HISTORY: 

Since 1981, Leadership Amarillo & Canyon (LAC) has educated and developed area leaders on the challenges facing our community. Our ten-month leadership development program is designed to introduce leadership tools that will make better employees, leading to a better workplace, better families and ultimately a better community. Participants will meet one day a month to learn and tour various businesses and industries in the community. The curriculum presented will teach participants first-hand knowledge of leadership and how these tools will have direct application for their business and personal lives.

Teen Leadership Amarillo & Canyon (TLAC) is a program of Leadership Amarillo & Canyon (LAC) a “not for profit” 501 (c) (3) leadership training organization. TLAC is dedicated to strengthening the local community by enhancing sophomore, junior and senior high school students’ skills to better enable them to become future civic, corporate, and political leaders. Through TLAC students can realize their capacity to effect positive change in our community. They also discover common interests and goals while learning to appreciate diverse personalities, talents and values. West Texas A&M University college trainers facilitate sessions, along with hands-on activities and field trips to area businesses and service organizations.

Leadership Now, started in 2009, is a program of Leadership Amarillo & Canyon (LAC).  Developed for juniors and seniors at the high school level, Leadership Now exposes participants to specific leadership styles.  Leadership Now will concentrate on the challenges, pressures and rewards of leading others to their success.  Participants will be exposed to military, business, and sports leadership models.  Students must successfully complete Teen Leadership Amarillo & Canyon (TLAC) to be eligible for Leadership Now.

Sharon Miner, Executive Director

In January, 2004 Sharon Miner was named the new executive director of Leadership Amarillo & Canyon.  The mission of Leadership Amarillo & Canyon is to strengthen the community by developing and training leaders.  Before joining Leadership Amarillo & Canyon, Mrs. Miner was the District Director for Senator Teel Bivins for six and one-half years.  During her tenure with Senator Bivins, Mrs. Miner handled the day-to-day operations of the district office and spent a session in Austin as his legislative assistant, where she handled criminal justice and health and human services issues.  In addition to working for the Texas Senate, Mrs. Miner spent seven years with the Texas House of Representatives and did an internship with U.S. Congressman Mac Thornberry.

In November, 2008 Ms. Miner traveled to 7 United States Military Air Force bases in the Pacific Rim to teach leadership.  Ms Miner traveled to Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu, Hawaii; Andersen Air Force Base in Guam; Okinawa; Yokota Air Force Base in Tokyo, Japan; Misawa Air Force Base in Misawa City, Japan; Osan Air Force Base in Osan, Korea; and Kunsan Air Base in Gunsan, Korea.

Mrs. Miner speaks publicly at banquets, conferences and retreats.  She is a graduate of West Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science.  She has served on various board of directors and currently is serving on the West Texas A&M University Foundation and Windows on a Wider World.  In 2005 Mrs. Miner was nominated for the Girl Scouts Woman of Distinction Award.

In addition, Mrs. Miner is very active in the Princess Ministries.  Princess Ministries is an organization that gives tea parties for women and children who find themselves in challenging situations.  In addition, Princess Ministries gives birthday parties for the children at Panhandle Assessment Center.

She is married to Jerry Lee Miner and they have a son Shawn Michael.  Mrs. Miner has made the Amarillo community her home since 1978.