By Amy Ramos, Managing Director, Communications
The Dallas Regional Chamber is proud to announce the 38th class of Leadership Dallas, the regions premier leadership development program.
“We are pleased to announce the 54 individuals who have been selected to join the Leadership Dallas class of 2013,” said Jim Oberwetter, president and CEO of the Dallas Regional Chamber. “Each of the individuals joining the class have demonstrated a strong dedication to supporting the communities where they live and work, and a wide range of businesses, industries and experiences are represented. This diversity will help to provide a unique set of ideals and viewpoints to explore as the class develops a deeper understanding of the issues impacting our region and grows as leaders. We are excited about the impact these leaders will have in the future.”
Each year up to 55 individuals are selected to participate in the ten-month educational program designed to enable participants to develop their leadership capabilities while building strong relationships with fellow classmates.
“During the year, class participants develop a true understanding of the challenges our region faces, and many become passionate about certain issues,” said Shannon Nail, vice president of Member Engagement for the Dallas Regional Chamber. “Our hope is that once participants have graduated from the program, they are able to take the leadership capabilities they’ve honed throughout the Leadership Dallas process and combine it with the regional knowledge they’ve acquired to solidify and enhance their position as community leaders.”
In 36 years, Leadership Dallas has graduated more than 1,800 men and women who continue to provide leadership in the region. Among them, nearly 250 Alums have achieved the top executive role at their current organization, 32 have founded their own business, two are former police chiefs, two are former U.S. Ambassadors, one is a former U.S. Attorney and nine are currently serving as elected officials at the city, state or national level.
“Leadership Dallas Alumni are a distinguished group of individuals who are passionate about making a positive impact in Dallas,” said Alan Wood, member of Leadership Dallas class of 2008, current chair of the Leadership Dallas Alumni Association Board of Directors and a Senior Vice President with Jones Lang LaSalle. “It is always exciting to welcome a new class, and we look forward to working with them as we each strive to make Dallas the best place to live and work in the nation.”
The 53 members of the 38th class of Leadership Dallas are:
| Name | Company |
| Jamil Alibhai | Munck, Wilson, Mandala, LLP |
| John Ansbach | Mothers Against Drunk Driving |
| Sandra Beach Lin | Community leader |
| Thad Behrens | Haynes and Boone, LLP |
| Vanessa Benavides | Tenet Healthcare Corporation |
| Nicole Blythe | Grant Thornton LLP |
| Mike Birrer | Carrington Coleman |
| Kyle Cardwell | Swingle Collins and Associates |
| Mary Cochran | Ernst & Young LLP |
| Todd Cornelius | Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. |
| Carol Donovan | Carol Crabtree Donovan, PC |
| Stephanie Fox | Communities Foundation of Texas |
| Michael Goldman | Guida, Slavich & Flores, P.C. |
| Ashley Givens | Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children |
| Forrest Gregg | Allie Beth Allman and Associates |
| Jamie Griffin | Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers |
| Teri Harper | Texas Instruments |
| Jason Hammons | Bank of Texas |
| Kenneth Hirsch | Western Reserve Partners LLC |
| Sara Hollan | Jackson Walker L.L.P. |
| Marissa Horne | American Airlines |
| Kirk Johnson | Corgan Associates |
| Laura Johnson | Kerwin Testing & Therapy Group/Junior League of Dallas |
| Scotty Landry | Make-A-Wish North Texas |
| Andy Leatherman | Jones Lang LaSalle |
| Sara Madsen Miller | 1820 Productions |
| Alissa Martine | TechWhirl |
| Jay McAuley | Texas Health Resources |
| Casey Miller | Imaginuity Interactive |
| Jerry Miller | PwC |
| Eleanor Millwood | Citibank, N.A. |
| Matthew Neyland | Thin Centers MD, LLC |
| Rick Ortiz | Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce |
| Avalyn Pace | IBM |
| Jeffrey Parkhill | Parkhill Development Corp |
| Catherine Pena | Accion Texas |
| Hattie Peterson | Halff Associates, Inc. |
| Ana Rodriguez | UNT Dallas |
| Benaye Rogers | CONTACT Crisis Line |
| Jennifer Ryan | Atmos Energy Corporation |
| Byron Sanders | Group Excellence |
| Travis Sartain | MHBT |
| Troy Schiermeyer | Merrill Lynch |
| Peter Sefzik | Comerica Bank |
| Scott Siemer | Methodist Health System |
| Craig Simon | Jones Day |
| Sanderia Smith | Aired Consultants/Texan Can Academies |
| Andrew Spaniol | Bryan Cave LLP |
| Edward Spooner | Turner Construction Company |
| Anita Tarar | Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. |
| Brian Vanderwoude | Winstead PC |
| Nancy Wolff | American Heart Association |
| James Wright | The University of Texas at Dallas |
| Vickie Yakunin | Time Warner Cable |
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