On April 8, 2025, The Cary Council hosted its annual Learning from Leaders program, a hybrid event held in person and recorded in real-time for our Learning From Leaders podcast. This unique event took place in the Debate Chamber on the campus of Old Parkland and featured a compelling conversation on business, investment, and civic leadership that was anchored by the growing buzz around “Y’all Street,” the new Texas Stock Exchange set to redefine public markets from the heart of North Texas.
The event brought together members and guests for an evening of insight and inspiration, marking a major milestone in The Cary Council’s journey and spotlighting the momentum building across North Texas.
“Public companies are a very efficient liquid way of getting badly needed capital to companies. And so to the extent that we can get that to be competitive, [The Texas Stock Exchange] is doing an amazing thing for the country.”
James Litinsky
Founder, Chairman & CEO of MP Materials
Y’all Street and the Future of Business in Dallas
The highlight of the evening was the wide-ranging discussion between Drew McKnight, Co-CEO and Managing Partner of Fortress Investment Group, and James Litinsky, Founder, Chairman & CEO of MP Materials and founder of JHL Capital Group. Moderated by Lili Clark, Vice Chair of The Cary Council, the panel explored the forces behind North Texas’ growth, from capital and infrastructure to talent and innovation.
Both McKnight and Litinsky, recent transplants to Dallas, offered fresh perspectives on what makes the region uniquely positioned for long-term investment. Their discussion of the Texas Stock Exchange – also known as Y’all Street – focused on the ways this new platform could shake up the traditional financial landscape and elevate Dallas as a national business hub.
Litinsky also shared the remarkable story of how he founded MP Materials by acquiring the Mountain Pass rare earth mine out of bankruptcy. What started as a bold move to buy a shuttered asset that many had overlooked evolved into a transformative opportunity. Today, MP Materials plays a critical role in rebuilding the U.S. rare earth supply chain. His journey underscored how vision, timing, and resilience can turn a distressed investment into a driver of global innovation.
“Here’s a hedge fund guy that’s literally saying, ‘I’m going to shut down my multi-billion dollar hedge fund and move to Las Vegas and live on the floor of the factory and just will this thing. I’m not going to let it die.’ Truly this is the American dream.”
Drew McKnight
Co-CEO of Fortress Investment Group
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A Tribute to 10 Years of Impact and Leadership
Before the conversation began, guests were treated to a moving and emotional surprise: a video tribute honoring The Cary Council founder, Michael Kahn. Celebrating the organization’s 10-year anniversary and the legacy of leadership that began with Michael’s vision to honor his mother, Beth Kahn, the video put the last decade of impact into perspective.
