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2024 – A RECORD-BREAKING YEAR!

What a year for equipping leaders to enrich our community!

• Core Program Class 38 is the largest class ever accepted at 40 participants

• LT Alumni Association had the largest engagement yet at 297 paid members

• Catalyst 100 engaged 97 community leaders to look forward to the next 100 years for our community

• East Texas Giving Day donors hit a record high of 107 unique gifts

• Dedicated LT Sponsors continue to support the work we do

• LT offered more opportunities for our alumni to engage through social events, service opportunities, and continued learning opportunities

We’re excited for another incredible year in 2025! What are you most looking forward to? We want to hear from you about your goals and milestones. Click the URL: https://form.jotform. com/250344235673152 and take a couple of minutes to tell us about your goals and aspirations for the new year. We look forward to cheering you on and helping if possible. Here’s to you in 2025!

LETTER FROM CHAIR

Leadership Tyler exists to equip leaders to enhance the community and is highly proficient at doing that very thing. That said, it comes easy. It comes easy because Leadership Tyler is nothing more than a group of like-minded people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives coming together to add value to our community.

If you’re considering a Leadership Tyler program, I can confidently say you won’t regret it. My wife, Emily, and I moved to Tyler in 2016 not knowing anyone. We were busy with work, and I was hesitant to spend nine workdays in the Leadership Tyler Core Program but decided to apply and see. The investment of these nine workdays and the many hours since spent at alumni functions and serving on the LT board have produced exponential returns both in value and in fulfillment. Still unsure? Connect with any of our 1,200+ alumni, and you’ll hear firsthand how LT has positively impacted their personal and professional lives.

I’ll leave you with two quotes from people far smarter and more eloquent than myself.

“What human beings can do is absolutely amazing. What they usually do is disappointing.” – Steve Jobs

“Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.”

– John Wooden

Let’s do something absolutely amazing and become the best we are capable of becoming! LT is here to help and grateful to play its ever-increasing important role in this wonderful community. Here’s to the many great years ahead!

Thomas Neuhoff - Class 33

Class Representative Meeting

Leadership Tyler Christmas Party

Having a great time at the Leadership Tyler Christmas Party

Leadership Tyler Happy Hours are a great time to reconnect!

PROGRAM UPDATES

C SAVE THE DATE C

Focus Group with Carleen Dark Thurs., Feb. 6

Coffee Downtown at Crema Fri., Feb. 7, 8-9 a.m., First Friday

Night at UT Tyler

Thurs., Feb. 13, 7 p.m., LT Alumni

Wednesday Happy Hour at Stanley’s

Wed., Feb. 19, 4-6 p.m.

The EQ Impact Training presented by Dawn Burkett at UT Alumni House

Fri., Feb. 21, 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Networking Event at Republic Icehouse 3:30 p.m.

Coffee Downtown at Crema Fri., Mar. 7, 8-9 a.m., First Friday

Wednesday Happy Hour at Stanley’s Wed., Mar. 19, 4-6 p.m.

South Tyler Happy Hour at Bubba’s 33 Thurs., Apr. 10, 5-7 p.m.

Donna Span - Hostess

AI training by Reece Anderson in the Flourish Training Room

Wed., June 18, 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Networking Event at Stanley’s 4-6 p.m.

October, 2025, Third 2025 training TBA

Ongoing get-together/ networking events… First Friday Coffee

Third Wednesday Happy Hours

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR OUR CORE PROGRAM INFORMATION SESSIONS

Information Sessions for the Core Program are coming your way!

All sessions will be held in the Genecov Room at the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce Building (315 N. Broadway). Mark your calendar and plan to attend one to find out more about this amazing experience.

• Wednesday, February 26th, 12 pm

• Monday, March 3rd, 7:30 am

• Thursday, March 6th, 5 pm

Core Program applications open April 1st and close May 31st. Don’t wait to apply! All applicants will have an interview as well. Interviews will take place the first two weeks in June.

CATALYST 100

Catalyst 100 has had an exciting year of programming as our group looks ahead to be sure our community is ready for the future. In our first session we explored youth mental health and its correlation to social media. Our guest speaker, Brooke Shannon, Executive Director of the Wait Until 8th Foundation, shared valuable research and insights on supporting children and teens in their journey to becoming healthy adults.

Our second session featured the “father of aerobics” Dr. Kenneth Cooper. Dr. Cooper shared results of his research into the correlation between healthy eating, an active lifestyle, and longevity. He encouraged us all to “get Cooperized” by incorporating these and other practices into our lives.

