Class XLIII
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
Presenting Sponsor:
Contact: Rachel Ligon
rligon@wacochamber.com | 210-618-7667 mobile | 254-757-5613 office
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
Cohort XLIII 2026-2027 CALENDAR
August 6, 2026 Reception
August 25, 2026 Mandatory Orientation Retreat
September 22, 2026 - Economic Development Day
October 27, 2026 - History Day
November 10, 2026 - Regional Services Day
December 8, 2026 - Leadership Development & Team Building
January 26, 2027 - Nonprofit Day
February 23, 2027 - Education Day
March 30, 2027 Healthcare Day
April 27, 2027 - Tourism Day
May 11, 2027 - Future Outlook Day
June 8, 2027 - Government Day
June 22, 2027 Graduation
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. This is an important part of each class day. Some of the greatest value of your Leadership Waco experience will come from these conversations as you process what you’ve experienced, hear different perspectives, and build relationships with your classmates.
In your assigned group of three ("triad" or "trouple"), you will discuss your perspectives on each day's presentations and answer the specific questions for that day. Spend 20 minutes on this conversation. Afterwards, we'll regroup, and each triad will have the opportunity to share their insights with everyone.
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.
Attendance is taken by the receipt of your survey each class day. If you don't complete the survey, I don't have evidence you were in class.
XLIII's Leadership Library
Please share with the class any resources (books, podcasts, blogs, Ted Talks) that you have found helpful.
Use THIS LINK to contribute to our online curated library.
Books
Finish by Jon Acuff (Rachel recommends the audio version)
Video Book Summary
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Revisited & Reinterpreted for 2026)
ACTIVITIES BEYOND CLASS DAYS:
Civic Learning
Leadership Beyond Class Days
Leadership Waco extends beyond our monthly class days. Some of the most meaningful learning happens when you intentionally engage with Greater Waco on your own.
Throughout the program, complete one experience from each of the three sections. Each experience is designed to broaden your understanding of our community and help you become a more informed, connected, and activated leader, and to encourage you to engage with Greater Waco beyond Leadership Waco's monthly class days.
Upload a selfie, admission ticket, event program, or meeting agenda to verify completion HERE.
Section I - Civic Leadership Event - choose one of these experiences that you have not done before
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, Lorena, China Spring, Robinson, etc.)
Cultural Exposure
Section 2 - Cultural Experience
Experience a Greater Waco cultural attraction, performance, or historical site that is new to you.
- Art Center Waco
- Armstrong Browning Library and Museum
- Baylor Theater
- Creative Waco event
- Dr Pepper Museum
- Historic Waco tour or event
- Keep Waco Beautiful event
- Martin Museum of Art | Baylor University
- Mayborn Museum
- Performing Arts Center
- Texas Music Cafe event
- Texas Ranger Museum
- Texas Sports Hall of Fame
- Waco Civic Theater
- Waco Mammoth National Monument
- Waco Symphony
- Washington Gallery
Document your experience HERE.
Community Exploration
Section 3 - Community Exploration
One of the best ways to understand Greater Waco is simply to experience more of it.
Choose an activity that introduces you to a place, event, or experience that is new to you. The goal isn't to check off another assignment—it's to become more curious about the community you're called to lead.
Ideas include:
- Visit a park you've never explored.
- Spend time at Lake Waco.
- Visit Camp Fimfo, Waco Surf, or Hawaiian Falls.
- Hike/bike Cameron Park.
- Kayak the Bosque or Brazos Rivers.
- Explore a neighborhood you've never visited.
- Attend a neighborhood festival.
- Attend a heritage or cultural celebration (African American, Asian, Hispanic)
- Visit the Cameron Park Zoo.
- Visit the Downtown Farmers Market.
- Attend a community lecture or panel discussion (these could be at Baylor, MCC, a local bookstore, etc.)
- Attend a local author talk or book event.
- Explore a local business district you've never visited.
- Participate in or attend a Greater Waco Sports event.
- Discover a restaurant outside your usual routine.
- Spend a night in a local hotel (there are lots of new ones downtown!).
- Attend another community event that broadens your understanding of Greater Waco.
