2024 Business Week

Patrick E. Alcorn: PATRICK E. ALCORN Patrick E. Alcorn served nine years in the United States Army, including time as a cadet at the United States Military Academy where he played Army Football while completing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering Management. He is a Global Good Fund Fellow, social impact small business owner, Certified GrowthWheel™ Business Advisor, Certified ProfitMastery™ Facilitator, and Certified John Maxwell Team Executive Coach, speaker, and teacher who utilizes his combination of the West Point experience, a master’s in business administration and relevant real-world knowledge to help high achievers, business leaders and seasoned professionals align their priorities with their purpose, passion, and potential. He is the founder and Director of the Veterans Business Outreach Center University of Texas Arlington and a recipient of the SBA Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year Award and the Fort Worth Business Press C-Suite Award. Having worked with more than 3000 veteran small business leaders, Patrick was troubled by the lack of awareness of and access to small business resources. As such, he founded the annual Business Beyond the Battlefield Conference to educate, train and inspire the military connected business community. Patrick is married to his wife, Michelle, of thirty-four years; together they have four children and eight grandchildren.

About Jake: Jake Bailey has over 16 years of oil and gas experience prior to starting Trellis Energy Partners. Jake founded Split Rock Resources (“SRR”) in 2019 with an initial commitment of up to $25MM. Based on early success, he was able to raise over $100MM in commitments with North Hudson Resource Partners. SRR generated over a 3.5x return after the successful sale of its final properties in 2024. Prior to SRR, Jake managed existing assets for Crestline Investors and evaluated new deals in the oil and gas space. He oversaw an ~80,000 acre operated position in the Bakken along with ~150 non-op wellbore interests in the DJ Basin. Before joining Crestline, he served as CFO at Tana Exploration, a subsidiary of TRT Holdings, which had operated assets in the East Texas, onshore South Louisiana, shallow water offshore Louisiana, and the Gulf of Mexico. Jake also has experience in the Woodbine with an East Texas operator. He began his career with a contract driller covering basins in Texas, Arkoma, and Appalachia. Mr. Bailey has a BBA in Accounting and a BS in Psychology from the University of Georgia, an MBA from the University of Texas at Arlington and is certified in Corporate FP&A.

About Caio: Caio "Kyle" Braga is a veteran international trade executive bringing 25+ years of expertise to the Trade & Development sector. As Co-Founder and Principal of InvoiSec®, he leads a Supply Chain Finance platform that has facilitated over US$60 million in cross-border transactions, empowering SMEs in global trade. An accomplished aviator since earning his pilot's license in the 1990s, Kyle combines his entrepreneurial acumen with his passion for flight, serving as North America Sales & Marketing Manager for a Texas-based aircraft manufacturer since 2019.

About Brandon: Over the last 38 years, Brandon has worked in a variety of real estate banking industry positions in Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, and Sacramento. Brandon is now responsible for growing and managing the overall banking activities within the Tarrant County market for Amegy Bank of Texas. Brandon previously spent 18 years with Bank of America. Brandon is a native of Fort Worth, Texas and received his B.B.A in Real Estate and Urban Land Development from the University of Texas at Austin.

About Paul: Paul Brodie is a 21-time Bestselling Author and CEO of Brodie Consulting Group. He helps people share their story and positions them as an expert in their field. His company, Brodie Consulting, accomplishes this by helping their clients create, publish, and launch their books to a guaranteed best seller with over 170 consecutive best selling launches in all genres and 42 best selling launches in 2024. Paul is a lifelong learner and earned an M.A. in Teaching from Louisiana College and B.B.A. in Management from the University of Texas at Arlington. Paul is a proud Rotarian and holds membership in the Corporate Leadership Council of the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Rotary Club of Arlington Highlands, River Legacy Foundation, and the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce. His leadership and service has been recognized on multiple occasions, including being a recipient of the 2023 and 2024 MAVS100 from UT Arlington in recognition of business revenue growth, and the Rotarian of the Year and President’s Award from the Rotary Club of Arlington Highlands. Paul resides in Arlington, TX and can be reached at Brodie@BrodieConsultingGroup.com and www.BrodieConsultingGroup.com for speaking and consulting opportunities.

Natalie Calderon: Natalie Calderon is currently an HR Business Partner at Wingstop Restaurants, Inc since August 2021. At Wingstop Natalie serves as a strategic partner to leaders, providing guidance and support for the organization. She collaborates with cross-functional teams to align HR initiatives with organizational goals to enforce clarity, positively impact culture, and drive team member engagement. She attended the University of Texas at Arlington and received a B.B.A in Marketing and Management. After, graduating she discovered her passion for HR at K&N engineering where she started her career in HR as an HR Administrator. Natalie strives to one day lead a best-in-class people team!

About Brian: Brian Chase leads Bell’s international and U.S. state and local government affairs and public policy team in support of the company’s global operations, sales and services. His team is also responsible for developing and executing industrial participation strategies in support of global commercial and military sales. He previously served as Director of Future Vertical Lift Enterprise Alignment, where he led changes across the Bell enterprise – including manufacturing, assembly, IT, supply chain, sustainment, and human resources – to support the U.S. Department of Defense’s Future Vertical Lift program. During his Bell tenure he has also led the global communications team, where he was responsible for the company’s media relations, crisis communications, issues management, executive communications and employee communications. Chase joined Bell Helicopter in December 2010 after serving as Deputy Chief of Staff for former U.S. Congressman Jeb Hensarling (TX). Prior to his tenure with Congressman Hensarling’s office, he served in President George W. Bush’s Administration as NASA’s Assistant Administrator for Legislative Affairs, where he was responsible for the agency’s federal, state, and local government affairs. He held increasingly senior roles in the space industry before joining the Bush Administration, including Vice President of Washington Operations for the Space Foundation, leading state relations and strategic communications for NASA contractor United Space Alliance, and serving in senior policy and communications roles for former U.S. Congressman Dave Weldon (FL). He began his career at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC, working on the International Space Station program. Chase, a North Texas native, earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. He serves on the board of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. He and his wife reside in Mansfield with their three children.

