PROFILE IN LEADERSHIP
Fred Meisenheimer
Sales Coordinator
Lonestar Truck Group
2007 Graduate of Leadership Texarkana

Leadership is... "Doing what’s necessary to make your organization great, and keeping it great.  Leadership is action, and not words.  We can all sit around and come up with great ideas, but if we’re not willing to get in the mud and do something, then it’s useless.  Then once you’ve created a great organization, you’ve got to make sure you’ve taught others around you how to keep it going after you are gone.  Sustainability is the difference in great leaders."

Fred Meisenheimer is a fun-loving person with a passion for his family.  Many times you will find him with his pretty wife, Cassy, supporting a local charity or at a fundraiser.  If not there, you will see them out together as a family enjoying life.  

Fred found his way to Texarkana after graduating from Baylor University with a degree in Business.  He later returned to Texas A & M - Texarkana to seek his Masters in the same field.  After several years of service in the banking industry he now works with Lonestar Truck Group as their Sales Coordinator.  

All along the way in Fred’s career in Texarkana he has given of his time to the community in various ways.  He has served as President of Junior Achievement, Leadership Texarkana Board, and currently serves on the Pleasant Grove School  ISD Board and Wadley Foundation Board.

Leadership Texarkana caught up with Fred and asked him a few questions about the community and leadership and this is what he had to share… 

What have you learned most about making a difference in Texarkana (or about your opportunity for community leadership) from being a part of Leadership Texarkana?
Through LT, I was able to learn about the history of Texarkana, and learn about the history of community involvement.  There are a lot of great people in this community that work hard every day to make a difference.  They have deep compassion, and commitment to making Texarkana what it is, and I am just trying to do my part.

What’s your passion of involvement in our community–where you hope to make a difference?
Today, it’s my kids.  I want them to grow up happy, and secure.  I want the things they are a part of to be a fun experience that they’ll think fondly of when they are older.  I don’t care if we win or lose ball games, but I want them to have good time playing the game.  So the sports league has to be run well, be organized, financially sound, and supportive of the coaches involved.  My children don’t have to be the smartest in their class, but I want their classroom experience to be enjoyable, and I do want them to learn something.  Therefore the district needs to be run well, be organized, financially sound, and supportive of its teachers, administration, staff, and supportive of the kids.

What do many people not know about you that you would to share with us?
I’m not patient.  I’m trying to work on this, but it’s difficult for me to sit around and wait for things, especially when I think I know how to fix it myself.  I hate to wait.

What are some of your passions and hobbies?  What do you most love to do in Texarkana? 
Last summer, we bought a boat and taught my then 3 & 4 year old boys how to ski.  We spent every Friday afternoon through Sunday evening at the lake and on the water, and I’m really looking forward to doing that again in about a month.