Leadership Wyoming: 25 Years Of Shaping The Cowboy State’s Next Wave Of Leaders

Leadership Wyoming has been bringing Wyoming's professionals together for a quarter-century. To celebrate, nearly half of the program's graduates gathered in Laramie this month for a night of hugs, laughs, and standing ovations. 

It was standing room only at the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center in Laramie for Leadership Wyoming's 25th Anniversary celebration. Nearly 500 graduates from the last 25 years, including at least one person from every class since 2001, mingled and greeted each other in the lobby. 

Josh Fuller, Class of 2019 and a Leadership Wyoming board member, served as the evening's host. He didn't mince words when he declared the program as "the most important organization in the history of the State of Wyoming." 

"Over 1,000 alumni have experienced the power of leadership, learning, and nearly half of you showed up tonight," he said at the Nov. 11 event. "What on earth could I possibly say to a room full of some of the best and brightest characters that Wyoming has ever known. Every single one of you has shaped our great state in more ways than you could ever imagine." 

Partners For Leaders

Bill Schilling, founder of the Wyoming Heritage Foundation, was on a retreat in Pinedale with several other Wyoming business leaders through the Wyoming Business Alliance when he got the idea for a "leadership program." He found an advocate for the concept in fellow retreat participant Eli Bebout, then the Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives. 

"Time rolls by, and we have a conversation with the University of Wyoming," Schilling said. "It's not your regular conversation, as it was an early morning meeting at the state capitol, and we provided President Philip Dubois with this proposition: why don't we do a leadership program?"

Schilling and his associates pitched a joint venture between the University of Wyoming and the Wyoming Business Alliance, "joining hands" to run a statewide leadership program. Dubois agreed, on the condition that at least one session be held in Laramie. 

"Now we've got this commitment, but we have no idea how to do a leadership program," Schilling said. 

After researching other programs and meeting with consultants in Denver, Colorado, the framework of Leadership Wyoming was established. Schilling soon secured a $200,000 contribution to help launch the program, provided it was "perfectly balanced" in terms of age, ethnicity, and gender representation. 

When the first Leadership Wyoming class of 40 people met in Jackson in 2000, nobody involved fully recognized that they were laying the foundation for an ongoing effort to bring Wyoming's best and brightest together to learn and grow. 

"That's how it all got started," Schilling said. 

Recognized For Recognition

Schilling recalled Leadership Wyoming's origins during his "Schilling minute" at the podium during the 25th Anniversary celebration. As he mentioned the key people who helped him build the program, like Bebout and Dubois, he acknowledged them as they listened and enjoyed their dinner nearby. 

Schilling couldn't escape without being recognized himself. Mandy Fabel, executive director of Leadership Wyoming, presented Schilling with an award honoring "his tremendous boldness for what was possible."

"He had an incredible belief in what a small group of people could do to change the state of Wyoming," she said. "Without that willingness to try something new and color outside of the lines, truly, not one of us would be in this room today." 

As Schilling accepted his award to a prolonged standing ovation, he shared the moment with Bebout at the center of the room. He described it as "a joyous moment" for himself and his family. 

"We journeyed here from a distant place, as some of you know, but Wyoming has always been in my heart," he said. 

Schilling had a big week in Laramie. He was inducted into the Wyoming Business Alliance Hall of Fame and was the man of the hour during the Wyoming Business Alliance's Annual Governor's Conference the next day. 

Fabel also presented awards to the program's current and former board chairs: Winnie Smith, Randy Bruins, Tim Shepherd, and Josh Fuller. According to Fabel, they were the driving force who helped the leaders of Leadership Wyoming "stand on our own two feet" and lay the foundation for the program to become its own nonprofit in 2019. 

"If You've Earned It" 

The 25th anniversary celebration was also an occasion for other awards and recognition. The Tom Scott Civility Award went to Rosie Berger, affectionately known as the "safari tour guide" for Leadership Wyoming during its annual visit to the Wyoming Legislature. 

The last award of the evening was the newly established Host of the Year Award. One of the many facets that help Leadership Wyoming function is the hosts who offer their time, mentorship, and, occasionally, their homes for current program participants so they can continue their journeys of growth over dinner and discussion during sessions in Pinedale, Casper, Rock Springs, and elsewhere. 