About Lisa: Lisa Cobb is an enterprising financial leader and board director to guide corporate finance, M&A, growth and restructuring initiatives at large and smaller business. For 20 years, Lisa has served in CFO roles, leading full P&L operations at companies with up to $135M in revenue, reporting to the CEO and board of directors. She navigates day-to-day operations through organic growth and acquisitions, managing to short- and longer-term business strategic objectives to meet cash and financing needs. She has started, grown and reorganized businesses to meet changing industry dynamics and customer needs. Lisa has delivered financing solutions to small businesses, operationalized human resources departments, led marketing campaigns, and driven M&A and divesture strategies to grow businesses and organizations or reposition them more competitively. In 2017, Fort Worth Business Press honored Lisa as one of the top CFOs in Fort Worth, TX. In board and committee roles since 2015, Lisa has spearheaded ESG/DEI initiatives and innovated new financing and marketing strategies for business and nonprofit entities. In November 2022, she joined the Board for The Fort Worth Herd which in partnership with Visit Fort Worth is dedicated to preserving Fort Worth’s western heritage with the twice-daily cattle drive as well as driving business and tourism to She is a former Board, Executive Committee, and Small Business Council Committee Member at the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce. She chaired its Women’s Insight Network and led an entire programming rebranding campaign which increased membership engagement significantly. Her leadership in these roles, along with her business successes, garnered awards and recognition. Lisa was featured in Fort Worth Inc Magazine’s “Hammering the Glass Ceiling”, in 2019, for rising to the C-Suite while managing a family in heavily male dominated industries. In 2020, the Washington DC office of the SBA and National Women’s Business Council featured Lisa as a webinar speaker on financing for international revenue growth in a global economy. Lisa shared her story of navigating the past decade of industry and market changes as a business owner at Precise Energy Products Inc. She also introduced small businesses to the new financing vehicle she created, collaborating with Citibank US and the SBA. Over the years, her company’s recognition and awards have included being named among the 2022 Top 100 Privately Held Businesses in Tarrant County, by Fort Worth Business Press, winner of the 2014 SBA Region VI Exporter of the Year Award, recipient of the 2015 FTW Chamber Small Business of the Year Award and ranked #2450 on the 2015 INC 5000 fastest growing private companies in America. She was accepted into the highly competitive Stanford Executive Education Mergers and Acquisitions Immersive Program in July 2022 and also earned her Certificate in Mergers and Acquisitions from the New York Institute of Finance in May 2022. Her consulting practice with ExecHQ is focused on helping companies maximize value when going to market to raise capital or to sell. As Co-Owner and Chief Financial Officer at Precise Energy Products Inc. in Fort Worth, TX, Lisa has led finance, accounting, supply chain, and human resources operations through startup, growth, divestiture, and consolidation, since its co-founding with her husband in 2010. Earlier, Lisa led corporate growth developing and executing M&A strategies, while CFO at HealthSmart Holdings/American Administrative Group for 8 years. There she reported to the CEO and board of directors as she planned and executed three acquisitions, restructured its debt and equity, and took it from ~$10M to $135M revenue and $30M EBITDA. This included office (re)locations, HR (re)structuring, employee transitions and benefits (re)design. Prior to that, as a Director of EnerShop, an American Electric Power (AEP) company, Lisa led the business through divestiture, as AEP decoupled regulated/non-regulated business activities. Lisa started her career in tax planning and international accounting working with Ernst & Young, Bluebonnet Savings & Loan, and Madison Minerals. She holds a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Houston Clear Lake and maintains her CPA in TX. She is a member of the Private Directors Association, Financial Executives International, Texas Society of CPAs, Ronald McDonald House Roadhouse Committee, & Circle of Red at the AHA. Lisa resides with her husband in Colleyville, TX.

About Shirley: Shirley Cox joined the team of professionals at Amegy Bank of Texas in May 2021. She is the Arlington Commercial Banking Manager and is focused on growing the commercial market and team. She also is assisting not-for-profit entities with their banking needs across DFW including tax-exempt lending. She brings with her over 30 years of banking experience which included leading lending teams both on the commercial side as well as working with not-for-profit entities. Shirley lives in Arlington and has been an active community volunteer and is currently the Vice Chair for Arlington Charities.

About Drew: Drew Chumley is a founding Partner at Seamless and is a leader in the firm’s Fort Worth office. In addition to his leadership and management roles at Seamless, Mr. Chumley is principally involved in the firm’s outsourced accounting and tax practice. Mr. Chumley has more than 16 years of taxation and accounting experience across a variety of industries, entity types and sizes, ranging from startups to middle market as well as high net worth individuals. Throughout his career, he has developed scalable systems and frameworks that have enabled growth as both an internal party within an organization and externally as a consultant. Mr. Chumley has a depth of experience with financial reporting, tax planning, systems implementations, and private equity due diligence. He believes a wholistic approach to accounting and tax is the most effective method for properly allocating resources and avoiding end of year surprises. Prior to Seamless, Mr. Chumley worked at a regional accounting firm specializing in comprehensive accounting and tax services for lower middle market and high net worth individuals; he also previously worked at a Big 4 public accounting firm in their private equity tax group and as well as time in industry at the Controller/CFO level . Mr. Chumley graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Master of Science in Accounting from the University of Texas at Arlington. Mr. Chumley holds the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation.

Dana Chun: Dana is a commercial real estate broker with DC Commercial Group. Her business is built on developing meaningful relationships and strategic partnerships. Her in-depth real estate knowledge, hard work, and passion coupled with creativity allow her to help clients make better investment decisions, acquire assets that meet their needs, and build wealth. Before her commercial real estate career, Dana held progressive corporate roles for well-known firms such as AIG, Bertlesmann and Target. Her corporate experience and focus on relationship management have served her well in applying this to her client base with her firm DC Commercial Group. With has a passion for learning and development, Dana received her MBA from Fordham University Graduate School of Business Administration. She also obtained her Bachelor of Arts from New York University. In addition to her post-secondary education, Dana holds her Texas broker license.

