Theme: Midland Pride - Ideas worth spreading FOR Midland

We are gathering some of the top influencers in the community to discuss a variety of topics to help increase community pride in a transitional community with unique opportunities and complexities to deal with as we grow.

Midland Community Theatre
2000 W Wadley Ave
Midland, Texas, 79705
United States

Bobby Burns

President & CEO, Midland Chamber of Commerce

Bobby has led the Chamber to form MidlandFirst as a catalyst for enhancing Midland’s Quality of Place. In addition to his 30 plus years of business experience as owner of Robt. Burns Financial Group, Bobby served as the Director of the JBS Public Leadership Institute at UTPB. Bobby also served three terms as Mayor of Midland. During his mayoral tenure, Bobby was instrumental in several key projects including the expansion and retail development of Loop 250, the addition of a new Midland International Airport Terminal, and the vision for and construction of Scharbauer Sports Complex. Bobby's believes leadership begins with service to one’s community. Bobby holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Baylor University and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Bobby and his wife Denise have been married for 37 years. Their son Austin Burns and his wife, Whitney and son, Tate, live in Ft. Worth.

John James

CEO of MODE Communications

Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, John is the youngest of six. He received his BBA in Marketing from St. Mary’s University. He earned his Master of Public Administration from Texas A&M. John’s professional career began in city government in Bryan, Texas. He moved to Midland in 1995 to join TOMCAT USA, Inc. as it’s General Manager and then CEO where he guided the local company to become a multi-national corporation. In 2011, John started MODE Communications, an award-winning marketing company and serves as its CEO. Some of John’s past civic and volunteer efforts in our community include service on the Midland City Council from 2008 - 2013, Vice President of the Midland College Board of Trustees, Midland Development Corporation, President; and the Midland Chamber of Commerce Board. In addition, John has also served our state through state appointments from both Governor’s Bush and Perry.

Marcy Madrid

VP of Marketing and Planning for Midland Health

Marcy oversees strategic planning, community health outreach, marketing and public relations, sales as well as employee engagement and patient experience. Led by the overwhelming research and evidence supporting plant-based nutrition in healthcare, Marcy has spearheaded a community garden project, helped launch the Food Is Medicine health conference in West Texas and collaborated with the city, school district and Midland College to increase health literacy through a variety of cross-city community outreach activities and events. Marcy is among the founding members of Healthy City Inc. as well as Pink the Basin Inc., which are both locally grown non-profits. Before coming to Midland Health, Marcy was a morning show anchor and reporter for the local NBC affiliate, where she was recognized and awarded for her writing and storytelling skills by the Texas Association of Broadcasters. Marcy is a mother to 6 children and celebrating 12 years of marriage to her husband, Carlos Madrid.

Patrick Payton

Senior Pastor of Stonegate Fellowship

Patrick has met personally with President George W. Bush on matters of human rights and freedom as well as helping lead a delegation to Khartoum, Sudan to strengthen the prospects of peace and stability in the region. Patrick has continued his involvement in various capacities in Africa and Asia on issues related to education, humanitarian assistance, and international religious freedom. In 2015 Patrick was selected to the inaugural class of the Presidential Leadership Scholars initiative, a prestigious program that operates in cooperation with the presidential centers of former Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Patrick’s most recent venture is the movement known as Start the Conversation; a gathering of regional leaders seeking to galvanize and establish a new Permian paradigm of excellence in critical social sectors so that the Permian Basin is as world famous for what it does above ground as it is for what it does below the ground.

Rosalind Perkins

Executive Director, Greater Ideal Family Life Center

Dr. Rosalind Perkins is the Executive Director of the Greater Ideal Family Life Center. She serves on the Educate Midland Board of Directors, a Midland Core Value Coach, and is the Christian Education Director at Greater Ideal Baptist Church. She has acquired over twenty six (26) years of experience in Education and Counseling and has received her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Houston Tillotson College, Austin, Texas. She earned her Master Degree in Counseling from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, Odessa Texas. She also earned her Doctoral degree in Ministry from Newburgh Theological Seminary. The special calling and anointing on her life gives value to everything, brings true awareness, intensity and purpose in her daily life. She is an inspiring workshop facilitator known for her high energy and motivational presentations. Revelation. Dr. Perkins is married to Carey and resides in Midland, Texas. They have three children and seven grandchildren.

Ryan Lassiter

Minister at Hunter Hills Church

Ryan is married to Sarah, and they have four amazing young children: George, Henry, Katherine, and Matthew. He is the Lead Minister at the Hunter Hills Church in Prattville, AL, a graduate of the Master’s of Religious Education Missional Leadership program at Rochester College, and a Doctor of Ministry candidate at Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN. In the midst of a broken world, Ryan is passionate about helping people find ways in which they can join in the restoration and redemption of all things.

Wes Perry

Community Investor

Wes Perry co-founded EGL Resources, Inc., an oil and gas exploration company in 1994 and currently serves as its CEO. He founded SES Investments, Ltd., in 1980, an oil, gas and real estate investment company. He has served as manager of PBEX, LLC since July 2012. Mr. Perry has served as a Director of Genie Energy, Ltd. (GNE) from September 2009. He is also Chairman of Genie Energy International Corporation. He has served as an Independent Director of Viper Energy Partners LP (VNOM) since 2014. He has served as a director of First Southern National Bank since 2016. Wes served on the Midland City Council from 2002 to 2008 and as the Mayor of Midland from January 2008 through January 2014. Wes holds a BS degree in Engineering from the University of Oklahoma. He serves on the Abell Hangar Foundation. He and his wife, Roni co-founded the Milagros Foundation in 1996. They have three married children and eight grandchildren.