RGV Leadership will frame issues under regional lens; taking applicants
Texas Border Business
Rio Grande Valley (June 4, 2014) – The Rio Grande Valley Partnership will begin offering this summer a new area leadership program for emerging leaders focusing on regional issues.
The RGV Partnership, which has members from the entire four-county Valley area, is creating this new academy to help build more collaboration among Valley cities, counties and other entities. RGV Partnership board members are focused on creating a program atmosphere where this diverse group is examining the Valley’s toughest challenges from different points of view.
RGV Partnership Board Chair Deborah Cordova said the new initiative is reflective of some of the Valley’s best collaboration to date such as when the region was able to establish a medical school, and when it put its efforts together to establish the first-ever Interstate highways, I-69 and I-2. The RGV Leadership program is meeting this wider regional need for teamwork.
“We want to keep the momentum going and move this football down the field together, as one team, for first downs and big scores,” said Cordova. “We must start looking at our challenges collaboratively and find solutions to health care, job creation and education as one. This will be an educational, fun and challenging program, and we are very excited about it.”
RGV Leadership will be based on traditional leadership program models that most chambers have around Texas. It will meet monthly beginning in September and end with a commencement event in May. In between, the group will explore important issues in the Valley and discuss possible solutions to the region’s most pressing challenges. The program is also geared for networking and learning about Valley areas.
The Partnership will seek to fill 25 program slots with a geographically diverse group of emerging leaders that bring their own perspectives to the group. RGV Partnership CEO Julian Alvarez said a diverse group would bring a good exchange of ideas and make for lively debates. “We would like to have people in the program from Starr, Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy counties,” said Alvarez.
“We want people to be able to come in and experience all the great things happening in the Rio Grande Valley. At the same time, we’d like them to focus on issues with a regional perspective. RGV Leadership will be a great asset for anyone looking to learn more about the Valley and leadership. The networking will be outstanding.”
The 25 will be chosen by a selection committee. Deadline for applications is Friday, August 1st. The first RGV Leadership class will be announced on Monday, August 18th. There is a fee and selection criteria. Please visit the RGV Partnership link https://www.valleychamber.com/pages/RGVLeadership for more information and to download an application. For questions, please email Febe Zepeda at febe@valleychamber.com or call 956-968-3141. TBB
