The Katy Area Economic Development Council and the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce will unveil leadership programs next year.

The Katy Area EDC will welcome its first class of Katy-area community members and business leaders to its leadership institute in February.

The program has been developed through a partnership with the University of Houston Bauer School of Business, the Katy Area EDC, and the Katy Technology and Education Foundation, according to a press release. Each class will have 30-40 participants.

“We are thrilled to welcome the first ever Katy Area Leadership Institute Class in just a few short months,” said Stan Goss, the chair of the Katy Area EDC Leadership Committee, in the release. “This program will assist in the cultivation of leaders in the Katy area and further the success of our community as a whole.”

The institute will focus on the following topics:
  • networking with local executives;
  • shaping future leaders of the community;
  • teaching about social, community and economic aspects of the Katy area;
  • fostering personal, educational and civic leadership abilities; and
  • instilling ownership in participants for the Katy area’s future success.
Those who complete the program will receive a University of Houston Bauer School of Business Leadership Excellence Certificate and six hours of credit that can be applied towards a master’s degree at the university.


UH's business faculty run and primarily teach the program at the new University of Houston at Katy campus.

The program will be nine months with each month featuring daylong events in topics such as leadership development, economic development, community development, cultural development innovation development, strategy development, negotiation and conflict resolution.

Participants will mark their completion of the program with a graduation event.

The program's price was not included in the press release. Community Impact Newspaper reached out but a representative was not immediately available. The online application states the application fee is $4,500. To learn more about the program and to apply, visit: http://business.katyedc.org/form/view/18128


In August 2020, the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce will also launch its own leadership development program called Leadership Katy.

Similar to the Katy Area EDC’s program, Katy Leadership will help community leaders network as well as to explore key business issues in the area and bring forward solutions, according to a press release.

The 10-month program will accept 30 individuals each year. Participants will meet once per month to learn about issues in the community through lectures, discussion groups, on-site visits and simulations.

Katy Leadership will cover key segments including business and economic development, health care, municipal government, education and community as well as cultural awareness.


Four two-day retreats will be included in the $2,500 tuition for the program.

The opening retreat will be in Galveston, followed by others in Austin; Washington, D.C.; and Camp Allen as a closing retreat.

Alumni will complete a community service project at the end of each program.

To learn more about the program and apply, contact President and CEO Matthew Ferraro at [email protected].