Emerging Leaders Prepare to Give Back

Our 2026 Emerging Leaders had their second meeting on May 28. This session focused on governance, leadership & philanthropy. 

The meeting began with some networking over breakfast followed by the May Board of Directors meeting. The cohort was able to observe the meeting and learn more about how strategic decisions are made and the financial oversight that happens. The emerging leaders were also able to participate in some of the discussion items that were on the board agenda. This really provides a great frame of reference for the cohort members for how associations operate.

Next up was a leadership panel with industry leaders in our market: Katie Phelan-Chostner, Chantel Emery, Diana Norbury and Yolanda Armijo. The topic was How Leaders Create a Positive Company Culture. Each of these ladies have a people-first approach in their roles and shared how they have been able to create a culture of inclusivity and empowerment for their associates. The provided many great takeaways for our emerging leaders as they move toward positions with more responsibility.

The remainder of the morning was spent planning out a philanthropy project to be completed by the end of the year. They are working with two of WMFHA's non-profit partners: DAWN & Akin. The members will plan each project from start to finish with members taking on the roles of: project managers, event & volunteer coordinators & marketing coordinators. This group is very passionate about giving back through volunteerism and this project provides the perfect opportunity to give back in a meaningful way.

It was another incredible day with our emerging leaders and WMFHA is excited to see the impacts they are making.