Like the other activities, please document your exploration HERE.
Class Service Project
Class Service Project
Leadership Waco is designed to develop leaders who actively invest in Waco.
Beginning with Class XLIII, each class will complete a hands-on service project rather than a fundraising project. We believe one of the best ways to develop activated community leaders is by serving together.
Potential projects may include:
- Keep Waco Beautiful event
- Playground or neighborhood park clean-up
- Tree planting project
- Serve at a non-profit's special event (Special Olympics, etc.)
- Waco Cultural Arts Festival
- Greater Waco Chamber event: TriWaco Triathlon or The Texas Food Truck Showdown
The class will select 2–3 Service Project Coordinators to research opportunities, present recommendations, and coordinate the project. The class will vote to select the final project.
This experience is intended to be hands-on service, not fundraising.
The project must be completed by the final class day on June 8.
Class Roster
August - Opening Retreat
Learning Objectives:
To establish the relationships, expectations, and learning habits that will enable participants to get the greatest possible value from every Leadership Waco experience throughout the year.
Please fill out today's survey. This is how attendance is taken.
Agenda
Opening Retreat - Waco Surf
Today’s Dress Code: Cool/Casual/Comfortable
We will be in an air-conditioned room for most of the day, fyi. Shorts are acceptable.
You will have an opportunity to enjoy Waco Surf's water facilities after class. So, pack a swimsuit if you can stay after!
8:15 Gather at Waco Surf
5347 Old Mexia Rd, Waco, TX 76705
Breakfast will be served
8:30 Welcome and Perspective
Phillip Shero, President, Masterminds Leadership, LW Class XLII
8:45 Class XLIII Introductions
9:45 Break
10:00 Program Overview & Perspective
Rachel Ligon, Director of Leadership Development, Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce
10:45 Get to Know Your Classmates
11:45 Tour Waco Surf
12:15 Lunch + Welcome
Lindsey Skinner, Partner, Pattillo, Brown & Hill, LW Presenting Sponsor, LW Class XXX
1:15 Leadership Conversations Part 1
Greg Ligon, Founder, Leading Stronger
2:00 Coffee Break + Meet a LW Alum
Mark Sauer, Owner, Bitty & Beau's Coffee, LW Class XXXIX
2:20 Leadership Conversations Part 2
3:20 Team Building
Tanner Ligon, Groups Expert
4:00 Daily Debrief + Survey
4:30 Adjourn
Daily Debrief
August Triads:
| Group 1 |
| Josh Carney |
| Roberto Zapata |
| Cliff Rusek |
| Group 2 |
| Ace Wigley |
| Carson Bell |
| Abigail Umhoefer |
| Group 3 |
| Jenna Lee Mayfield |
| Ashley Morphew |
| Kelsie Johnson |
| Group 4 |
| Kathy Bart |
| Riley Choquette |
| Mark McCown |
| Group 5 |
| Laura Wichman |
| Mackenzie Olvera |
| Erin Montgomery |
| Group 6 |
| Nathali Cooper |
| Candace Perkins |
| Jeff Aguirre |
| Group 7 |
| Rhett Williams |
| Samuel Barron |
| Ignacio Vazquez |
| Group 8 |
| Grant Jones |
| Griffin Peevey |
| Christy Payne |
| Group 9 |
| Chelsea Bergren |
| Sarah McDonald |
| Katlyn Smith |
| Group 10 |
| Mary Beth Kauk |
| Jon Mark Buckner |
| Dennis Polian |
| Gil Salinas |
| Group 11 |
| Tiffany Marek |
| David Sheffield |
| Isabel Lozano |
| Group 12 |
| Keri Hughitt |
| Caelie Terrazas |
| Ashlee Knutson |
Additional Links & Resources
Podcast:
The Waco Experience (about Waco Surf)
Websites:
Builders – Practical resources for leading across differences and building trust in communities.
7 Ways to Disagree With Someone You Love (Without Torching the Relationship) - Builders
Braver Angels – Workshops and tools for constructive conversations across political divides.
National Civic League – Research and examples of effective civic leadership.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
