Dallas Assembly Elects New Officers; Chris Luna is New President

DALLAS – The Dallas Assembly introduced its new officers and directors at an annual meeting held at Arlington Hall in Lee Park on June 1. Recognized for their leadership in business, civic, education, cultural or religious organizations, the civic group’s members represent a cross-section of the community. Chris Luna, senior counsel at MetroPCS, Inc. and a former Dallas City Council member, was elected president for the 2005-2006 term.

Founded in 1962, the Dallas Assembly includes a diverse group of leaders who have demonstrated leadership in civic life, business, education, government, law, medicine, religion, science or the arts. Membership is by invitation only and is limited to 150 individuals between the ages of 28 and 50. The Dallas Assembly’s purpose is to provide a forum for the enlightenment of the membership through the interchange and challenge of ideas and issues, and to maintain a high caliber of members whose commitment is to improving the greater Dallas community through positive dialogue.

Luna served on the Dallas City Council from 1991 to 1997, is a graduate of Leadership Richardson and serves on the boards of the Dallas Theater Center, Shared Housing Center, and Black Tie Dinner. Other Dallas Assembly officers and directors for 2005-06 include:


Immediate Past President
Wendy Lopez
CEO, LOPEZGARCIA Group

Treasurer
Leslie Torres
Partner, Deloitte & Touche, LLP

Secretary
Lea Anne Laughlin
Sales Manager, W Dallas Victory Residences

VP, Communications
Randy Ray
Partner, Gardere Wynne Sewell, LLP

VP, Dine Around
Angela Shellene
Vice President, Carol Reed Associates, Inc.

VP, Dine Around
Lawrence Gardner
Director, Cushman & Wakefield of Texas, Inc.

VP, Membership
Michael Sorrell
CEO, Victor Credo, LLC

VP, Membership
Maria Martineau Plankinton
Director, Tenet Healthcare Foundation

VP, Programs
Rob Walters
Partner, Vinson & Elkins, LLP

VP, Programs
Dan Routman
Venture Partner, BlackInc Ventures

VP, Seminar
Charlie Terrell
President, Hexter-Fair Insurance Agency Co.

VP, Seminar
Victor Toledo
Vice President of Legal Affairs, KB Homes

About The Dallas Assembly
Along with many other key community leaders, the Dallas Assembly counts among its ranks elected officials, chief executive officers, and executives of leading not-for-profit organizations. Past presidents of include Ambassador Robert S. Strauss, restaurateur Norman Brinker, Dallas’ former first lady Matrice Ellis Kirk, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson and Texas Rep. Dan Branch.

Through monthly luncheon meetings, annual seminars, and other special events, the Assembly seeks to inform and engage its members – and through them – activate the Dallas community. Featured guest speakers have included President George W. Bush, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Vice President Al Gore, Gov. Rick Perry, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, Stanley Marcus and the former Texas House Speaker, Rep. Pete Laney.

Each spring the Assembly provides an out-of-town seminar for its members to examine best practices and success stories from another community. Recent seminars have taken members and their guests to Chicago, Paris, New York City, Cleveland, New Orleans, Vienna, Houston, Monterrey, and San Francisco. Typically, the seminar is held in Washington, D.C., during the course of each new White House administration. In addition, the Assembly hosts an annual membership meeting and, every other year during the Texas Legislative session, it comes together for a day in Austin to dialogue with government leaders.