Dustin Davis: As the head of FP&A for JP Morgan Private Bank investment offerings Dustin works with Investment and regional leadership to create sustainable investment solutions that meet the long term needs of our clients.

Wally Devereaux: Wally Devereaux is the Vice President of Cargo and Charters for Southwest Airlines. He is responsible for all commercial and operational aspects of Southwest’s air freight services and Passenger Charter flights. Wally started his career with Southwest in February 1992 as a Customer Service Agent at Dallas Love Field. Since that time, he has served in various roles at Southwest in the Ground Operations, Corporate Communications, and Marketing Departments. Wally joined the Cargo and Charters Management Team in 1999 as the Cargo National Account Manager, where he spent seven years working with Southwest’s largest Cargo Customers. He held a variety of Leadership positions in the department before being promoted to Managing Director in 2018, and Vice President in February 2022. Wally serves on the board of directors for the Center for Logistics Education and Research at the University of North Texas, as well as the Transportation Institute at the University of Denver. He is the proud recipient of the Airforwarders Association’s 2007 James Foster Memorial Award, and Southwest Airlines’ 2012 Fun-LUVing Attitude Award. Wally has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from the University of Texas at Arlington. He resides in Colleyville, Texas with his wife, Rachel, and their two daughters, Abby and Emmy.

About Xavier: American investor, speaker, author, philanthropist and entrepreneur. Two decades as a dynamic force in the world of business with a flair for turning complexities into opportunities. My educational arsenal boasts qualifications in finance, accounting, strategic planning, and executive leadership stewarding over $5 billion in organizational activity. Professionally, I am navigating the dynamic realms of private equity, mergers & acquisitions, technology, venture capital, and real estate. I’m standing at the crossroads of innovation and economics. In the community, I am also known for my dedication to bridging the gap and creating opportunities for young entrepreneurs.

About Amber: Amber Garrison is the Marketing Director at Park Place Dealerships, a 37-year-old luxury automobile group that employs more than 1,400 members in Dallas-Fort Worth. Ms. Garrison joined Asbury Automotive Group, a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Duluth, GA, as a Social Media Specialist in 2017 after graduating from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Communications. She was involved with the launch and branding of Asbury’s Clicklane, a complete online car buying tool and selling experience, in 2020. She joined Park Place in 2022, where she oversees the marketing and internal communications for three collision centers, an auto auction, and nine full-service dealerships representing Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Land Rover, Acura, and Sprinter Vans.

John Geyerman: John Geyerman grew up in the rural farming community of Winner, South Dakota. He attended the University of Texas at Arlington, graduating in May of 1992 with a Business Administration degree with a focus on Management. John joined the Walmart Corporation in 1989 and successfully led store operations as the company grew its Hypermart concept from four original prototype units to more than 3,000 Supercenters. In 2004, John joined the Texas Regional Grocery retailer, H-E-B, operating stores and working with Supply Chain to develop best-in-class replenishment processes. In 2006 Schlotzsky’s, LLC, offered John an opportunity to become Vice President of their domestic franchise system with oversight to more than 600 FOCUS Brands units and 188 franchise partner relationships. John was recruited in 2015 to lead the retail operations at AngMar Companies in Mansfield, Texas, an eclectic collection of retail businesses in the North Texas area to include five firearm stores, an auto service & repair business, classic car and hotrod restoration business, 18-hole PGA-qualifying golf & tennis facility, a 22,000-square-foot nightclub & restaurant, and a new concept 7500 sq ft. BBQ restaurant concept. Upon leaving AngMar, John worked for a short time as the Vice President of Sales for Dickey’s Barbecue. Additionally, John has offered his unique and desired skill sets which involve retail and restaurant operations for corporate, franchise, private equity, and entrepreneurial interests to offer consulting services to a variety of both global and regional brands. Currently, John is serving as Chief Brand Officer for WOWorks, LLC – a family of “better for you” restaurant Brands which include Saladworks, Frutta Bowls, Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh, The Simple Greek, Zoup!, and Barberitos. John has extensive experience and training in retail operations and resource management. He is accredited as a Certified Franchise Executive by the International Franchising Association, having completed hundreds of hours of education course work. As such, John adheres to a strict professional code of ethics and promotes a culture of high values in servicing his businesses and their guests. John and his wife Windee raised their two daughters in Mansfield, Texas, where he still maintains a very active role in the community, serving on boards and foundations and volunteering at local churches. John and Windee became licensed as Foster Parents and have hosted four placements to date. John has worked with several organizations to support global efforts focused on at-risk children and orphans including Lifesong.org, Free For Life International, and RetailROI.

About Rual: Raul H. Gonzalez was born in El Paso and has been with Passman & Jones since 1983, starting as the firm’s court runner. He has served as the Director of Administration for the firm since 1989, overseeing all business and administrative support functions, including business development, facilities, finance, employee benefits, information technology, and marketing. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1985. After surviving prostate cancer at the age of 44, he was inspired to pursue elected public service. He currently serves as the Deputy Mayor Pro Tempore for the City of Arlington. Before his tenure on the city council, he was a member of the Mansfield Independent School District (MISD) School Board from 2010 to 2020, serving as President from 2016 to 2018. Together with his wife, he established the Raul H. and Kerry G. Gonzalez Endowed Scholarship, which is awarded annually to a student from either the Arlington Independent School District (AISD) or MISD who attends the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA).

