The Frisco Chamber of Commerce proudly welcomes the 28 outstanding leaders selected for Leadership Frisco Class XXIX! Chosen from a highly competitive pool of applicants, this year’s class represents the next generation of community leaders committed to making a difference in Frisco.
The program officially kicked off on Friday, September 5, 2025, with a dynamic team-building session led by Human Dynamics, Inc., followed by an inspiring fireside chat with Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney and Chamber President/CEO Christal Howard.
On Saturday, September 6, 2025, the class continued building connections and trust through ropes course challenges facilitated by Leadership on the Move. The weekend set the stage for a powerful year of growth, collaboration, and service to the community.
About Leadership Frisco
Leadership Frisco is a nine-month community leadership program of the Frisco Chamber of Commerce/Frisco Chamber Foundation, led by a volunteer group of past graduates known as the Leadership Frisco Advisory Council. The purpose of the Leadership Frisco program is to develop a pool of 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, a full day each month is dedicated to exploring the inner workings of Frisco’s government, educational system, economic development, service organizations, regional issues, leisure and culture, health services, and public safety. Class members have the opportunity to learn about and practice skills critical to working with volunteers and groups in the community.
As the program is planned each year, the program’s first two days are critical and arranged to allow the class members to build a sense of trust and learn each other’s leadership styles. The kick-off is designed to set the class up for success as they begin planning and implementing a class project.
“Leadership Frisco continues to shape our city’s past, present, and future,” shared Christal Howard, President/CEO of the Frisco Chamber of Commerce. “More than 550 graduates have come through the program, many of whom now serve on nonprofit boards, Frisco boards and commissions, or as elected officials. Others have become incredible champions for our community in countless ways. Just as importantly, the class projects created by the past 28 classes have left a lasting mark on Frisco.”
Leadership Frisco Class XXIX will graduate in May 2026 after successful completion of the program.
Leadership Frisco Class Projects
Some of the past Leadership Frisco class projects have included 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); Adaptive Revision to Fire Safety Town (Class 25). See the complete list below.
Class XXIX members for the 2025-2026 program year include:
Judy Adams – Business Owner/Commercial Agent at Blo Blow Dry Bar Frisco, LashKind Frisco, Stag Commercial
Rebecca Barton – Compliance Manager and Assistant to the City Manager at the City of Frisco
Manny Beltran – Director of ICU, Med/Surg, and Emergency Services at Texas Health Hospital Frisco
Miguel Bernard – Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
Laura Blackstock – Cheney Group
Jill Carrier – Director at CohnReznick
Kyle Crawford – Principal at Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP
Wes Cunningham – Associate Deputy Superintendent at Frisco ISD
Lauren De La Cruz – Senior Director of Client Services at Good Days
Cara Dudley – Director, Development & Relationships at Kaleidoscope Park Foundation
Toni Estell – Founder/CEO at Macaron High Women’s Wellness and Retreats
Shane Gilmore – Retired, U.S. Government
Emily Hermesmeyer – Client Success Leader at Delta Dallas
Melanie Horton – Agency Owner at Veritas Team (Allstate Agency)
Maureen Johns – Director of Government Relations at Frisco Chamber of Commerce
Marcia Locke – Regional Manager of Operations at Deca Dental
Markques McKnight – Managing Director at Master’s Management Consulting, LLC
Daniel Nam – Commercial Lender, VP at Texas Republic Bank
Shane O’Neill – Chief Operating Officer at Baylor Scott & White Health
Kelly Payette – Chief Executive Officer at Star Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Grayson Rogers – Financial Advisor at Raymond James
Cameron Saenz – Attorney at Plunk Smith, PLLC
Neeru Sharma – Founder at Marya Leadership Academy
Brent Shrauner – Commercial Loan Officer at PlainsCapital Bank
Sukanya Subramanian – Professor at Collin College
Britney Webb – CSI and Property/Evidence Manager and Assistant to the City Manager at City of Frisco
Allicia Washington-White – Communications Strategist at University of North Texas – Frisco
Shawn Wills – CEO at Boys & Girls Clubs of Collin County
