Session topics and times are subject to change without notice.
Thursday, May 21
7:30-8:00 a.m.
Registration and Light Breakfast
8:00-8:15 a.m.
Welcome and Overview
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Marissa Ximenez, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Floresville
8:15-9:15 a.m.
Transformational Leadership for Small-City Success
In small cities, leadership is personal, visible, and deeply connected to community outcomes. In this insightful session, Michael Alexander of the LION Institute will share the core principles of transformational leadership and how they apply to small-city officials. Learn how to inspire staff and residents, build trust, and create a culture that encourages innovation, engagement, and better results, even with limited resources. You’ll leave with clear, actionable strategies to strengthen your leadership impact and help your community move forward with confidence.
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Michael Alexander, Managing Principal, The LION Organizational Development Institute
9:20-10:20 a.m.
Governing with Clarity: Strengthening Council and Staff Partnerships for Effective Leadership
Effective city governance requires clarity, trust, and strong collaboration between elected officials and city staff. This session explores practical governance best practices that strengthen council–staff relationships, clarify roles and expectations, and improve communication and decision-making.
G – This session meets the TML CMO program core competency requirement for governance.
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Kevin Johnson, Co-Founder and Executive Trainer, Express Pros Training
10:20-10:30 a.m.
Stretch Break
10:30-11:30 a.m.
Economic Development for Small Towns
In this session, you will hear about the basic legal requirements relating to the economic development tools available to Texas cities and how those tools may be used to strengthen local economies.
F – This session meets the TML CMO program core competency requirement for finance.
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Charles Zech, Partner, Denton, Navarro, Rodriguez, Bernal, Santee & Zech, P.C.
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Networking Lunch
12:40-1:40 p.m.
Budgeting and Forecasting
Explore the foundation of city budgets through the eyes of a finance officer. From fund basics to tips for creating revenue and expenditure budgets, this session will provide an overview of the budgeting process and provide practical examples for you to implement.
F – This session meets the TML CMO program core competency requirement for finance.
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Mike Rodgers, Director of Finance, City of Belton
1:45-3:00 p.m.
Navigating Grant Funding for Small Cities
This practical one-hour session will guide small-city leaders through the world of grant funding. Learn how to identify available resources, navigate the application process, and leverage grants to support local projects. Walk away with actionable strategies to increase your city’s funding opportunities.
F – This session meets the TML CMO program core competency requirement for finance.
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Austin Bleess, City Manager, City of Jersey Village
3:00-3:10 p.m.
Stretch Break
3:10-4:15 p.m.
Legislative Briefing: What’s Coming in 2027
Small cities face unique challenges and the 90th legislative session will bring bills that could directly affect your community’s budget and local services. TML staff will highlight key city-related bills emerging as priorities and offer practical tips for staying informed, engaging with lawmakers, and making your city’s voice heard
G – This session meets the TML CMO program core competency requirement for governance.
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JJ Rocha, Director of Public Policy and Engagement; Rick Ramirez, Director of State and Federal Relations; and Mike Martin, Legislative Counsel, Texas Municipal League
Friday, May 22
8:00-8:30 a.m.
Light Breakfast
8:30-9:30 a.m.
Building Conversational Capacity: Aligning Leaders Around a Shared Vision
Effective councils and leadership teams don’t avoid disagreement- they learn how to remain in dialogue when perspectives differ. This interactive session helps city staff build the conversational capacity needed to align around a shared vision, improve communication, and work productively through differences. Participants will explore how trust, curiosity, emotional regulation, and dialogue skills support ongoing collaboration, reduce breakdowns, and lead to better decisions and results. Attendees will leave with practical tools and shared language they can immediately apply to strengthen alignment and maintain constructive dialogue over time.
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Sheryl Chacko, President, Innovative Engagement
9:35-10:30 a.m.
Run Efficient Meetings: Parliamentary Tips for City Leaders
Struggling with meetings that run too long or go off track? This session demystifies parliamentary procedure and provides practical strategies to keep discussions focused, decisions clear, and meetings productive. Learn easy-to-apply rules that make city meetings smoother for leaders and participants alike.
G – This session meets the TML CMO program core competency requirement for governance.
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Mary Lynne Stratta, TRMC, MMC, Retired City Secretary
10:30-10:40 a.m.
Stretch Break
10:40-11:50 a.m.
Navigating Legal Challenges for Small Cities: A Practical Q&A
In this hands-on session, TML legal counsel will invite your questions on the key legal challenges and issues faced by your small town or city. Through an interactive discussion, we will tackle your top questions and provide you with practical insights to help you navigate the laws affecting your community.
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Sarah Tompkins, Stephanie, Huser, and Tad Cleaves, Legal Counsel, Texas Municipal League