Leadership McAllen

Leadership McAllen What is Leadership McAllen? Following a hostile McAllen Mayoral election in 1981, there was real concern that the community had been divided.

Mission: To identify and motivate emerging leaders and to develop their potential for community leadership by exposing them to the realities, opportunities, and challenges facing McAllen and its citizens. Feelings and trust on all sides of the political spectrum were frayed. Fortunately, not everyone was caught up in the debate. The late Dr. Charles Wilson, Danny Boultinghouse and Joseph Garza saw

the crisis for its potential, and sought to find a way to draw McAllen back together. Over a period of several months, they researched programs around Texas and the nation. They met with community and business leaders and embarked on a very risky venture loaded with the potential to do well, but fraught with considerable risk. They discovered an idea that had successfully worked in other communities. This idea is known as Leadership McAllen.

Leadership McAllen Alumni Star Spotlight.We are proud to shine the spotlight this week on LM superstar, Austin Stevenson...
04/20/2026

Leadership McAllen Alumni Star Spotlight.

We are proud to shine the spotlight this week on LM superstar, Austin Stevenson

Austin Stevenson has provided in-house legal counsel to the City of McAllen for over a decade and currently serves as City Attorney.

His municipal law practice encompasses all legal issues in which the City may have an interest, including state and federal civil litigation, in-house general counsel, land use, zoning, employment, open records, economic development, public utilities, and procurement.

Austin holds a BA in Spanish and a BBA in International Business from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin as well as a Juris Doctorate from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.

He is a grateful alumnus of Leadership McAllen Class ###VI and was honored to later serve as Chairman. Austin is a previous Director of the Texas Young Lawyers Association and the Hidalgo County Young Lawyers Association.

“Leadership McAllen was the springboard to so many life-changing opportunities, both personal and professional. LM is incomparable in its ability to unite current and future leaders across all industries and demographics for the common goal of bettering our community.”

This week’s Leadership McAllen session focused on economic development across the RGV, and it was nothing short of inspi...
04/16/2026

This week’s Leadership McAllen session focused on economic development across the RGV, and it was nothing short of inspiring. We had the opportunity to hear from incredible speakers who are actively shaping the growth and future of our region, and we even got an inside look with a tour of the GR Fresh facility—thank you for hosting us and allowing us to use your space for such a meaningful class.

A huge thank you to all of our board members and class members who helped bring this session together. Your dedication and effort continue to make this experience impactful for everyone involved. 👏💚🌴

Thank you, McAllen Economic Development Corporation for presenting at the Leadership McAllen Economic Development class....
04/16/2026

Thank you, McAllen Economic Development Corporation for presenting at the Leadership McAllen Economic Development class. Your insights, expertise, and willingness to share your knowledge made a meaningful impact on everyone in attendance. We truly appreciate the time and effort you dedicated to enriching this experience and helping us better understand the important work shaping our community’s growth and success.

The Leadership McAllen Recruitment Mixer was a tremendous success! It was inspiring to observe the energy in the room an...
04/11/2026

The Leadership McAllen Recruitment Mixer was a tremendous success! It was inspiring to observe the energy in the room and the incredible group of individuals who came together with a shared passion for growth, leadership, and community impact.

Thank you to everyone who attended, connected, and helped make the event so meaningful.

Leadership McAllen Alumni Star Spotlight.We are proud to shine the spotlight this week on LM superstar, Veronica Whitacr...
04/08/2026

Leadership McAllen Alumni Star Spotlight.

We are proud to shine the spotlight this week on LM superstar, Veronica Whitacre.

Veronica Vela Whitacre is Leadership McAllen Class IX alum! She is a proud McAllen native, community leader, and dedicated public servant. Also a graduate of McAllen High School, she earned her degree in Sociology from Incarnate Word College in San Antonio and later completed her Texas Teacher Certification at Pan American University.

