Leading2Win 2025 Event Unites Military and Civilian Communities Across Texas

The Leading to Win Texas Foundation successfully hosted Leading2Win 2025: Bridging the Gap, a four-day leadership event held September 11–14 across venues in Austin and Round Rock, Texas. The "un-conference" brought together service members, veterans, spouses, employers, military supporters and community leaders while facilitating new connections, shared expertise and strengthened resilience across generations and sectors.

Joseph Kopser, L2W Planning Chair and Leading to Win Texas Foundation Board Chair and Co-Founder, emphasized the event's mission: "Leading to Win is about bridging the gap between military and civilian life, across generations and sectors, so that we can strengthen our communities together." The event's significance lies in its approach to addressing the transition challenges faced by military personnel returning to civilian life while creating meaningful connections between diverse communities.

Leading2Win 2025 featured multiple components that demonstrated its broad impact. The 9/11 Memorial Reception at American Legion Post 76 attracted nearly 60 attendees and featured musical guest Monte Warden. The Friday Conference & Resource Fair at Dell Diamond drew over 250 participants, including 51 Subject Matter Experts powered by Red Thread X and 25 organizations. The conference featured a fireside chat with Navy Seal and former NFL Player Clint Bruce, providing unique insights into leadership transitions from military to civilian careers.

Military representation was substantial throughout the event, with co-located representatives from the Meet Your Army event from Fort Hood, Texas, Army Futures Command, Army Recruiting Command and US Army ROTC. The Texas Army ROTC Tailgate at the University of Texas at Austin against UTEP football game attracted over 75 participants. This timing coincided with US News and World Report naming UT-Austin as the number one university in Texas for veterans, highlighting the growing support for military-connected students in higher education.

The Travis Manion Foundation's 9/11 Heroes Run at Camp Mabry demonstrated community engagement with more than 600 runners participating. Kopser noted the event's growing momentum: "These numbers demonstrate the growing momentum of our mission. Leading2Win 2025 proved that when we bring people together across generations and communities, powerful connections are made. From the 9/11 Memorial Reception to the Travis Manion Foundation's 9/11 Heroes Run, every moment reinforced our mission of bridging the gap and building a stronger, more resilient future."

With 20 sponsors and donors and hundreds of attendees across multiple events, Leading2Win 2025 underscored the importance of collaboration between military and civilian communities. The foundation's work in fostering hands-on workshops, shared experiences and leadership opportunities addresses critical needs in veteran transition and community integration. Sponsors and partner organizations including IBM, Patriots Hall Dripping Springs, Army Futures Command, JP Morgan Chase, American Legion Post 76, and Combined Arms contributed to the event's success.

Lauren Postler, Finance Chair, expressed gratitude for the support system: "We're grateful to the sponsors and partner organizations that made the 4-day series of events so successful. The military connected community in Central Texas continues to prove it's one of the best in the world and we can't wait to continue this momentum!" The event's impact extends beyond immediate connections, potentially influencing veteran employment outcomes, community support networks, and intergenerational understanding between military and civilian populations. For more information about future initiatives, visit Leading2Win.org.