Investing in the Future

Episode 9: Megan Folkerts - The Way: Leadership Development

How do small towns and rural counties invest in their future? Tom Fox and Andrew Gay explore this topic in their new podcast series Investing in the Future – Developing Leadership in Kerr County. Leadership Kerr County is the premier leadership program in the Hill Country which enables men and women to learn more about the issues and topics that face Kerrville, Kerr County, and the Hill Country daily; everything from education and social services to economic development and health care. Kerr County has made the decision to invest in its citizens to create future leaders and lay a foundation for their future involvement in the leadership of Kerrville and Kerr County. This podcast is produced and hosted by the Texas Hill Country Podcast Network. Megan Folkerts is an exemplary example of what can be achieved when you have a passion for leadership and community development. As the senior management analyst for the city of Kerrville and downtown liaison for Main Street, she was accepted into the Leadership Kerr County program this year and has been networking with like-minded individuals and exploring the different standard pillars of the community.  Megan heard about Leadership Kerr County a couple of years ago and was encouraged to apply. She was accepted into the program on the first application and has since been networking with other people who have like-minded interests in leadership and developing themselves. She has explored different facilities and learned about the different standard pillars of the community such as healthcare and nonprofit. She also experienced a poverty simulator to understand the struggles people face day to day. After going through the poverty simulator, she realized how privileged one is. Megan Folkerts is an inspirational example of what can be achieved when you have a passion for leadership and community development. She grew up in Buda, between San Marcus and Austin, and got her bachelor's in business from Tarleton and Stevenville. She got her master's from Tarleton while working for the city of Bastrop. She applied for the Leadership Kerr County program after being encouraged by Drew Paxton. She has since been networking with other people who have like-minded interests in leadership and developing themselves.   Resources Andrew Gay on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-gay-0a4218117/] Tom Fox on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasfox13/]

Episode 8 - Ry'lee Paxton - Leading with KAYLA: Unlocking Community Success

How do small towns and rural counties invest in their future? Tom Fox and Andrew Gay explore this topic in their new podcast series Investing in the Future – Developing Leadership in Kerr County. Leadership Kerr County is the premier leadership program in the Hill Country which enables men and women to learn more about the issues and topics that face Kerrville, Kerr County, and the Hill Country on a daily basis; everything from education and social services to economic development and health care. Kerr County has made the decision to invest in its citizens to create future leaders and lay a foundation for their future involvement in the leadership of Kerrville and Kerr County. This podcast is produced and hosted by the Texas Hill Country Podcast Network. KAYLA is an incredible organization that provides high schoolers in Kerr County with the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and gain exposure to the inner workings of their local community through the Leadership Academy and Youth Leadership Program. Through these programs, students learn important concepts like civic engagement and budgeting, as well as develop relationships with their peers and city officials. By attending the Academy, students gain an understanding of municipal government roles and responsibilities. Meanwhile, the Youth Leadership Program educates students on the importance of local job opportunities and building meaningful relationships. With KAYLA, young people can become successful leaders in their own communities.  Key Highlights ·       Youth Leadership in Kerrville and Kerr County ·       City Budgeting ·      Leadership Academy ·      Kerr County Youth Leadership Program  Resources Kayla [https://www.kerrvilletx.gov/DocumentCenter/View/34450/KAYLA_-_2019-2020_-_KKM_-_081219]

