Monday, January 14, 2008

Foundation for Women’s Resources (FWR) announces Leadership Texas Class of 2008

100 women selected to explore the “Changing Face of Texas”

By Pegasus News wire

DALLAS — From El Paso to Tyler and Abilene to Brownsville, 100 women will make up the Leadership Texas Class of 2008. Joining an elite network of more than 2,500 leaders, each participant will not only broaden her perspective on Texas; she will also see, hear and experience the realities of her state by visiting five Texas cities and be exposed to cutting-edge information presented by renowned experts, educators, government officials and facilitators.

The theme for Leadership Texas 2008 is “The Changing Face of Texas.” Throughout the program year, participants will develop a greater understanding of the various ways our state is evolving by examining three common themes during each session –education, economy and the environment.

“FWR considers it a privilege to expose diverse and influential women leaders to issues, people and places they might not otherwise experience outside of this program,” says Candace O’Keefe Mathis, CEO, Foundation for Women's Resources. “We recognize that understanding the cultural, social and economic shifts in our state is a necessity for today’s leader, and the programming for Leadership Texas 2008 will provide participants with invaluable information and access to shape, change and impact the future of our evolving state.”

During the year-long program, these dynamic women leaders will visit Austin, Brownsville, Houston, Amarillo, and Dallas.

Speakers for the Austin session include Mary O’Hara Devereaux, author; Scott McCown, Center for Public Policy Priorities; Gretchen Ritter, Center for Women’s and Gender Studies at The University of Texas at Austin; and, Gregory Vincent, The Diversity Institute at The University of Texas at Austin. The class will also visit the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders.

Through the generous contributions of the Leadership Texas Program Partners, the program continues to provide the most up-to-date information on leadership and issues affecting Texas. Program Partners providing financial support for Leadership Texas 2008 are Bell Helicopter Textron, Dell, Southwest Airlines and Texas Instruments.

“Program Partners provide more than just financial support for our program; they participate in the vision of our women leaders building connections for the benefit of Texas,” says Mathis.

Leadership Texas Class of 2008

Christie Adams, Texarkana; Rosemary Aguilar, Plano; Linda Allen, Benbrook; Patricia Alverez, Laredo; Lesli Andrews, Abilene; Glenda Ballard, Texarkana; Jennifer Banda, Austin; Virginia Barajas, Lucas ;Beatriz Becerra, Brownsville; Annette Benging, Converse; LouAnn Berman, Tyler; Gopa Biswas, Dallas; Rhonda Bosquez, Corpus Christi; Anissa Breaux-Schropp, Lake Dallas; Kippy Caraway, Houston; Suzanne Carter, Santa Fe; Lynn Cates, Corpus Christi; Melynda Caudle, Austin; Barrie Cogburn, Austin; Diana Cosgrove, Plano; Victoria Cox, Austin; Fay Crider, Corpus Christi; Mary Crites, Lubbock; Catherine Cuellar, Dallas; Isabel de la Riva, San Antonio; Andrea Dennis, Carrollton; Deborah Dennis, Mesquite; Regina Durden, Round Rock; Michele Durham, San Antonio; Joyce Durst, Austin; Susan Duve, Edinburg; Lynn Eaton, Georgetown; Jan Fernandez, Bryan; Ivon Foster, Helotes; Michele Gagne, Burleson; Traci Gerner, Houston; Patricia Goddard, Austin; Linda Hackleman, Austin; Dorith Hakim, Roanoke; Shana Hamilton, Dallas; Susan Hampton, Bedford; Martha Hinojosa, Richardson; Aileen Hooks, Austin; Lallah Howard, College Station; D’Audrey Hunter, Plano; Terri Jaggers, Montgomery; June Jenkins, Richardson; Keeli Jernigan, El Paso; Shelley Jernigan, Friendswood; Kristina Jones, Abilene; Melinda Jones, Lubbock; Andrea Kelly, League City; Stacey Kelly, Argyle; Katrina Keyes, Dallas; Donna Klaeger, Horseshoe Bay; Kim Klotzman, Lubbock; Barbara Langham, Austin; Teresa Laraba, Richardson; Beatrice Lopez, Brownsville; Lisa Maestas, Allen; Dina McMearn, Austin; Dinah Miller, Dallas; Barbara Mink, Austin; Marsha Nelson, Edinburg; Elizabeth New, Dallas; Njeri Njoroge, Austin; Rosie Olsen, Pearland; Carolyn Ozcan, Irving; Nancy Phillips, Dallas; Brandi Plunkett, Bryan; Margo Posey, Arlington; Laurie Posner, San Antonio; Karen Rascati, Austin; Marie Reid, Burleson; Carrine Reilly, Plano; Julie Robinson , Seabrook; Kelli Rod, Kennedale; Dorinda Rolle, San Antonio; Elissa Sangster, Austin; Suzanne Schwitters, El Paso; Amy Smith, Austin; Wendy Smith, Dallas; Pauline Strong, Austin; Peggy Thomas, Houston; Julie Toler, Richardson; Laura Trenaman, Houston; Vicki Triplett, Corpus Christi; Margaret Valenzuela, El Paso; Jan Van Blarcum, Plano; Jodie Ward, Tyler; Jennifer Ware, Plano; Angela Watkins, Austin; Suzanne West, Cresson; Pamela Wiley, Bryan; Katie Winslade, Friendswood; Deborah Wright, College Station; Ann Yakimovicz, Jonestown

Source: Foundation for Women's Resources

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