With decades of service to the Rio Grande Valley, Veronica has built a reputation as a passionate advocate for community growth, innovation, and care. She previously served on the McAllen City Commission and has held key leadership roles, including Executive Director of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Hidalgo County and director of a local nonprofit hospice Comfort House serving the terminally ill.

Her extensive civic involvement includes leadership and board service with organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club of McAllen (Past President), McAllen Education Foundation, International Museum of Arts and Sciences, Junior League of McAllen, Easter Seals, Muscular Dystrophy Association, and the University of the Incarnate Word Alumni Board. She is also a graduate of Leadership McAllen.

Veronica’s contributions have been recognized with honors including the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s “A Night at the Oscars” Award and designation as a Distinguished Alumna of the University of the Incarnate Word.

She remains deeply committed to her community by currently serving as a board member for Parks and Recreation and the Anzaldua Bridge for the City of McAllen.

Reminder 🚨 The FINAL Leadership McAllen recruitment mixer is happening this Thursday from 6–8PM at Old Church Winery! 🎉✨...
04/06/2026

Reminder 🚨 The FINAL Leadership McAllen recruitment mixer is happening this Thursday from 6–8PM at Old Church Winery! 🎉✨

If you’ve been thinking about getting involved, this is your last chance to connect, learn more, and take that next step. Don’t miss it! We’d love to see you there!

Leadership McAllen Alumni Star SpotlightWe are proud to shine the spotlight this week on LM Superstar, Jessica Godinez.J...
03/27/2026

Leadership McAllen Alumni Star Spotlight

We are proud to shine the spotlight this week on LM Superstar, Jessica Godinez.

Jessica Godinez is the Vice President, Community Development Officer at Vantage Bank, where she has proudly worked for the past 10 years. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and her MBA from UTRGV.

Jessica is a proud Leadership McAllen Class 38 alumna and has served on the Leadership McAllen Alumni Board for the past seven years. She is also involved with several organizations including Mujeres Unidas, Food Bank RGV’s Empty Bowls Committee, IMAS Brewseum, Valley Symphony Orchestra, VITA, and the UTRGV Enactus Advisory Board.

When she’s not working or volunteering, Jessica enjoys traveling, running 5Ks, trying new restaurants and coffee shops, and tackling DIY projects. She’s happily married and loves spending time with her two dogs, Bozo and Luna. One of her favorite projects was creating her Airbnb, The Buckaroo, which she and her husband renovated with lots of love.

Jessica shares that Leadership McAllen was the starting point of her leadership and community journey, empowering her to get involved and give back while meeting some of the most amazing people.

Join us for our final recruitment mixer of the season! 🌴💚We’ll see you Thursday, April 9th at the Old Church Winery from...
03/24/2026

Join us for our final recruitment mixer of the season! 🌴💚
We’ll see you Thursday, April 9th at the Old Church Winery from 6pm-8pm 🙌🏼
Come find out what we’re all about!

***Leadership McAllen Alumni Star Spotloght***We are proud to shine the spotlight on this LM Superstar this week.Fabiola...
03/11/2026

***Leadership McAllen Alumni Star Spotloght***

We are proud to shine the spotlight on this LM Superstar this week.

Fabiola Urgel-Caporusso is a dynamic leader in finance and an active community advocate, currently serving as Senior Vice President for Commercial Lending at Vantage Bank.

She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Economics from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where she also earned a Master’s in Business Administration. During college, she secured prestigious internships at institutions like The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas – San Antonio Branch and The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability in Chicago.

Fabiola is deeply committed to her community, serving on various boards and committees including Friends for Hope, Leadership McAllen, and Teach for America, and she advises her alma mater on the Graduate and Professional Programs Advisory Committee for the UTRGV Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship. She is happily married to her husband, Dr. Joseph Caporusso, and they are the proud parents of Luciana and Joseph Mario.

What does she love about LM?
"Leadership McAllen allowed me to meet some of the most incredible people I know and admire. The program has impacted my life, not only professionally but personally. It has definitely been a vehicle to give back to the community I am proud to live in."

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McAllen, TX
78501-78505

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