• CONVERSATION
Q&A
Nadia DiStefano. Board responsibilities (in general) are to support Leadership Arlington by providing their advice, expertise and Paulette Tutor, executive director of Leadership Arlington, personal advocacy. The Board manages the affairs of the corporation on matters relating talks about the promising future ahead for her home town to its continued growth, impact and financial planning for the future. Board terms are 1 year, beginning July 1 through June 30 of each year. ARLINGTON TODAY: How did you come to be executive director AT: How many people are in the Class of 2021-22, and how were of Leadership Arlington? Please include past experience that they selected? played a role. PT: Each year we select 35-40 Adults and 35-40 Youth. The PAULETTE TUTOR: I have volunteered for many years with application is completed online and additional forms, transcripts Leadership Arlington (I am part of the Best Class 2011). I have are provided. The Directors of each of the programs review the held many roles on the Board of Directors and in July of 2020 applications. interviewed and was named the Executive Director. AT: The work of Leadership Arlington mirrors that of leadership In 2019 I received a Master’s Degree in Management and groups in other cities. Please share some of the “inherently Leadership, which I believe helped with my qualifications. Arlington” aspects of the organization and highlight what makes AT: In a nutshell, what is Leadership Arlington all about? them special. PT: Leadership Arlington is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization PT: Our program introduces the classes to our city through whose mission is focused on the development of the next physically being part of the session and visiting key locations in generation of community leaders. We have an Adult Training our city. They have access to leadership and executives, as well Program and a Youth Training Program for Juniors in High as public and private locations that are unique to only School. In a nutshell, it’s a nine-month training program Leadership Arlington. Example: Education session highlighting many public and private areas to lead includes meeting with Dr. Marcelo Cavazos, and serve in our city. Superintendent of AISD, Dr. William Coppola of AT: What is your vision with regard to where Tarrant County College and Dr. Teik Lim, the Leadership Arlington will go this year and in interim president of UTA. the near future? AT: The recent classes have had to deal with PT: My vision for Leadership Arlington is to the COVID pandemic. What challenges be “the” place our community finds leaders. were presented, and what measures did the We have pivoted (like others) this past year, organization’s leadership take to make the and it has given us the opportunity to finebest of a tough situation? tune and create an exceptional experience. PT: One of the challenges this past year was AT: Who, in addition to you, is on the board of the delivery of content in a meaningful way. directors? What does the board do in general? Normally, it is “hands on,” and we had to get PT: Board members are Chair Elect Ryan Hunt, creative transitioning to Zoom only for the youth. Past Chair Jack Webb, Secretary Lauren Wright, The leadership of the organization really took on Finance Director Brian Razloznik, Development active roles in the classes (Youth and Adult) by rewriting Director Brig Serman, Membership Director Debra curriculum, finding locations where we could socially distance or Meers, Marketing Director Lisa Mann, Director of Adult Training simply attending and being part of the conversations. Dawud Mabon, Assistant Director of Adult Training Jakisha Jones, AT: Please describe what you believe Leadership Arlington Director of Youth Training Nancy Blinn, Director of Youth Training means to the city. Chris Pettitt, Assistant Director of Youth Training Blake Davidson, PT: Leadership Arlington is an integral part to the future of the Youth Class Representative Owen McGilberry, Adult Class city of Arlington. We introduce individuals to “THE AMERICAN Representative Jamil Ahmed, Director of Outreach Julie Reinhardt, DREAM CITY,” which is a diverse city full of opportunities and JLA Representative Jennifer Cummings, Arlington Chamber challenges. We hope they’ll plug in and find ways to lead and Representative Henry Lewczyk, UTA Representative James serve in this great city to further the opportunities and tackle those Hollis, Parliamentarian Jean Jewell, Webmaster Leslie McGuire, challenges head on. We are identifying, developing and educating At Large Blake Barry, At Large Kinsey Thayer, At Large Kathryn future community leaders. Haubold, At Large Brandon Demings, and Program Director 114
ARLINGTON TODAY • August 2021 • arlingtontoday.com