"This award represents a deep sense of gratitude for those who have gone above and beyond and make every single class feel at home," Fuller said. "I'm told there's a pervasive selection process for this, and I think about half of this room could win this award." 

The inaugural Host of the Year Award went to Eric and Kelly Barlow. The Barlows, both graduates of Leadership Wyoming, have hosted entire classes at their Gillette ranch for years. 

"I went to 18 different schools, 1st grade through 11th, and Wyoming is the longest I've ever lived anywhere," Kelly said. "We love all of you guys. That's why we opt to have a crowded table. I collect people. I collect friends, and that's what we love."

Eric Barlow said he and his wife were "blessed and honored" to be recognized, but he had his own recognition to bestow. One of the hallmarks of a visit to the Barlow Ranch is donning a shoulder-length plastic glove to do ultrasounds on pregnant cattle, facilitated by Barlow. 

"Some of you left something at the ranch, and I brought it with me," he said, presenting a box full of gloves. "If you earned this sleeve, you can wear it tonight." 

That got one of the biggest cheers of the evening, mingled with cries of "Barlow for Governor." Everyone in the room knew what it meant to earn one of those sleeves. 

"Wyoming is a beautiful place, and it doesn't take much to do the right thing," he said. "All of you, doing what you do every day, are stepping up to do the right thing, the better thing for Wyoming. So, thank you." 

The List Of Life-Affirming Connections

The final official remarks of the evening came from Fuller, who shared the success of the "audacious" $3 million fundraising campaign to ensure a stable future for Leadership Wyoming. 

As of that evening, nearly $2 million had been raised toward the ultimate goal. Fuller took that opportunity to remind the assembled alumni of the "life-affirming connections" they were fortunate to receive through Leadership Wyoming.

"We'd like to humbly ask you for your help in reaching the finish line," he said. Prior to running for elected office, Wyoming state auditor Kristi Racines was quoted as saying, 'If not me, then who?' Tonight, I'd like to further that. If not us, then who?"

Before the formal remarks ended, Fuller asked the Leadership Wyoming alumni to lift their glasses in a toast to "the next 25 years, the leaders we've yet to meet, the ideas we haven't dreamt up, and the horizons that will inspire the next generation." 

Fuller doubled down on his belief that Leadership Wyoming is "the most important organization" in Wyoming's history by listing the wide range of industries and careers represented by participants over the last 25 years. 

"From sitting U.S. senators to artists, tribal leaders, major generals in the military, state legislators, wildlife guides, nonprofit directors, architects, entrepreneurs, first responders, philanthropists, woodworkers, physical therapists, state auditors, retirees, lobbyists, manufacturing executives, university presidents, professors, county clerks, civil engineers and, if we're lucky, maybe even a future governor," he said.  "We are all connected by the shared magic of Leadership Wyoming." 

There was one more person to be recognized before the dance floor was turned over to the raucous bunch. Fuller's final remarks lauded Fabel, who had spent most of the evening turning the spotlight toward others. 

"Fabel is the soul of Leadership Wyoming," he said. "From the moment she stepped into this role, she brought a rare blend of energy, authenticity, and clarity of mission. Under her guidance, Leadership Wyoming has become more than a program. It's a movement that connects people across industries, ideologies, and geographies. It challenges all of us to think bigger, listen more carefully, and lead with courage." 

Fabel humbly got to her feet, surrounded by the final and most prolonged standing ovation of the evening. 

With that, the dance floor opened up, with the Barlows leading the way. Those who didn't head to the dance floor either dashed across the room to hug anyone they hadn't yet or sequestered themselves with colleagues to discuss their current and future plans. 

"That's the power of this organization," Fuller said. "Each of us doesn't just have that one person. We have this entire room full of people. Twenty-five years of life-affirming connections. We will be there for you."

Cowboy State Daily reporter Andrew Rossi is a member of the Leadership Wyoming Class of 2026.

Andrew Rossi can be reached at arossi@cowboystatedaily.com.