Jim Grundy: Founder/Owner/CEO of Sisu Energy LLC, the largest oil/gas transportation service provider throughout the southwestern USA, based out of Fort Worth, TX. Graduating from UTA with both his undergraduate and MBA (2010), Jim has gone on to generate over $300 million in revenues since 2017 utilizing his ‘people, process and platform’ initiatives, including ‘pay, promote and praise’ for all internal stakeholders. Sisu Energy has been featured multiple times on all major news stations for its incredible success through ‘dire’ global situations and economic outlooks. From Tucker Carlson, Varney & Sons, Neil Cavuto, MSNBC, Newsy, Fox Business, etc, Sisu Energy has flourished while 90% of its competitors closed their doors since 2021. Jim has been authored in various magazines, podcasts and multiple business/political features/stories around the country, centered around the success of Sisu Energy LLC, supply chain solutions and economic implications of certain laws surrounding supply chain infrastructure.

About Ryan: Ryan Harrington is a founder and the President and Chief Executive Officer of Trinity Healthcare. With over 1,600 employees across 24 locations, Trinity Healthcare specializes in the operation and management of nursing homes. Based in Fort Worth, Texas, the company provides a broad range of rehabilitation and long-term care services to residents and patients.

Keith Draper Wynston Howell: : Draper Wynston is a man of many hats; he is an actor, producer, director, and author. One could easily say, he’s definitely here to ‘wyn’ Wynston has been making waves through the entertainment industry for over a decade and if he has anything to do with it, he’s on the path to stardom. “I learned in this business that you have to have motivation and discipline, and I have been fortunate enough to be able to practice both where my craft is concerned,” says Wynston. Wynston, started his career in the modeling industry, but quickly transitioned into acting after landing a role in the stage play,“G Meets G.” He knew then, he was on a path in the right direction. He took that experience and began to hon his craft. Best known for his role as ‘Chuck’ on the Daytime Emmy-nominated Amazon Prime series, “Washed,” he has created a journey to the road of success. He has appeared in several television shows including the CW’s, “Walker”, several TV mini-series, and “Lover’s Revenge” to name a few. Wynston is not limiting his talents to just the small screen, he has been fortunate to appear in a variety of films on the big screen as well. A few credits include, “No Ordinary Love,” “Why Women Trip,” “Forbidden Daughter,” and the Christmas love story, “Curves Under the Mistletoe.” He has also taken his talent behind the scenes as well and wrote, produced, and directed the film, “Rented Love.”Wynston’s 2024 is off to a great start; for he has several projects in which he is starring in including, Lifetime’s “Secrets Beneath the Floorboards,” “Kingsmen,” and “Promiscuously Toxic.” He also goes behind the lens once again to direct, “Thicker the Berry, The Sweeter the Juice,” which is slated for release in April. As the ole cliché goes, ‘for the win’, Draper Wynston is definitely winning and living out his dream. He currently resides in Dallas, TX and is an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

Greg Hutto:: Greg Hutto comes from a family of educators. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Business from Texas A&M University, and a Masters Degree in Education from Tarleton State University. He was a teacher and coach before entering financial services in 1996. After 14 years in the industry working for such powerhouses as UBS Paine Webber and Raymond James, he founded Hutto Retirement Advisors LLC in 2010. Greg holds two investment designations, including Certified Financial Planner®, and was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 2007. Additionally, he is the founder of Heritage Tax Advisors LLC. Greg is married and he and his wife Angie have three children. He likes to cycle, play golf, and travel with his family.

Sami Islam: Sami Islam, a former University of Texas at Arlington graduate, currently working as a Senior Consultant at Protiviti, a leading Global Business Consulting firm. With a specialization in the Internal Audit and Financial Advisory solution (IAFA), Sami brings expertise in the Financial Services Industry, particularly in Trust Funds, Wealth Management, and Mortgage Consumer Lending and Subservicing. Dedicated to delivering value and driving client success, Sami leverages his skills and experience to navigate intricate financial challenges with precision and innovation.

About Larry: Mr. Kemp is the owner of Kemp Brothers Trucking and Logistics and the Managing Owner of Kemp and Sons General Services, Inc. Mr. Kemp spent 10 years at IBM in marketing, management, and finance roles and 8 years Office Depot as a Regional Transportation Manager before taking over the family business in 1999, which he grew from contracted revenues of $250K to generating multiple millions in revenue annually. His company has received several local, regional, and national small business awards, received recognition from Harvard Business School, and been featured in media outlets such as CNN, Money, Forbes, Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth CEO and others. He has been honored by The University of Texas at Arlington as Alumni of the year in 2019. He has also been honored as CFO of the Year by the Fort Worth Business Press in 2018. Mr. Kemp earned his BBA in Management from The University of Texas at Arlington, where he was a 3-year varsity basketball letterman and a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

Bob Kline: Bob is the Chief Financial Officer of The Barron Companies as well as holding the position of President of Axia Solutions, LLC, a TBC, Inc. subsidiary. Bob has earned a BS in Accounting from Le Tourneau University, a Masters of Divinity and Doctor of Philosophy from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

About Trey: Trey Knapp currently serves as Chief Financial Officer for the Sewell Automotive Companies, one of the largest and most iconic automotive retailers in the country. Prior to joining Sewell in 2009; Trey worked in public accounting for Forvis Mazars LLP (formerly Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP (DHG)) for ten years, focusing on automotive dealership audit, taxation, and consulting. At Sewell, Trey oversees the consolidated accounting, internal audit, and corporate FP&A functions. Within these functions are the various transactional accounting processes, financial statement preparation, insurance procurement and claims processing, state and federal income taxes, financial statement audits, budgeting and forecasting, business acquisitions, family office matters, and consolidated treasury functions. In addition to overseeing over 150 accounting associates, a significant portion of Trey's time is invested in bridging dealership operations with financial reporting in a way that builds a trusting partnership between these two critically important teams. In 2019, Trey temporarily put aside his accounting responsibilities, and served a four-month rotation as Pre-owned Sales Manager at Sewell Lexus Dallas, to better hone front-line operations appreciation and understanding. Trey is passionate about learning, reading, operational excellence, and most of all, automobiles. Trey is an active member of the Dallas chapter of Financial Executives International (FEI), Vice President of the Texas Association of Blind Athletes, Board Member at Large of the Carroll Education Foundation, Parliamentarian for the Carrol Band Boosters, volunteers for The Community Storehouse, and serves on the Executive Board of the First United Methodist Church of Colleyville. In 2022, Trey was highlighted by both the FEI Dallas Member Spotlight and the DHG Alumni Spotlight. In 2021, the Dallas Business Journal recognized Trey as CFO of the Year. Trey graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2002 with both a Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting and Masters of Science in Accounting. Trey, his wife Amy, their son Elijah, and German exchange student Florian, live in Southlake, Texas. Trey loves cooking, especially grilling and baking. His family enjoys taking road trips to small Texas towns to find hidden-gem, family-owned restaurants.

