FORIMMEDIATERELEASE
April
11, 2025
Texas A&M Forest Service Leadership Institute graduates fifth cohort
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M Forest Service
Leadership Institute’s fifth cohort graduated April 10, 2025, following the completion
of its final session in College Station.
The leadership institute offers a constructive and inspiring
learning environment, enabling opportunities for personal and professional growth
by giving participants access to tools and speakers to strengthen their
leadership skills.
“The institute rallies existing and emerging leaders within the
fields of natural resources and emergency management to increase their capacity
and ability to enact meaningful change throughout Texas,” said Leighton Gibson,
Texas A&M Forest Service Marketing and Communications Manager.
The class included 24 nonprofit
professionals, fire chiefs, conservation coordinators and business owners from
across the state.
“I am so
grateful for this opportunity that has challenged and encouraged me,” said Kim
Williams, the H. E. Butt Foundation and cohort five graduate. “The speakers,
staff and fellow participants created an atmosphere where we each found our
strength and voices as leaders.”
The leadership institute offers training and professional
development to members of organizations that support the Texas A&M Forest
Service mission while building capacity and cohesion within working alliances
of other entities who serve our same customers.
Over seven months, the class participated in two, three-day
training sessions, monthly lunch and learns, networking opportunities and
course activities.
“The institute helped me identify my strengths and taught
me that focusing on those is more productive than dwelling on my weaknesses,”
said Larry Wilkinson, Spring Fire Department and cohort five graduate. “The
instructors facilitated an excellent environment to talk about real leadership
issues while offering new ideas and best practices.”
One key to success for the institute is dynamic and engaging
speakers. In the final session, participants heard from Dr. Thomas Easley about
principles for challenging engagement, Dr. Steven Beebe about conflict
resolution, Amy Hays about generational learning and Frank Keck about coaching.
Each year, the leadership institute aims to continue to grow and
support local leaders while increasing the network of natural resource
professionals across the state.
To learn more about the Texas A&M Forest Service Leadership
Institute, the speakers and how to participate, visit https://tfsfrd.tamu.edu/TFSLeadershipInstitute/.
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Texas A&M Forest Service Contacts:
Leighton Gibson, Marketing and Communications Manager,
979-458-6606, leighton.gibson@tfs.tamu.edu