web of services that support life in greater Waco.
Agenda and Dress Code
September 17, 2024
Regional Services Day
Dress code: Casual/Comfortable
Jeans are acceptable; tennis shoes are recommended.
In order to enter the jail ladies must wear pants or skirts that cover the knees and no bare shoulders.
Please no shorts today.
8:00 Meet at the Emergency Operations Center at 721 N. 4th St.
Breakfast will be served.
We’ll leave our cars here. Rest of the day, we’ll travel by city bus.
8:15 Travel to City of Waco DAF Water Treatment Plant
8:30 Tour DAF and Mount Carmel Water Treatment Facilities
10:30 Travel to Waco Transit – 1717 Austin Ave.
10:45 Presentation & Tour Waco Transit
11:30 Travel to Fire Station #6
11:45 Tour Fire Station and Presentation: Chief Bergerson
12:45 Travel back to EOC - 721 N. 4th St
1:00 Lunch
1:15 EOC Presentation (Ryan Dirker or Tim Jeske)
Neighborhood Presentation (Melett Harrison)
City of Waco PD (Chief Victorian)
2:20 Travel to Hwy 6 Jail - 3201 E. State Highway 6, Waco, TX 76705
2:40 Tour Bomb Squad/SWAT
3:10 Tour Jail
3:55 Travel back to EOC
4:15 Restroom & Coffee Break
4:25 Daily Debrief in Triads
5:00 Dismiss
Daily Debrief
September Triads:
Ramon, Brian, Rick
Catia Lorena, Chet
Jovan, Austin, Dominic
Jacky, Craig, Lindsay
Cody, Raven, Brandal
Diego, Terra, Abbie
Blu, Haley, Glenn
Jean, Krista, Jacob H.
Megan, Lauren, Corey
Jake, Kelly, Chrissy
Michelle, Aryn, Kimberly
Jacob B., April, Becky
Presentations
August - Orientation Retreat
Learning Objectives:
- begin building trust-based relationships among classmates
- learn what to expect of Leadership Waco
- learn what Leadership Waco expects of you
Agenda
Retreat - Eastland Lakes
Today’s Dress Code: Cool/Casual/Comfortable
*closed-toe shoes required* (Crocs don’t count)
We’ll be outside in the morning, so shorts are encouraged.
Bring a refillable water bottle and sunscreen.
8:00 a.m. Gather Baylor University Challenge Course
406 Eastland Lake Dr, Waco, TX 76706
Breakfast will be served
8:15 a.m. Class XLI Introductions
Rachel Ligon, Director of Leadership Development, Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce
9:00 a.m. Team Building & Ropes Course
Baylor University Challenge Course Staff
12:15 p.m. Lunch + Welcome
Pattillo, Brown & Hill, LW Presenting Sponsor
Matt Meador, President, and Kris Collins, Senior Vice President, Waco Chamber
1:15 p.m. Improving Communication Skills Using Emotional Intelligence Training
Chip Wilson, CEO, 360 Solutions
3:15 p.m. Break
3:30 p.m. Leadership Waco Overview
4:15 p.m. Daily Debrief + Survey
5:00 p.m. Adjourn
Presentations
Daily Debrief
August Triads:
Mark, Chet, Kimberly
Aryn, Rick, Jacob B.
Chrissy, Dominic, Jacky
Danny, Kelly, Michelle
Glenn, Jake, Corey
David, Jacob H., Blu
Austin, Diego, Brandal
Lindsay, Lauren, Haley
Jovan, Lorena, Rachel L.
Raven, Abbie, Krista
April, Craig, Cody
Brian, Catia, Terra
Ramon, Megan, Jean
Additional Links & Resources
The curriculum committee cannot include everything they would like for you to experience in one class day. This tab will contain some opportunities for further learning.
-other tour ideas that you could arrange for yourself
-links to blogs, videos, books or other resources related to each day's topic
If you have suggested resources to share with the class, send them to rligon@wacochamber.com and they will be added to this tab as well.