Episode 7-Zach Riffert - On the 2023-24 Class at Leadership Kerr County

How do small towns and rural counties invest in their future? Tom Fox and Andrew Gay explore this topic in their new podcast series Investing in the Future – Developing Leadership in Kerr County. Leadership Kerr County is the premier leadership program in the Hill Country which  enables men and women to learn more about the issues and topics that face Kerrville, Kerr County and the Hill Country on a daily basis; everything from education and social services to economic development and health care. Kerr County  has made the decision to invest in its citizens to create future leaders and lay a foundation for their future involvement in the leadership of Kerrville and Kerr County. This podcast is produced and hosted by the Texas Hill Country Podcast Network.  Are you looking for a way to develop your leadership skills and make an impact in your community? Look no further than Leadership Kerr County! This nine-month program is designed to provide leadership training and development for people in the Kerr County area. With an August 1 deadline for applications, now is the perfect time to apply. Today’s guest is Leadership Kerr County is co-chair Zach Riffert and Andrew Gay is part of the steering committee. Zach is a financial planner with Edward Jones and has been in the Kerr County area for the past 10 years. He is passionate about making an impact in the community and is involved in several boards and committees, including PTO, United Way, and Chamber committees.  The program is highly regarded by other leadership programs in contiguous counties, and people in the Kerr County area can ask their peers and coworkers if they have been through the program. Last year's Leadership Kerrville class was mostly women and had some amazing leaders. This year, the Chili Cook Off is changing hands and there may be some shuffling of the days. The application has been updated to ask different questions and dig deeper into why people want to participate. However, the leadership, committee, and basic structure of the class remain unchanged. Participants in the program will learn about the community and its ins and outs. There are 8 days in the program: Education Day, Local Government Day, Trip to Austin, Government Day, Economic Day, Tourism and Travel Day, Nonprofit Day, and Retreat. Retreat is a great opportunity for team building activities and breaking down guards and is held at Mo Ranch and takes place in the third week of September. Remember the deadline for application is August 1.    Resources Andrew Gay on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-gay-0a4218117/] Tom Fox on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasfox13/] Leadership Kerr County [https://www.kerrvillechamber.biz/leadership-kerr-county/]-Information and Registration

Episode 6-Chad Portie- Facilitating Eye-Opening Moments: A Leadership Class Experience

How do small towns and rural counties invest in their future? Tom Fox and Andrew Gay explore this topic in their new podcast series Investing in the Future – Developing Leadership in Kerr County. Leadership Kerr County is the premier leadership program in the Hill Country which  enables men and women to learn more about the issues and topics that face Kerrville, Kerr County and the Hill Country on a daily basis; everything from education and social services to economic development and health care. Kerr County  has made the decision to invest in its citizens to create future leaders and lay a foundation for their future involvement in the leadership of Kerrville and Kerr County. This podcast is produced and hosted by the Texas Hill Country Podcast Network.  Welcome to the latest episode of Investing in the Future, hosted by Tom Fox and Andrew Gay. In this episode, they sit down with Chad Portie, the front office manager at Inn of the Hills and a current participant of the Kirk County leadership class. Chad talks about how he found out about the program and how it opened his eyes to the impact of the community around him. They also discuss the eye-opening moments that Chad had during field trips, including the stigma surrounding mental health facilities and the importance of public works. The hosts also share their experience with the Disc assessment that helped them develop better relationships and improve productivity at work.  This episode is filled with stories about personal growth, professional development, and building lasting relationships. Every segment is packed with insight, humor, and valuable takeaways. Don't miss out on this dynamic episode of Investing in the Future with Tom Fox, Andrew Gay, and special guest Chad Portie.  Key Highlights  ·      Chad's experience in Kirk County leadership class ·      Leadership Class Experience and Eye-Opening Moments ·      The Value of DISC Assessments and Building Relationships ·      Chad’s journey to Kerrville through radio work  Resources Andrew Gay on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-gay-0a4218117/] Tom Fox on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasfox13/]

Episode 5-Pete Calderon-Leadership, Community and Positive Change

How do small towns and rural counties invest in their future? Tom Fox and Andrew Gay explore this topic in their new podcast series Investing in the Future – Developing Leadership in Kerr County. Leadership Kerr County is the premier leadership program in the Hill Country which  enables men and women to learn more about the issues and topics that face Kerrville, Kerr County and the Hill Country on a daily basis; everything from education and social services to economic development and health care. Kerr County  has made the decision to invest in its citizens to create future leaders and lay a foundation for their future involvement in the leadership of Kerrville and Kerr County. This podcast is produced and hosted by the Texas Hill Country Podcast Network.  In our fifth episode, Tom and Andrew host guest Pete Calderon, Community Relations Assistant Director at Peterson Hospital. Calderon shares his passion for community service, instilled in him by his mother, and explains how he got involved in local leadership. The conversation covers the importance of sentimental inspiration, leadership programs, and the burden of leadership. Calderon also discusses the impact of the DISC assessment on developing effective leadership skills, including bonding with classmates. The podcast also highlights the benefits of the community leadership program, including networking opportunities and exposure for businesses. Don't miss out on this informative and motivating episode, hosted by Andrew Gay and Tom Fox.  Key Highlights  ·      Meet Pete Calderon: Community Leader in Kerr County ·      Leadership Kerr County Experience ·      The Power of Personality Assessments in Building Strong Relationships ·      Leadership Kirk County program benefits for businesses  ·      Community Action for Positive Change Resources Andrew Gay on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-gay-0a4218117/] Tom Fox on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasfox13/]