Liz Sanger
Executive Director
Founding Board Member
"It's about connecting a community of genuine leaders in Texas who are interested in emergent leadership, career/life opportunities, and fellowship with people who embrace diversity and inclusion. We welcome all who are interested to contact us and learn more about our commitment to our members, sponsors, and partners as we continue our quest to give back to the communities, regions, and state that we live in."
Liz serves as the executive director for Texas Emerging Leaders where she is laser-focused on helping others be successful by providing unique, organic opportunities to grow and connect with genuine leaders.​ In her time off, she doubles as Supermom and spends time with her husband, Chris.
Chris Sanger
Founding Board Member
I’ve created, achieved, and connected with a number of people who work well together, so it made sense to help put something into motion that is greater than myself and empowers people to step into their rightful place in leadership and discuss it openly.
Texas Emerging Leaders was created with an innovative and evolutionary mindset. We are a community of individuals who think outside the box and do whatever it takes. We’re here to make an impact in every aspect of our lives, the lives of the people we have chosen to surround ourselves with, and the causes we align with.
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I am full-time financial advisor, videographer, and singer-songwriter. I enjoys spending time with my wife Lizzie, and playing competitive games with my kids.
Kaelan Cheatham
Founding Member
​I consider the true mark of success as finding something you love to do, and I’ve done just that. Because of this, I want to help others experience this same feeling. This organization brings intelligent professionals together from diverse occupations and backgrounds. Networking with these professionals not only provides an opportunity for personal growth, but community growth as well. Texas Emerging Leaders provides an outstanding platform for empowering leaders to break out and emerge as a leader organically.”
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I am a mortgage loan officer at Pilgrim Mortgage and I love helping a family’s dream become a reality. When I'm not working on mortgage loans and closings, I'm at the river, playing sports, traveling, hunting, or hanging out with family & friends.
Diana Loesch
Founding Member
I’m a recent transplant to THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS, and in all honesty, I never knew I could love a place so much. But I do. I have been a licensed mental health therapist since 2006, and recently opened my own practice, The Happiness Warriors Counseling Center. I am blessed! I have the gift of loving family and friends, and the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of others! What I love the most about what I do is being a part of improving someone’s life: This is the only life we get. And in that spirit, I'd like to share one of my favorite quotes:
“You don’t have to see the whole staircase to take the first step.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.
Take a step, it beats treading water.
Mercy Boatright
Founding Member
I own a full service real estate company that services south Texas and the hill country areas. We strive to be the best in our business by always putting our clients needs first. House Hunters NB Realty goes above and beyond to be ethical and negotiate the best deals possible. I have 18 years of investing, running personal businesses, marketing and serving endless amount of non-profit committees.
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I love helping people!! I have a calling to help people in different aspects of their lives. I love planning events for charities, spending time with family/friends, vacation and working out.
Ryan Garcia
Founding Member
I am a Senior Sales Manager with Marriott International. I support a total of 12 properties in the Austin and San Antonio markets. I work with meeting planners to find solutions for groups and room blocks at my properties. I enjoy working with my clients and finding solutions based on their needs. Each of my clients are unique in the type of property they need. To me, the relationships I build with these people is really what I enjoy most.
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I am here to build new relationships locally with my community of New Braunfels. I have been involved with associations in Austin and San Antonio over the years for work, but never locally. I am open to serving my community in a variety of ways now and in the future.
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In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends. We enjoy hiking, kayaking, board games and just about anything else outdoors.
Eric Newland
Founding Member
I am currently in the process of obtaining my Texas Real Estate License and will be starting my House Hunting career with House Hunters NB, working my favorite REALTOR ®, Mercy Boatright. I recently retired from over thirty years in the United States Army.
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From the first invite to a Texas Emerging Leaders (TEL) event – I knew I could fit. Meeting Chris and Liz Sanger and knowing they were the leadership convinced me that I was joining the right tribe here in New Braunfels.
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I do what I do because I care about helping people find their ultimate castle or refuge for their lives. A home really is one of the most important decisions we make in life, it helps shape how we go into the world and make our living, it supports how we raise our families, and is for many the largest investment they make in their lives. After leading America’s Sons and Daughters in the Army for many years, I decided I wanted to be part of that important decision in people’s lives.
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In my free time I spend time with my wife, read, play chess, swim and when I have time – go hunting or shooting. I am also a very big fan of eating out and different restaurants and trying different ethnic foods. Having lived in 6 countries and traveled to over 30 countries these last 30 years, I find it very exciting to engage, learn, and grow my understanding of so many varied cultures from around the world. Food can tell you a lot about a culture.