The next session will focus on Cybersecurity. We will hear from experts about how to keep our data (both personal and business) safe and how to prevent fraud.

EXECUTIVE ORIENTATION SERIES

We’re thrilled to welcome these new executives to the Tyler community.

Erin Blair, Chief Operating Officer, UT Health North Campus

Luanne Carr, Chief People Officer, Clements Fluid

Jaclynn Harrison, NETX-NLA Regional Chief Financial Officer

Dr. Jennifer R. Honda, PhD Inaugural Dir. Center for NTM Innovation, UT Tyler

Grant Ingram, Chief Operating Officer, Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce

Robert Manley, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Smith County

Isai Ramirez, VP of IT & Chief Information Officer, UT Tyler

R. David Warters, MD, Chair, Dept. of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, UT Tyler & Shelly Warters

SAVE THE DATE

Core Program Applications Open April 1, 2025

Core Program Applications Close May 31, 2025

Core Class 38 Graduation May 22, 2025 | State of the City

Leadership Live 2025 Tuesday, September 22, 2025

A NOTE FROM WENDY

It’s that time again—Leadership Tyler is now accepting applications for the Core Program! This is an exciting time of year for us as we meet new friends and share the passion that we have for the program with others who are interested in participating.

I was Leadership Tyler Class 31. Can’t believe that it was eight years ago! Time flies my friends. But I am quick to share the story that my experience in the Core Program has helped me in my professional journey by showing me that I am capable of tackling new and unfamiliar obstacles in order to continue on my path.

It’s easy to get stuck in a routine (and I personally enjoy routines), but challenges push us to grow. Leadership Tyler provides the tools to face those challenges head-on. Growth is what Leadership Tyler is all about. If you choose to apply for the core program, you’ll grow through the application process. If you are accepted into the class, you will be given many opportunities to

EAST TEXAS GIVING DAY 2025

On April 29, 2025, East Texans will come together to support the numerous nonprofit organizations who do such great work throughout our community. We encourage you to give to the causes that you believe in, and we hope that Leadership Tyler is one of those.

In the last 38 years, Leadership Tyler has equipped over 1,200 leaders to engage in their communities and make a positive impact. We have graduates all over the world, and they have taken their Leadership Tyler experience with them and use it daily to make their communities great.

Nonprofit Toolkit

As East Texas Giving Day approaches, we encourage you to consider making an early gift—starting April 7—to support Leadership Tyler in continuing our mission of equipping leaders to enrich the community. Gifts will be used for scholarships for the core program and once those needs are met, they will be applied to enhancing current programs and creating new ones.

Thank you for continuing to be a special part of the work of Leadership Tyler.

embrace personal growth by learning about yourself, your classmates, and your community.

I hope you will consider applying for the Leadership Tyler Core Program. It is a unique experience that will be a part of you forever. If you are a LT Alumnus, encourage your friends and colleagues to apply.

As John F. Kennedy once said, “Leading and learning are indispensable to each other.”

Wendy Frizzell - Class 31

Leaders should be collaborative, modest, and generous.”

- Bill Bradley

BECAUSE

ALL ABOUT ALUMNI

What an exciting time to be part of the Leadership Tyler Alumni Association! As LT graduates, we all share a passion for enriching our community. By paying dues to the Alumni Association, you play an active role in supporting future classes, programs, and events. Your greatest impact as a Visionary, Mentor, or Leader level member is shaping the experiences of those who follow you. Additionally, LT Alumni Association members enjoy exclusive benefits such as continuing education and networking events, opportunities to serve on LT committees and task forces, and discounted admission to LT events.

We all know about IQ, but what about Emotional Intelligence (EQ)? As part of our ongoing professional development series, we’re excited to offer three continuing education sessions in 2025 for alumni, students, and the broader community. One of these sessions, THE EQ IMPACT, will be presented by Dawn Burkett, Founder and Principal Training Consultant at DRIVE Talent Development, at

the UT Tyler Alumni House. Emotional intelligence (EQ) is a critical skill that enhances self-awareness and improves how we manage ourselves and interact with others. This engaging, two-hour interactive workshop on Feb. 21, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., will explore how emotions influence behavior and workplace dynamics. This event is open to LT alumni, friends, and community members. Register today! To sign up or learn more, email jackie@leadershiptyler.org.

Graduates of LT Core, EOS, or Catalyst 100 are eligible to join the LT Alumni Association. We offer three membership levels, each with unique benefits. For more details, visit https://leadershiptyler. org/alumni/ or reach out to jackie@leadershiptyler.org

In service, Jackie Cannon 903.520.6700 | jackie@leadershiptyler.org