About Jeffrey: Jeffrey Kurland has served as the Director of Finance for the research enterprise at Cook Children’s Health Care System in Fort Worth, Texas for almost 10 years. He has over 20 years of experience in public accounting, operations management, non-profit tax and auditing and clinical trial financial management. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant, and earned his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Minnesota. He has spoken nationally on clinical trial financial management and managing research programs. He is also a current board member for the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants – Fort Worth Chapter

About Lucas: Lucas is a Texas Society of CPAs Rising Star Award-winning relationship manager, auditor, board member, author, and speaker with two decades of leadership in assurance, consulting, risk management/ mitigation, and taxation services. After nearly a decade as an auditor working with clients in a number of industries; including construction, M&D, and not-for-profit, he now is responsible for leading firm initiatives to expand existing client relationships and establish new ones, investigate innovative client services and solutions, and instill a culture of client service and sales. He often presents to local, state, and national audiences about accounting industry developments.

About Favor: Favor Lee, CPA is a Director of Tax Growth at Lido Advisors with 15 years of public accounting experience. She is responsible for leading strategic growth initiatives and developing go-to-market strategies. By utilizing her accounting background, she creates a unique tax and financial solution for clients by working closely with the client service team. Prior to joining Lido, Favor was the Director of Business Development for a national accounting firm leading and driving business development initiatives for the Southwest region and Korea-Asia market. Prior to that, she was the Controller for a national restaurant franchise, and led the corporate accounting team and oversaw the full-cycle accounting. She began her accounting career at a Big 4 accounting firm as an auditor, where she was responsible for the overall planning and execution of external audit of a multi-billion-dollar construction company. In the community, Favor is passionate about serving and giving back. She is on the board of the Dallas chapter of 4word, a non-profit organization supporting Christian women in the workplace, and Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants (TXCPA) Dallas, a professional community representing more than 6,000 members in North Texas. As an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and TXCPA, Favor was recently recognized as a 2022 AICPA Outstanding Young CPA, 2021 TXCPA Rising Star, and Committee Member of the Year for TXCPA Dallas.

Kevin Lee: Kevin Lee has extensive experience conceptualizing mere ideas into business models, launching new brands, and expanding concepts nationally and internationally. He is a serial entrepreneur for more than 20 years with many successes and failures, and he treasures them all. Kevin is the Chief Growth Officer of Lemonade Coaching & Consulting, a consulting firm that guides client partners grow to the next level. He is an avid reader and loves spending time with his wife and two young kids. He serves at the Breath of Life Mission, a nonprofit ministry serving the homeless population in downtown Dallas. A fun fact about him is that he is an extreme introvert who enjoys public speaking.

About Varun: Varun Mallipaddi is an accomplished Corporate/Commercial Banking professional with a proven track record of excellence spanning over a decade. Currently serving at Frost Bank in Fort Worth, Texas since 2014, Varun adeptly manages existing client relationships while facilitating new business opportunities, with a keen focus on compliance and risk management. He specializes in working closely with HNW Individuals, Family Offices and its related legacy businesses, and Private Equity Funds to provide unique bridge financing facilities to optimize liquidity and cash flow needs. Prior to his tenure in banking, Varun demonstrated exemplary leadership skills at The University of Texas at Arlington, where he served as Student Congress President and represented over 33,000+ student body. Varun also spearheaded impactful initiatives to enhance student engagement and representation. Notably, he chaired the University's Tuition Review Committee, and was a member of UT System Student Advisory Committee, playing a pivotal role in shaping institutional policies. Varun holds a BBA in Finance from The University of Texas at Arlington. He has been serving on The Fort Worth Public Library Foundation board since 2018 and is an active member of its Executive, Finance committees and chairs the annual fundraising committee. Additionally, Varun has been nominated to the Chancellor’s Centurions, a young professional advisory group to the Chancellor of the UT System; and was recently nominated to be on the Downtown Fort Worth Inc (DTFW Inc) Board. Complemented by his active involvement in community organizations and fluency in English, Telugu, and Hindi, Varun embodies a multifaceted professional committed to driving excellence in both corporate and civic arenas.

Esther McLeroy: Esther McLeroy, a seasoned marketing leader with over 10 years of experience, drives brand awareness, lead generation, and business growth across diverse industries. With a Bachelor's degree in Marketing and a Master's degree in Business Analytics focusing on Data Science and Engineering, she has a solid foundation in marketing principles. Esther excels in developing impactful marketing strategies that blend traditional and cutting-edge tactics, showcasing her expertise in brand management, digital marketing, content marketing, and campaign execution. She advocates for data-driven decision-making, leveraging analytics to measure marketing performance and optimize campaigns for maximum ROI, while also fostering strong relationships with cross-functional teams for seamless collaboration and a unified marketing vision.

