FOUNDING COHORT · NOMINATION ONLY
Building the Greater Houston Region’s Next Generation of Transportation and Infrastructure Leaders
Great infrastructure requires leaders who understand not only their own work, but how the region’s systems, institutions, communities, and decisions fit together. The TAG Leadership & Policy Institute exists to build that kind of leader.
A selective, year-long leadership program for high-potential professionals working across the greater Houston region’s transportation and infrastructure ecosystem. Participants are nominated by their organizations and selected by committee.
01 — PROGRAM OVERVIEW
At a glance
Founding
Selective founding cohort
~20
Year-long
10 sessions + 2 capstone months
Third Friday
Nomination
Greater Houston region
Public, private, civic, and institutional
Jan
Session
Feb
Session
Mar
Session
Apr
Session
May
Session
Jun
Session
Jul
Capstone
Aug
Capstone
Sep
Session
Oct
Session
Nov
Session
Dec
Session
02 — WHO SHOULD BE NOMINATED
A high-potential professional whose influence is growing
Responsibilities and influence are growing
Ready for broader regional exposure and responsibility
Generally five or more years of experience
Exceptional candidates with less experience may be considered
Works constructively with people who bring different perspectives
Organizations may nominate as many qualified candidates as they wish; no more than two from any one organization will be selected
FIELDS
Working in transportation, infrastructure, or a related field, anywhere in the greater Houston region.
TRANSPORTATION | INFRASTRUCTURE | ENGINEERING | CONSTRUCTION | PLANNING | POLICY | CONSULTING | PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT | PORTS AND FREIGHT | UTILITIES AND ENERGY | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | RELATED FIELDS
A REGIONAL PROGRAM
Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria, Galveston, Waller, Chambers, and Liberty counties, and cities such as Sugar
Land, The Woodlands, Pearland, Baytown, Conroe, Katy, and League City, alongside the City of Houston and
Harris County. One or two sessions will be hosted in counties outside Harris County, and site visits rotate across
the region.
03 — WHAT PARTICIPANTS WILL GAIN
Five outcomes
Regional systems knowledge
How the region plans, funds, governs, builds, and operates infrastructure
Leadership development
A leadership skill practiced at every session
Institutional exposure
Direct access to agencies, companies, and leaders shaping the region
Cross-sector relationships
Public, private, and civic peers from across the region
Practical application
A capstone on a real regional or organizational challenge
04 — EMPLOYER COMMITMENT
What a sponsoring organization agrees to
Pay the participation fee
Release the participant for one Friday session per month, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., on the third Friday
Support full attendance and capstone work between sessions
Hold a kickoff conversation with the participant at the start of the program
Optional: suggest a capstone challenge drawn from your organization’s work, and attend the capstone presentations
Host or contribute to one cohort session, where possible
PARTICIPATION FEE · 12-MONTH PROGRAM
Private sector
Private sector
$3,500
$2,500
The participation fee supports the full cohort experience, including curriculum development and facilitation, program materials, access to senior leaders and subject-matter experts, leadership-development programming, site visits and experiential learning, meals and hospitality associated with program sessions, capstone support, networking and cohort activities, and program administration.
05 — HOW IT WORKS
Four steps
01
A supervisor, executive, or organizational leader submits a nomination. Nominating more than one person? Please rank them.
02
The nominee receives a separate application
03
The selection committee reviews completed applications using established selection criteria.
04
Selected candidates are invited to join the founding cohort.
06 — FAQ
Questions
Who can nominate?
Can an organization nominate more than one person?
Yes. Organizations may nominate as many qualified candidates as they wish. No more than two participants from any one organization will be selected for each cohort.
Do participants need to agree politically or professionally?
No. The Institute brings together people with different responsibilities, experiences, and viewpoints. Participants are expected to listen seriously, challenge ideas constructively, and work productively across differences.
What is the capstone?
A practical project on a real regional or organizational challenge, done individually or in small teams and presented to the cohort and invited regional leaders at the December session. It is not an academic research paper.
When will selections be announced?
Selected candidates will be notified once the selection committee completes its review of nominatedand applied candidates.
Can individuals apply directly?
No. Participation is nomination-only — ask your organization to nominate you.
Is the program limited to the City of Houston?
No. The Institute is designed for the greater Houston region and will intentionally include participants, institutions, speakers, and perspectives from surrounding cities and counties, including Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria, Galveston, Waller, Chambers, and Liberty counties.
What is the time commitment?
The Institute is a year-long experience. Formal sessions are held from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the third Friday of the month, with 10 sessions and 2 months (July and August) reserved for capstone development and other program work.
What does the participation fee cover?
The participation fee supports the full cohort experience, including curriculum development and facilitation, program materials, access to senior leaders and subject-matter experts, leadership-development programming, site visits and experiential learning, meals and hospitality associated with program sessions, capstone support, networking and cohort activities, and program administration.