The Temple Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the 2025 Leadership Temple Alumni & Graduation Banquet, set for Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at the Hilton Garden Inn Temple.
 
This annual event brings together community leaders, program alumni, and the graduating class for a celebration of leadership and service. Originally established by a Class of 2018 Action Team project, the banquet continues to enhance alumni engagement while spotlighting the ongoing impact of the Leadership Temple program.
 
A highlight of the 2025 banquet will be the presentation of the Leadership Temple Distinguished Alumni Award to Jon Burrows, a graduate of the Leadership Temple Class of 1989. Burrows served five terms as Bell County Judge, retiring in 2018. He is a distinguished public servant whose legacy spans decades of civic, legal, and military service.
 
The banquet will also recognize the Leadership Temple Class of 2025 as they complete their ten-month journey in community leadership. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the class Action Team project and connect with both seasoned and emerging leaders.
 
Proceeds from the event benefit the Leadership Temple Tuition Assistance Scholarship, an initiative aimed at promoting inclusivity by enabling small business and nonprofit leaders to participate in the program. This ensures the continued cultivation of a diverse and representative cohort of future leaders.
 
Looking back on the 2024 Leadership Temple Alumni & Graduation Banquet that celebrated the accomplishments of the Class of 2024, led by Class President David Shine, Shine Richardson Investment Group of Wells Fargo Advisors, and Curriculum Chair, Tanner Johnson of Central National Bank. The graduates presented their Action Team project, an impactful collaboration with Feed My Sheep and its initiative Elizabeth Farm.
 
Working alongside Feed My Sheep, the class supported the development of Elizabeth Farm in East Temple, a space focused on food access and transitional support. Their contributions included installing a greenhouse, covering an eighty-foot grow house, donating fruit trees and topsoil, and contributing a production plan to support long-term sustainability. The class also helped place a tiny home on the property, offering housing for an individual exiting homelessness.
 
The 2024 Banquet also honored David Nix, Leadership Temple Class of 1988, as the Distinguished Alumni, recognizing his lasting contributions to Temple’s economic and civic development.
 
The Temple Chamber encourages individuals interested in community leadership and professional development to attend the banquet for a glimpse of the program’s impact and opportunities for involvement.
 
The 2025 Leadership Temple Alumni & Graduation Banquet is sponsored by: the City of Temple, McLane Group, Extraco Banks, Johnson Brothers Ford Lincoln, and KPA Engineers.
 
For more information about the Leadership Temple Alumni & Graduation Banquet and registration, click here.

On Tuesday, May 21, 2024, business and community leaders gathered at the Hilton Garden Inn-Temple to celebrate the Leadership Temple Alumni and the Leadership Temple Class of 2024 at the annual Leadership Temple Alumni & Graduation Banquet.
 
This event, a product of a Class of 2018 Action Team project, aims to enhance the Alumni Association and the future impact of the program. It is an opportunity to network, learn about the current class project, and celebrate the new graduates.
 
Proceeds from the banquet contribute to the Leadership Temple Tuition Assistance Scholarship, designed to promote inclusivity and diversity within the program. This initiative supports small businesses and nonprofits, fostering a more representative community leadership landscape.

The Leadership Temple Alumni & Graduation Banquet is on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at the Hilton Garden Inn.
 
The banquet is a product of a Class of 2018 Action Team project to enhance the program’s Alumni Association and future impact. In addition to acknowledging a Distinguished Alumni of the program, it is an opportunity to network, learn about the current class project, and celebrate the new graduates of the program.
 
The luncheon includes honoring a Distinguished Alumni of the program. The 2024 honoree is David Nix, a graduate of the Leadership Temple Class of 1988.
 
“We’re excited to celebrate the achievements of alumni and the new graduates,” said Whitney Theriot, President of the Temple Chamber of Commerce. “This banquet not only honors a dedicated community leader like David Nix but also serves as an opportunity for all alumni of the program to connect, learn about the work in service of the current class, and support and celebrate the new graduates - our next generation of community leaders.”
 
The banquet proceeds contribute to the Leadership Temple Tuition Assistance Scholarship, designed to promote inclusivity and diversity within the program. This initiative is a resource for small businesses and nonprofits to participate in Leadership Temple, fostering a more representative community leadership landscape.
 
Reflecting on the 2023 Leadership Temple Alumni & Graduation Banquet that commemorated the accomplishments of the Class of 2023. Led by Camryn Bintz, KPA Engineers, and David Shine, Shine Richardson Investment Group of Wells Fargo Advisors, the graduates presented their Action Team project and were recognized for their dedication to community leadership and personal growth.
 
The 2023 Class Project focused on connecting the world of work to K-12 education through career exploration through reading. Inspired by the Workforce Solutions of Central Texas Student Occupational Awareness and Recognition Program (SOAR), which aims to expose, educate, and engage students in career development and decision-making for middle and high school students, the 2023 Class saw an opportunity to engage elementary-aged students to think about the world of work sooner.
 
They worked with Temple ISD to identify a STEM book series called The Questioneers. Then they not only read to every second-grade class at the district, but through a grant purchased The Questioneers book sets for every elementary campus library.  
 
“The Temple Chamber leadership is immensely proud of our Leadership Temple program graduates from the Class of 2023,” added Theriot. “Their commitment to professional development and community service embodies the spirit of Leadership Temple.”
 
The event also honored Gary Schmidt as the 2023 Leadership Temple Distinguished Alumni, recognizing his significant contributions to Temple’s economic and civic development.
 
The Temple Chamber encourages individuals interested in community leadership and professional development to attend the banquet, offering a glimpse into the program’s impact and opportunities for involvement.
 
The 2024 Leadership Temple Alumni & Graduation Banquet is sponsored by:  the City of Temple, McLane Group, Extraco Banks, Garcia Architects, Johnson Brothers Ford Lincoln, and First United Bank & Trust.
 
For more information about the Leadership Temple Alumni & Graduation Banquet and registration, visit www.templechamber.com.