Collin County Connects: Meet the Speakers

Thank you for joining us for the inaugural Collin County Connects event! Learn more about our esteemed speakers below.

The Honorable Florence Shapiro

Florence Shapiro has served Texas communities for over 3 decades. After graduating from the University of Texas, she was a teacher at Richardson High School before moving to Plano with her husband, Howard, in 1972, where she turned her focus to civic engagement. Shapiro was elected to the Plano City Council in 1979 serving until 1990 when she was elected the first female Mayor. In 1993, she was elected to serve in the Texas State Senate representing Collin County and the DFW area. Senator Shapiro spent 20 years serving District 8 in the Texas Senate, chairing both the State Affairs and the Education Committees. Today, after years of public service, Senator Shapiro has retired from public office and spends her time serving on many Boards. Here are some… The University of Texas in Austin

Co-Chair of the Strauss Institute for Civic Life at the Moody School
Member of the College of Education Advisory Council …where she was awarded the Distinguished Career Award at the Inaugural Distinguished Alumni ceremony

Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum

Chair-2017-2019
Lifetime Board Member

Educate Texas Governance Advisory Council

Commit Advisory Council
Communities Foundation Advisory Board

Kaleidoscope Park Foundation

Chair 2024 – since opening of the Park

But the Senator’s pride and joy is the name….Mimi to 12 grandchildren!

Ben Pruett

Ben Pruett is a native Californian with deep Texas roots. In November 2012, he and his wife, DeAnn, made Prosper their home, bringing with them a lifelong appreciation for community and public service. His Texas heritage runs especially deep — his second great-grandfather crossed the Sabine River in 1837, when Texas was a republic, and became one of the founders of the town of Seguin in 1839.

Ben retired after a distinguished 34-year career with Southern California Gas Company, serving in Public and Governmental Affairs, where he managed relationships with local and regional governments. His dedication to public service extended well beyond his professional life. For 20 years, he served on the Board of Directors for the City of Anaheim (California) Stadium, Inc., home of the California Angels Baseball Team. He also dedicated thirteen years to the City of Orange as a planning commissioner, helping shape the growth and character of the community.

Today, Ben is happily rooted in Prosper, where he values the strong sense of belonging that comes from supporting local causes, connecting with neighbors, and contributing to the town’s continued success. He currently serves as chairman of the Prosper Exchange, a public forum established to promote civic participation through honest dialogue and civil discourse across a range of challenging issues.

The Honorable Jeff Leach

State Representative Jeff Leach proudly serves the citizens of House District 67 in the heart of Collin County. Now serving in his seventh term, Representative Leach has consistently proven himself to be a dedicated and effective leader in the Texas Capitol, committed to strengthening Texas for future generations.

Throughout his service, Representative Leach has remained focused on addressing the challenges facing Texas families by reducing the burden of property taxes, investing in public education, strengthening the state’s energy grid, and advancing long-term infrastructure priorities including water, transportation, and disaster preparedness. In 2019, he authored and passed landmark legislation resulting in the constitutional amendment banning the imposition of a state income tax on individuals. He has also authored and supported legislation to secure the border, support active and retired teachers, and protect the rights and freedoms of Texans.

During the 89th Legislative Session, Representative Leach was appointed by Speaker Dustin Burrows to serve a fourth term as Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence. Additionally, Representative Leach was selected to serve on the House Committee on Public Education and the Calendars Committee. As Chairman of the House’s major legislative committee with oversight of the Texas justice system, Representative Leach worked to improve our state’s judiciary and advance sound reforms to civil practice and procedure. Specifically, he successfully authored legislation giving Texas judges a much-needed pay raise without raising legislator pensions, bolstered our state’s judiciary with the creation of new courts across the state and implemented various reforms that will ensure fair, equitable and expedient justice in Texas.

Born and raised in Plano, Representative Leach graduated from Plano Senior High before attending Baylor University. He earned his law degree from Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law, and currently practices at the law firm of Gray Reed & McGraw LLP in Dallas. Named a “Rising Star” by Texas Super Lawyer, Jeff specializes in complex commercial and civil litigation, construction law and real estate. Most recently, Representative Leach was named as a “Friend of the Judiciary” by the State Bar of Texas and was recognized as a “2019 Legislator of the Year” by the Texas Civil Justice League. Jeff serves on the Board of Trustees for Houston Baptist University, on the Texas Judicial Council and as a board member of the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute. Jeff and his wife Becky are the proud parents of Brady, Charlotte and Landry. In addition to service with numerous other community organizations, Jeff and Becky are active members of Cottonwood Creek Church.

The Honorable Mihaela Plesa

State Representative Mihaela Plesa made history as the first Democratic woman elected to represent Collin County in the Texas Legislature. She proudly serves the people of House District 70, which spans Plano, Allen, far north Dallas, and Richardson.

The daughter of Romanian immigrants who fled communism, Rep. Pleșa grew up believing deeply in the promise of America. As a small business owner, she learned firsthand the challenges families face and she works every day to deliver strong schools, fair taxes, and a business environment that helps our community thrive.

Rep. Pleșa’s political career began inside the Capitol as a legislative director, where she helped pass laws expanding healthcare access, supporting veterans, and investing in early childhood education. Now, as Vice Chair of both the House Democratic Caucus and the Committee on Pensions, Investments, and Financial Services, she continues to fight for opportunity, fairness, and a future that works for every family in Collin County.

Leanne Libby

With over 20 years of experience in sales, marketing, and leadership development, Leanne Libby is a trusted consultant for nonprofits and local businesses in North Texas. She specializes in helping organizations grow through strategic marketing, business development, and community engagement. A former corporate executive and local media leader, Leanne brings a unique blend of business expertise and heart for service. Today, she partners with mission-driven organizations to build customized strategies that amplify impact, strengthen operations, and drive sustainable growth.