Maria Mejia: Maria Mejia is the Executive Vice President at Ulterra Drilling Technologies, L.P., where she is responsible for all aspects of senior management in support of the company’s strategic and operational goals. Maria oversees the Finance and Accounting, Legal, Information Technology, Human Resources and Supply Chain divisions at Ulterra. More than that, she has become known for leading change by creating an environment of empowerment, a culture of responsiveness, an emphasis on employee education and development, and a focus on visible internal programs to reward innovation. Mejia became Ulterra’s CFO in 2016 and maintained that role until the 2023 sale of Ulterra to Patterson-UTI, when she was promoted to Executive Vice President. She quickly advanced through the ranks of the company, having started at the company as an Accounting Manager for U.S. operations in 2010. She has performed almost every job in the accounting department on her way to becoming CFO, including efforts spent in the roles of Operations Controller and Corporate Controller. She has been a critical part of Ulterra’s M&A processes, having completed 4 sales for the company during her tenure. Also, during her tenure, Ulterra’s revenues have tripled, while staff size has increased to more than 600 employees worldwide. There is an intense drive within Mejia to understand every aspect of Ulterra’s business, and how each delivers value to customers and investors. As a result, she has visited nearly every Ulterra plant, warehouse and regional facility across five continents during her years at Ulterra, developing close relationships and high trust levels with virtually every team and department within the company. “To understand the numbers, you have to understand the business,” Mejia says. “To understand what the investment looks like, you have to see the investment.” She encourages all members of her teams to do the same. In addition to her leadership role at Ulterra, Mejia is deeply involved with the non-profit WHOLives where she is an Action Board member. She also remains active in the academic world as a supporter of the Latina STEM program at Tarrant County, a guest speaker at the University of Texas at Arlington, and she also served two years as a finance professor at The University of Phoenix online. Mejia holds a Summa Cum Laude B.B.A. degree in International Business from the University of Texas at Arlington, with graduate certifications in Finance, Strategic Planning and Risk Management from SMU and Harvard. She also holds an MBA from Texas Women’s University and is currently pursuing her PhD. Outside of her career, Maria is a race car driver. She was the 2023 International GT Stuttgart Cup champion, obtaining that title in just her second year of competing in the sport. She enjoys the challenge, competitiveness and camaraderie of racing community.

Lisa Ong: Lisa M. Ong, PCC, CPA, is an award-winning consultant, speaker, and executive coach. A widely-known "talent gardener" and "inclusion connector.", Lisa is a talent magnet for high-performing, high-potential leaders. Her clients hire her to support their people strategy, career mentoring, career coaching, and leadership development programs. Before launching Wishing Out Loud LLC in 2020, she was a national diversity director in PwC’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion and a former HR director and audit senior manager. She earned her BBA in Accounting from UT Austin and her MS in Management from UT Dallas. D CEO Magazine named her to The Dallas 500 directory as "one of the most powerful business leaders in DFW" for a fourth year in 2024. Lisa won the Dallas 2023 Visionary of the Year for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and was one of Dallas Business Journal’s 2022 Leaders in Diversity Award Winners. An Orchid Giving Circle member, she serves on the Board of Ascend North Texas, Infusion Nurses Society. She serves as coaching faculty for Linkage Women in Leadership Institute and Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics. She is a member of the International Coach Federation-North Texas, the Workplace Programs Advisory Committee for Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding, and past Dallas chapter President of the Texas Society of CPAs,

About Rina: Rina Parikh is a Certified Public Accountant and an audit partner in the Dallas office of Grant Thornton. With more than 20 years of public accounting experience, Rina has focused primarily on auditing both public and private companies, including financial services, banks & lending institutions, specialty finance companies, real estate entities, and asset management companies. Rina has significant experience in conducting financial statement audits as well as internal control examinations. Rina has extensive experience in evaluating and testing processes and internal controls, including SOX compliance for public companies. Rina has assisted several companies with initial public offering, additional equity and debt offering filing reports as required by the 1933 and 1934 Securities Acts. Rina leads asset management and real estate industry efforts for Dallas office, focused on increasing industry development and branding efforts. She is actively involved with multiple industry groups internally and externally. Rina serves as executive sponsor for Dallas office Women’s initiative focusing on recruitment, retention and development of women, including implementing leadership programs, organizing internal and external networking events, implementing professional development and business development programs for women. Rina is also a national sponsor for firm’s Future Leaders business resource group. Rina also leads and supports training initiative, including technical and professional development trainings of audit service professionals for Dallas office.

Gail Perry Stout: Gail Stout Perry is an executive at Credera, a global boutique consulting firm, headquartered in Addison, TX, with over 4,000 employees in 26 locations across 5 continents. Credera specializes in strategy, transformation, technology, digital marketing/e-commerce, innovation, and data / AI. Gail earned her B.S. in Industrial Engineering from The University of Texas at Arlington and her MBA from Abilene Christian University. After graduating UTA, she began her career in management consulting at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture). Among the positions she has held include a decade as Chief Strategy Officer at the Balanced Scorecard Institute and she has also served as Chief Strategy Officer & VP Americas at a global software company. Gail is co-author of a strategy textbook, The Institute Way: Simplify Strategic Planning and Management with the Balanced Scorecard (available in English, Arabic, and Vietnamese) and has taught strategic performance management courses to hundreds of executives, based on this textbook. Gail’s passion is for helping organizations improve their performance and she has done so with major brands such as Fluor Corporation, Mary Kay Inc., Topgolf, Toyota, 7-Eleven, Weight Watchers, The Container Store, C Spire, and more, as well as mission-driven clients world-wide including NASA, U.S. Office of Secretary of Defense, Federal Government of Botswana, UNDP, and more.

Susan Pereira: Susan is an alumnus of UTA’s School of Business receiving her undergraduate degree in Management and a Master’s of Business Administration. Currently, her strategic HR responsibilities include Talent Development, Organizational Design, DREI, and Community Involvement initiatives. Other work experiences include Materials Management, Quality Management, Financial Controls with manufacturing organizations.

