Press Release
Date: September 19, 2026
Contact: Karen Kim
Vice President of Marketing & Communications
Office: (972) 335-9522 | Cell: (972) 900-9651
karen@friscochamber.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Leadership Frisco Class 30 Announced
Opening weekend launched the program’s 30th class with leadership development, connection, and team building.
FRISCO, Texas, [September 19, 2026]: The Frisco Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the members of Leadership Frisco Class 30, continuing a program that has developed community leaders in Frisco for nearly three decades.
The 2026-27 program year kicked off on Friday, September 18, 2026, with an opening session led by Leadership Dynamics, followed by dinner and a fireside chat with Frisco Mayor Mark Hill and Frisco Chamber President and CEO Christal Howard. On Saturday, September 19, 2026, the class participated in the Challenge by Choice ropes course, designed to strengthen trust, teamwork, and connection among class members.
Baylor Scott & White is once again the presenting sponsor for the 2026-27 program year.
“Baylor Scott & White Health is honored to continue supporting Leadership Frisco. Developing strong leaders is vital to the success of our city, and we believe investing in Frisco’s future leaders helps us fulfill our mission of improving the health and well-being of the communities we serve. By working together, we can ensure Frisco continues to thrive,” shared Wes Tidwell, president of Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Centennial.
Leadership Frisco, a nine-month community leadership program of the Frisco Chamber Foundation, is led by a volunteer group of past graduates known as the Leadership Frisco Advisory Council. The Leadership Frisco program develops qualified, highly motivated individuals interested in expanding their leadership skills, deepening their sense of civic responsibility, and becoming more involved in the Frisco community.
During the program year, class members dedicate a full day each month to exploring the inner workings of Frisco’s government, education system, economic development, service organizations, regional issues, leisure and culture, health services, and public safety. Participants also learn and practice skills critical to working with volunteers, organizations, and community groups.
Opening weekend is an important foundation for the program, giving class members an opportunity to build trust, better understand one another’s leadership styles, and develop relationships that will support their work throughout the year. Those connections become especially important as the class identifies, plans, and implements a community project together.
“Over the years, Leadership Frisco has created a strong pipeline of people who are willing to step forward, serve, and help shape our community,” said Christal Howard, President and CEO of the Frisco Chamber of Commerce. “With over 575 graduates, the program’s impact can be seen across nonprofit boards, Frisco Boards and Commissions, elected officials, business and organizational leadership throughout our community. Each class brings together people with different experiences and perspectives, and we look forward to seeing the relationships Class 30 builds and the impact they will make together.” Christal Howard also noted that Frisco’s newly elected mayor, Mark Hill, is a graduate of Leadership Frisco Class 22.
Leadership Frisco’s legacy also includes recognizable class projects that have made lasting contributions throughout the community. Some of the past projects include the Friendship Park Play Structure (Class 2), Clean It & Green It (Class 3), WaterWise (Class 6), Teen Court (Class 9), Mindbender Academy (Class 11), Watch D.O.G.S. (Class 13), 5-Star Corporate Challenge (Class 18), Ready to Read Railroad (Class 19), Little Free Libraries (Class 22), Frisco Veterans Memorial Revitalization (Class 24), and Adaptive Revision to Fire Safety Town (Class 25). A complete list of Leadership Frisco alumni and class projects is available at leadershipfrisco.com.
Leadership Frisco Class 30 members for the 2026-27 program year include:
Rene Archambault – Southern Methodist University
Jacque Ballent – Frisco ISD
Alicia Baum – Texas Regional Bank
Yolanda Blaine – Texas Health Hospital Frisco
Nathan Boes – Apex Orthopedics in Frisco
Stephanie Burnett – Community Impact News
Mandy Carrasco – First United Bank
Michael Choate – Frisco Police Department
Brian Davis – Frisco Chamber of Commerce
Kimberly Y. Evans – Purposed Consulting, LLC
John Guillory – Collin College
Andrew Haberman – Universal Kids Resort
Michelle Hammond – Visit Frisco
Garrett Jackson – Frisco ISD
Akash Khanna – Cheney Group
Daniel McCall – True Recruiting
Evan McMillan – Wilks Development/Firefly Park
Morgan Mosley – Toyota North America
Abhishek Panwar – AT&T
Dustin Paschal – Simon | Paschal PLLC
Megan Paulk – JPMorgan Chase
Sravya Potluri – Bioming
Munira Sarfani – Community Health Clinic McKinney
Ken Schmidt – City of Frisco
Keith Shipman – Jack Henry
LaToya Singleton – Donatos Pizza
Elizabeth Strait – Ally Medical Emergency Room
Luke Thomson – First United Methodist Church Frisco
Leslie Wiebe – Baylor Scott and White Medical Center – Centennial
Lauren Williams – Frisco EDC
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About the Frisco Chamber of Commerce
The Frisco Chamber of Commerce is a 5-Star Accredited Chamber of Commerce with nearly 1,200 member businesses that provide goods and services to the growing, bustling economy in Frisco and the surrounding area. The mission of the Frisco Chamber of Commerce is to protect and promote commerce through advocacy, resources, and connections. For more information, visit friscochamber.com.
About the Frisco Chamber Foundation
The purpose of the Frisco Chamber Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is to complement the work of the Frisco Chamber of Commerce by building community strength through partnerships, programs, and education.
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