On Friday, August 15th, join us for a panel discussion of the topic: “The Impact of Partisan Politics.” The discussion will be moderated by Madeleine York.
Our mission is to elevate the role of leadership in the lives of the citizens of Central Texas; to focus on the vitality and necessity of regional leadership capital; and to serve others through the process of encouraging individuals to grow, prosper and make a significant difference through the practice of leadership skills.
Kent Caperton joined the Ben Barnes Group in August, 2005. As a partner in that firm, he is working on national and state issues for a variety of clients with needs in government relations and public policy matters. Additionally, he is teaming with law firms on matters of complex litigation. Prior to joining the Barnes group, Kent Caperton was a Managing Director at Public Strategies, focusing primarily on legislative, regulatory and political policy for that firm’s national telecommunications client. He managed a large team of professionals embedded with the client.
As a Democrat, Kent served as a Texas state senator for ten years. During his tenure, he chaired the Senate Finance, Jurisprudence and Criminal Justice committees and was recognized by Texas Monthly magazine as the "consensus choice as the Outstanding Member of the Legislature."
Kent is the recipient of many legal and government honors for his work, including the Freedom of Information Foundation's James Madison Award and the Alliance for Judicial Funding's Outstanding Legislator award. He serves as a member of the board of Lutheran Social Services of the South, the executive committee of the University of Texas Law School Alumni Association and the Advisory Committee for the Center for International Business Council at Texas A&M University.
Sam Coats has spent a distinguished career as an attorney, airline executive and most recently as the President and CEO of Scholtzsky’s Inc., where he guided the troubled national restaurant franchisor through a period of the liquidation of unprofitable units, bankruptcy and the ultimate sale of the assets and franchise system to an investor with restaurant operating experience. A recent candidate for Dallas Mayor, he expects to run for Dallas County Judge in 2010.
Previously, Sam has held key executive management positions in Texas International Airlines, Braniff Airways, Southwest Airlines, Muse Air Corporation, Compass Airlines and Continental Airlines. Other travel-related responsibilities have included PROS Revenue Management and Sammons Travel Groups, each as President and CEO, plus his own Aviation Consulting Practice in Dallas. He found additional challenges in the law firm of Jenkins and Gilchrist and as President/CEO of Trinity Texas Corporation
No stranger to Austin, Sam, a Democrat, was a member of the Texas Legislature and President of the Texas Research League. He has provided extensive service in a variety of civic and charitable organizations. Sam received his B.A. and J.D. degrees from U.T. Austin.
Commissioner Gerald Daugherty grew up in the Houston area and graduated from Cypress-Fairbanks High School in 1968. He was drafted out of high school by the Boston Red Sox baseball organization and after a short period of time realized that an education was more obtainable than making it to the big leagues. He returned to Austin where he graduated from the University of Texas in 1975. He has been an Austin businessman for over 25 years, owning and operating several successful ventures including a retail sporting goods store and the Pleasant Valley Sportsplex. A bachelor for 45 years, he married Charlyn Cook Daugherty in 1995.
Gerald, a Republican, was elected to the Travis County Commissioners Court in November of 2002 and was unopposed for re-election for 4 more years in 2004. He serves as the County Commissioner of Precinct 3, which covers 48% of the landmass of Travis County. The Precinct includes 21 of the 31 Travis County parks, 8 of the 13 Emergency Service Districts and 52% of County accepted roads – 626 Miles of the total 1193 miles of County roads, presenting a challenge the Commissioner has accepted with vigor.
Gerald is especially proud of his participation in the transaction for the acquisition by Travis County of the Reimer’s Ranch and the Pogue Hollow Preserve. This acquisition will ensure the protection of 2,350 acres of environmentally sensitive and scenic parkland. The pristine land with 3 miles of frontage on the Pedernales River is an ideal addition to Precinct 3 parkland.
Senator Jeff Wentworth is serving his sixth term in the Texas Senate where he was president pro tem in 2004-2005 and where he was inaugurated as Governor of Texas for a Day on November 20, 2004. A fourth-generation Texan, he was first elected to the Texas Senate in 1992 after serving nearly five years in the Texas House of Representatives. The Republican senator from San Antonio represents more than 700,000 Texans in six counties located in the heart of the state.
He is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Jurisprudence and serves on the Administration; Transportation and Homeland Security; and Intergovernmental Relations Committees. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Natural Resources Foundation of Texas and the Board of Trustees of the United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County. Prior public service includes five years in the Texas House of Representatives, one year as a university system regent, six years as a county commissioner, two years as a city attorney, three years as a Congressional assistant, and three years as a United States Army counterintelligence officer.
Jeff graduated from Alamo Heights High School, Texas A&M University and Texas Tech University School of Law. He served as vice president of his high school student body, senior class officer in college, and president of his law school student body. In addition, he served as national president of the American Bar Association Law Student Division. In 2000, he was named the Distinguished Alumnus of Texas Tech University School of Law.
The breakfast will be held from 7:30 until 9:00 a.m. on Friday, August 15th, at the Austin Club. The Austin Club is located on the north side of 9th Street between Congress and Brazos. The cost is $20.00 per person. Reservations are required. To register go to www.theaustinleadershipforum.com. Registration closes on Wednesday, August 13th. Please don’t delay.