Abner Rodriguez: Abner Rodriguez currently serves as the Sr. Director of Claims Operations for Ally. Prior to this role, he spent 19 years Ally Auto Finance serving in operational roles, overseeing servicing process improvement, strategy, risk management, and operations management. Abner is currently a member of the DFW chapter of the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) and a leader in Ally’s Hispanic employee resource group (Aliados). Abner has been recognized as a distinguished leader with Ally’s “Leading the way” award and named among the 2019 class of Young Hispanic Corporate Achievers. He attended the University of Texas, Arlington and completed his bachelor’s degree in business management in 2010 and earned his MBA in 2015. He serves his community as a volunteer on the board of Grapevine Baseball-Softball and coaches youth sports. Abner is family oriented and enthusiastic about serving others. During his spare time, Abner enjoys spending time with his wife, reading meaningful books, and growing as a baseball/softball coach.

About Mike: Mike has been building lasting relationships and tailoring customized financial strategies for successful families and business owners as a financial advisor for over 30 years. His wealth of knowledge and experience allows him to understand his clients’ goals and determine the most efficient ways to prioritize and work toward them. Operating with a top-shelf service model, Mike provides true customization of investment strategies, including substantial use of alternatives to traditional stocks and bonds. Mike knows that successful people tend to lead busy lives, often having complex and conflicting goals. He helps these clients prepare their legacies by working with the next generation and maximizing their philanthropic desires. Mike is a Certified Financial Planner™ professional as well as a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®) and holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst℠ certification. These designations are awarded to individuals who demonstrate high levels of competency and attention to detail in financial services. These accolades are supported by a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in finance from the University of Texas at Arlington. On a day-to-day basis, Mike coordinates with his clients’ other professionals, such as CPAs and attorneys, to provide a comprehensive and multifaceted strategy for each of their financial planning needs. His passion for success is driven by the relationships he has spent his career building while serving similarly successful professionals and business owners. Mike’s clients usually come to him with net assets of seven figures or higher. To meet the unique needs of this clientele, he believes in investing in alternative asset classes, such as income-producing real estate and private lending to smooth out the normal bumps of traditional stocks and bonds. Outside the office, Mike is an active member of his local community. He and his family support women’s shelters, local animal shelters, veterans, first responders, and the Snowdrop Foundation, an organization that provides academic scholarships to students affected by pediatric cancer. His hobbies include running charity marathons, traveling, as well as watching college football and professional soccer. Originally born in Southern California, Mike has lived in Arlington, Texas for most of his life. He still resides there with his wife of 30 years, Linda. They have three great and independent children, Matt, Maddy and Marisa.

About Molly: Molly Sandlin is a 2014 UTA MBA Cohort grad and the President and founder of CAET Project Management Consultants. She and her husband started the project management firm in 2016. Molly and her team of Project Manager’s support capital facility/construction projects for clients like American Airlines, Oncor, and Cognizant. The team is currently partnered on three design contracts at DFW, including the design for Terminal C and the Terminal C parking garages. Molly and two other consultants worked closely with American Airlines and the other 30+ carriers at DFW to renegotiate the 10-year lease that was signed into effect in 2023. Molly expanded her services and started CAET Construction in late 2021. Since that time, the CAET Construction team has built 3 new McDonald’s restaurants and have completed countless remodels for McDonald’s, Rita’s Italian Ice, and Enterprise Car Rental.

About Amanda: Amanda L. Sargent, LMSW, is an empowerment coach, community administrative practitioner, and a champion for civic engagement. She has held various roles, including Director for Civic Partnerships and Strategies at Dallas College, and has worked with numerous organizations to enhance opportunities for youth and all students. Sargent has helped students secure over $80 million in scholarships and has been recognized for her exceptional teaching from Stanford University. She served as an elected official with DeSoto ISD Board of Trustees and is an adjunct professor at East Texas A&M University. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and is the Founder and CEO of Get Your Life, Ltd. Co, where she empowers people to achieve their dreams. Ms. Sargent has dedicated herself to supporting students and communities to realize their potential through education, advocacy, and overall wellness.

Nichole Sheridan: Human Resource Professional with a Masters in Human Resource Management, a minor in Disability Studies, and a Diversity Certificate. As a Senior Analyst HRBP to over 960 clients, I like to create a positive, collaborative, and “open space” for my leaders to “Be Courageous” and have important dialogue to build “One Team” and help each other learn from one another. This enables individuals to "Bring It" when supporting Aero 100, and helps “Accelerate Change” by ensuring gets their voice heard. In addition to my daily HRBP duties, I have driven Digital Transformation, creating and streamlining multiple processes to support meeting 100% quality, 100% on time. Starting at Lockheed Martin in May 2019, my roles and responsibilities include guiding and influencing leader’s decisions for leadership hiring, promotions, gate waivers, contingency planning, and performance & employee personnel issues. Additionally, I allocate, distribute, and provide updates for NextGen Recognition and Discretionary budget for entire Engineering & Technology function (over $2.3 million). I created and implemented the “Executive Inclusion Mentoring” for Engineering and Technology within Aeronautics, setting the tone/expectations for the program, which is now on its fourth year. One of my biggest passions is diversity, as I feel it is not only beneficial to your employees, but potential customers that you do business with. Our greatest strength is our ability to listen and learn from one another.

About Alan: Alan is a Managing Director within the Financial Services Internal Audit practice based out of the Dallas office and has been with Protiviti since 2012. Alan has a BBA in Accounting and an MBA (emphasis IT management) from the University of Texas at Arlington. With over 15+ years of internal audit experience, Alan has utilized his internal audit, IT audit, SOX, and IT consulting experience across all asset classes within the Financial Services Industry. As the US Real Estate, Mortgage & Consumer Lending Internal Audit Practice Lead, Alan is also responsible for development and execution of strategy, thought leadership and industry insights, solution innovation and improvement, and collaboration across global delivery teams.

