Saturday, May 4, 2024
Felicia Peters
An unexpected illness almost caused local realtor Felicia Peters to be dropped from the Leadership Granbury program.
But with a determined attitude and perseverance, Peters was able to graduate from a program that she describes as being “resource building.”
“It gives you a different view of different things in Granbury,” she explained. “I’ve lived in Granbury 30 years this year, but I didn’t know everybody, so it was interesting to get to meet new people.”
Leadership Granbury is a program that creates an awareness of community resources and needs, enhances leadership skills, and helps identify future leaders, according to the website.
By investing in the community, the program allows Hood County business owners, government officials, civic leaders, healthcare providers, educators and more to participate in team building exercises and learn more about the community that they call “home.”
“You have to fill out the application, and once they accept you, you go one morning and have all these team building exercises. It rained a lot that day, so there were a couple of exercises you didn’t have to do, which I went ‘Yay,’” Peters said, chuckling.
Leadership Granbury begins with a mandatory full-day retreat that acquaints participants with each other and the program. The retreat is the first step in creating bonds and friendships that will last a lifetime, according to the website.
The course then consists of one full-day sessions each month — from September through May — that offer learning opportunities and challenge participants to become actively involved in building a better tomorrow for Granbury.
Peters said that her favorite activity was building three mobile chicken coops for Rancho Brazos Community Centers in March.
“I really enjoyed building the chicken houses. I got a huge kick out of that,” she said. “It was rainy and overcast that day, but everyone worked together well.”
As she had previously completed a realtor leadership program several years ago, Peters was already acclimated to the type of projects and tours that she would have to complete in Leadership Granbury.
“One day we went to the police station, and jail, and that was so funny,” she said, chuckling. “I was like intimidated going to the jail.”
She explained how she hid behind Cheshe Langford of Southern Star Market on the square — although the plan didn’t have quite the effect she was looking for, as both ladies are five foot two.
“It was very interesting,” she said, chuckling.
The group also got to visit the schools and meet Hood County Sheriff Roger Deeds and Chief of Police Mitch Galvan.
“I loved the variety of people in the class,” Peters added. “We had a number of people who were involved in the YMCA, and it was interesting to hear the input from the number of people who worked for nonprofits. When they start talking, there’s verbiage and a lingo that they all get into.”
Peters is currently the broker/owner of Peerless Realty Group — a business that she founded in 2017. She has been a licensed realtor since 1999.
She added that she was also surprised at the variety of ages from other members in the class.
“I’m 68, and there were other people in their 60s, 30s, 40s, and 50s,” she added. “It was just a very interesting experience all the way around.”
Although anyone is eligible to apply or make a nomination to Leadership Granbury, the board selects a maximum of 25 qualified individuals every year.
To learn more about how to become a part of Leadership Granbury, email leadershipgranbury@gmail.com.
