Leadership Rockwall alumni celebrate reunion, class of ’17 graduation

(ROCKWALL, TX — May 25, 2017) Leadership Rockwall celebrated its 20-year anniversary with a class reunion event held at the San Jacinto Plaza on the Downtown Square on Wednesday, May 17. The event saw Leadership Rockwall alumni come together to witness the graduation of the class of 2017 and the presentation of their class project — the Texas Health Rockwall Technology Lab for the Boys & Girls Club.

Leadership Rockwall Class of 2017 member Jason Linscott, who works as the CFO for Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall, spoke on how the class chose the $89,000 technology lab for the BGC as its project.

“We realized that as our industry in commerce grows, technology is required for just about any position we have,” Linscott said. “The Boys & Girls Club was limited in that capacity to what they could provide the children there. So we set out to help our industry and commerce grow in the future. As a hospital participant and the naming sponsor for the project, we realized this was important not only for the hospital, but also for healthcare, surgery for doctors, and for every industry in the county. We know that those children needed the investment to drive technology and drive career paths for them.”

Alumni of Leadership Rockwall were invited to speak on their experiences as participants in the program, including Rockwall Economic Development President / CEO Sheri Franza (class of 2007) and Rockwall County Court at Law Judge Brian Williams (class of 2008).

Franza said she and her classmates ended up forming a lasting bond after starting out just as all Leadership class members do — as total strangers together in the same room.

“We were meeting a lot of people we had never met before and never had any idea that they would become some of our best, lifelong friends. It was just amazing, and I think everybody can relate to that,” Franza said.

Williams said the program broadens participants’ knowledge of their local government and how it operates.

“The great part about this program is when you come out on the other side, you’ll have a full understanding of how things actually work in our local government. If you watch the news all the time and complain about how things work in the government, you’ll get the inside scoop when you go through this program. A lot of people don’t know what the county does, until you come meet the county officials. I want to encourage anyone who hasn’t gone through this program to take a chance. It is very rewarding and you’ll make friends that’ll become your closest friends,” Williams said.

Other highlights of the event include Cheryl Dunlop receiving the Leadership Rockwall Alumni of the Year Award, and Rockwall County Judge David Sweet reading out a proclamation recognizing May 17, 2017 as Leadership Rockwall Day.

In 1997, Cheryl Dunlop and Dennis Bailey created the Leadership Rockwall program to serve as the training grounds for future leaders in Rockwall. Operating as an arm of the Rockwall Chamber of Commerce, the program seeks to empower its participants with a comprehensive understanding of the Rockwall community’s challenges and opportunities, providing a broader knowledge of the community and their role as community trustees.

Rockwall County Commissioner Dennis Bailey said when Leadership Rockwall was formed, the goal of the program wasn’t to teach participants how to be a leader.

“What we’re trying to do with Leadership Rockwall is take leaders within the community and expose you to Rockwall leadership — opportunities to visit with leaders in our city governments and civic organizations throughout the county. We know that it takes a broad number of folks from professional and civic organizations who can come together and give their time to help in the development of our city. We become stronger when we have each of you as identified leaders working together in our community,” Bailey said.

Congrats to the Leadership Rockwall Class of 2017:

Class Advisor
Ashlei Neill, Rockwall ISD Education Foundation

Class Co-Advisors
George Warner, President Summit Rockwall Wealth Management
Shannon Estrada, Law Offices of Estrada & Estrada

Graduates
Bill Hair, My Computer Guy
Brandon Morris, S.W. Kia Rockwall
Brian Car, Baylor Scott & White
Byron Bryant, Rockwall ISD
Caraleigh Buxie, Lakeside Surgery / THR Rockwall
Chris Bailey, GMR Protection Resources, Inc.
David Valliant, Rockwall Police Department
Greg Bray, Senator Bob Hall’s Office
Heather Nichols, The Biz Fizz, LLC
Jason A. Linscott, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Rockwall
Jenny Krueger, Boys & Girls Club
Lara Bracamonte, Bracamonte Law, PLLC
Lauri Dodd, City of Rockwall
Lindsay Mitchell, Ebby Halliday
Logan Lance, American National Bank
Melanie Jensen, Rockwall County
Michelle Zook, Congressman John Ratcliffe’s Office
Tom Chandler, self employed