Chaplin Rich Stoglin: Chaplain Richmond E. Stoglin retired after 22 years and 10 months from the United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Federal Medical Center, Fort Worth, Texas, on January 31, 2007. His last position was Department Head of Religious Services. Chaplain Stoglin has served his country in the United States Navy Reserve Chaplain Corps from November 30, 1985 November 30, 2013. He has attained the rank of Commander and was former Regimental Chaplain to the 14th Marines, the largest artillery command in the US Marine Corps. Chaplain Stoglin served as the Command Chaplain of the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan and the Combined Security Training Command-Afghanistan (NTM-A/CSTC-A) this command consisted of US Troops and Coalition Troops from 38 nations; and the Senior Military Advisor to the Religious and Cultural Affairs of the Afghan National Army 4 November 2012-21 September 2013. Currently serving as President of the Stoglin Group, which specializes in consulting organizations, corporations and non-profits with Mediation, Family Mediation, Workplace Ethics, Strategic Planning, Leadership Development, Public Policy and Law Enforcement Counseling. The Stoglin Group motto is: “We Make Difference Making More Than An Exercise.”

About Thomas: Jerry Thomas is the President/CEO and Chairman of the Board. Decision Analyst is a leading marketing research and analytical consulting firm serving major US corporations throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Mr. Thomas founded the company Decision Analyst in 1978. Since its formation, he has worked with clients such as Del Monte, Verizon, AT&T, Texas Instruments, Kraft Foods, Nabisco, and American Airlines. Mr. Thomas obtained his Master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin, his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Arlington, and postgraduate work in economics at Southern Methodist University.

Nicole Upton: Nicole Upton is a dynamic force in the real estate industry, serving as a beacon of empowerment and guidance for aspiring homeowners in Arlington, Texas. With a solid educational foundation, Nicole holds an MBA in finance and a BBA in Real Estate and Finance, equipping her with a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of the market. Her dedication to excellence and commitment to serving her community have not gone unnoticed. In 2023, Nicole was honored with the Minority Business of the Year Award by the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce, recognizing her outstanding contributions to the business landscape. Additionally, her alma mater, the University of Texas at Arlington, bestowed upon her the prestigious Mav100 Award, highlighting her exceptional achievements and impact in the field. Nicole's passion for mentorship and advocacy extends beyond the boardroom. As a recipient of the Bold Woman Award from Girls Inc. in February 2024, she is celebrated for her unwavering commitment to empowering women and girls to reach their full potential. In her role as a real estate broker, Nicole is more than just a professional; she is a trusted mentor and advocate for her clients. With her wealth of knowledge and expertise, she guides individuals through the complex process of homeownership, ensuring that each step is taken with confidence and clarity. Nicole's mission is simple yet profound: to empower individuals to achieve their dreams of homeownership, build wealth, and create a brighter future for themselves and their families. Through her leadership, mentorship, and unwavering dedication to her community, Nicole Upton continues to make a lasting impact on the lives of those she serves.

Breanna Wadleigh:: Brenna A. Wadleigh serves as CEO of N3 Real Estate. She is responsible for all aspects of the company's investment strategy, fundraising, leasing, development, and operations. Prior to joining N3, Brenna served as VP of Strategic Planning at Crescent Real Estate Equities, a $6 billion REIT in Ft. Worth, TX. Brenna is a Certified Public Accountant, a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), a Board Member of CREW in the Community, a member of the Board of Trustees of The Clariden School, and serves as President-Elect of the Advisory Council for the College of Business at University of Texas at Arlington.

About Pete: Mr. Walsh holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration - Finance concentration from California State University, Fullerton; and he has been a member of the Advisory Council for the College of Business at the University of Texas at Arlington for the past 13 years.

About Sharon: Sharon Washburn is a Vice President and financial planner with The Clements Group at Morgan Stanley in the firm’s Spring Valley branch. She has more than three decades of experience in financial services. She has been with Morgan Stanley and predecessor firms since July 1993. Prior to joining The Clements Group in 2017, Sharon was with a retirement planning group at Morgan Stanley focusing on estate planning strategies and retirement planning. There, she gained valuable experience working with estates and helping families fully understand the estate planning process. Known for her strong desire to empower clients through education, Sharon serves high-net-worth individuals, foundations and Fortune 500 companies and their employee plans. She is highly adept at working with corporate stock plans, including option, purchase, and restricted stock plans. Sharon has worked with The Clements Group’s Executive Financial Services team, which is responsible for Rule 144 stock sales and 10b5-1 sales plans and has proven to be an excellent collaborator with financial teams of individual investors to make sure they have a sound strategy in place for their stock awards. Sharon is also extremely skilled at helping individuals navigate the financial issues that arise due to major life changes, such as marriage, death, employment and divorce. She is Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® and a member of The Institute for Divorced Financial Analysts. While high stress often accompanies major life changes, Sharon serves as a reassuring beacon of light for her clients during these periods because she is personally familiar with the rigors of change, having grown up in a military family that moved five times during her youth. Sharon is a graduate of The University of Texas at Arlington, where in 1986 she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Following graduation, she worked for Judson Malkin & Bloom (JMB), concentrating on real estate limited partnerships. In 1989, she joined PaineWebber (now UBS). In her free time, Sharon enjoys listening to music, traveling, and spending time with her adorable dog, Ranger and cats Loui and Tanner. A resident of North Dallas, she’s an avid sports fan and supports all of the teams in the Dallas Metroplex -- in addition to several charities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Brian Williams: Brian Williams is the Sr Director for the SAP Application Managed Services Practice at Rimini Street. He is based in Dallas, Texas has been managing and directing teams for many years in the AMS area as well as other ERP and digital solutions. Brian joined Rimini Street last year and previously established and led the SAP AMS Practice at Hitachi Vantara and Delaware Consulting over the past few years. He led teams in the USA, EMEA, and APAC including India, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, and China. In addition, Brian has managed teams at Boeing, Capital One, and Nucor supporting SAP, Oracle, as well as Digital Solutions for Chatbots and AI for the banking industry. Brian is a UTA alum having graduated in 1995 with a Bachelors in Management Information Systems. Brian grew up in Arlington and his wife Holly is also a UTA alum from 1996.