Greehey School of Business

The Business Week Experience 2023

Celebrating 100 Years of Business Education at St. Mary’s University

Tuesday, Oct. 24

La Quinta Keynote Lecture: The Future of Work, the Workforce and Workplaces: The Next Decade and Beyond
9:45 to 11 a.m. | University Center, Conference Room A
Introduction by Rowena Ortiz-Walters, Ph.D., Dean, Greehey School of Business

• 

  Amar Maletira

  Chief Executive Officer, Rackspace Technology

  Rackspace Technology Chief Executive Officer Amar Maletira is a customer-focused global business leader with more than 25 years of strategic and operational management, transformational leadership, sales, business development and general management expertise.

  Maletira joined Rackspace Technology in November 2020 as President and Chief Financial Officer, bringing broad technology industry experience in finance. As CFO, he led worldwide finance and accounting, and our global shared services organization within Rackspace Technology, which includes IT, India services center, security, workplace operations, supply chain and transformation office.

  Before joining Rackspace Technology, Maletira held successful positions as Executive Vice President and CFO at VIAVI Solutions, Inc., a publicly held technology company. Prior to VIAVI, Maletira served as Vice President and CFO of Americas Enterprise Services at Hewlett-Packard (HP), a $7 billion business. During his time at HP, he held a series of executive positions, including CFO for Application Services, Global Head of Financial Planning and Analysis and Director of Investor Relations. Before HP, Maletira led sales teams at Siemens and HCL-Picker in India.

  Maletira was named the CFO of the Year by Silicon Valley Business Journal in 2016. He was ranked the #1 CFO in TMT Mid-Cap by investors and analysts surveyed by Institutional Investor Magazine in 2019.

  He holds a B.S. in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Karnataka University in India, and an MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.

  Amar Maletira bio

Societal Impact Session: The Increasing Importance of Doing Good for the Future Workforce and Workplace
11:10 a.m. to 12:25 p.m. | University Center, Conference Room A
Introduction by Rowena Ortiz-Walters, Ph.D., Dean, Greehey School of Business

• 

  Kim Jefferies

  President and Chief Executive Officer, Haven for Hope

  Kim Jefferies is the President and CEO of Haven for Hope of Bexar County where she has worked since November 2021.  Jefferies previously worked at Brighton Center for 21 years, leading the organization as its CEO for more than 15 years.  Jefferies has worked in the nonprofit industry for the past 24 years. She has served as a community leader for The Nonprofit Council, United Way, Headstart, Autism Lifeline Links, as a mentor for the San Antonio Area Foundation and various other roles over the years. Jefferies was also named as a Top 40 Under 40 (2012), a Woman of Impact (2020), and a Top CEO (2021) by the San Antonio Business Journal. 

  Jefferies holds a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a specialization in Reading and a Minor in Business Administration. She holds an M.S. in Nonprofit Leadership from Our Lady of the Lady University. Jefferies recently achieved an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from Harvard’s Kennedy School for Executive Education.

  Jefferies is married to her husband, Cory, and they have two daughters. Kayleigh (24) and Kamryn (20). Jefferies enjoys the outdoors, including hiking, horseback riding, raising chickens and loves to garden. The Jefferies spend their summers on the lake or at the beach and their winters in the mountains. The Jefferies have a dog in addition to their seven chickens.

  Kim Jefferies bio

Fashion Show: Dress to Impress — The Professional Dos and Don’ts in the Business World
2 to 3:15 p.m. | Albert B. Alkek Business Building, Atrium
Co-Moderated by Donna James-Spruce, Contreras Executive-in-Residence for Risk Management, and Guillermo Martinez, J.D., Visiting Assistant Professor of Marketing

Panel Session: Accounting for New Classes of Assets in Finance
3:25 to 4:40 p.m. | University Center, Conference Room A
Moderated by Violeta Diaz, Ph.D., Professor of Finance

• 

  Carl Crawford

  Executive Director, Corporate Accounting, Valero

  Carl Crawford graduated with a B.B.A. in Accounting in 1998 and an MBA in Finance in 2001 and holds an active CPA license.  He started his career at Valero as an intern in May 1997 and is currently the Executive Director of Corporate Accounting.  In his current role, he oversees the accounting related to capital assets, consolidations and eliminations, general and administrative expenses and accounting for various environmental credit obligations.  Outside of Valero, Crawford is an avid cyclist and the captain of the Velo Valero cycling team.  He uses his time cycling to support various charitable causes, including the National Multiple Society, Alzheimer’s and Galveston Bay Foundation.  He lives here in San Antonio with his wife, two daughters, two dogs and two horses.   

  Carl Crawford bio

• 

  Patsy Valenzuela

  Senior Manager, Assurance and Advisory, Frank, Rimerman + Co. LLP

  Patsy Valenzuela graduated with a B.B.A. in Accounting from St. Mary’s University in 2005. While attending St. Mary’s, Valenzuela participated in Accounting Club and Student Government Association and played trumpet and euphonium in the Concert Band.

  She is an Assurance and Advisory Senior Manager at Frank, Rimerman + Co LLP. Located in Silicon Valley, the firm client base includes tech startups and venture-backed, growing companies. With 16 years of experience in public accounting, Valenzuela leads audits for small to mid-size privately held companies in a variety of industries, including Software as a Service (SaaS), inventory-based businesses and construction companies and those with international operations. She is also a former internal auditor for one of the nation’s largest homebuilders. She is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants. She is also a Certified Information Technology Professional and a Certified Internal Auditor.

  Patsy Valenzuela bio

• 

  Steve Dziuk

  Private Wealth Investor, President, Mesquite Wealth Management Group

  Steve Dziuk earned a B.A. in Finance Services and Risk Management from St. Mary’s University. From 1985-1989, Dziuk worked at USAA in claims and investment management before joining Ameriprise Financial in 1989, where he still works.

  Dziuk is a CFP® Certified Financial Planner and Chartered™ and CRPC™ Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™. His awards and recognitions include Ameriprise Chairman’s Advisory Council (2016-2018), Five Star Wealth Manager (2012, 2014, 2016, 2023), Ameriprise Circle of Success (2011-2022), Financial Times 400 Top Financial Advisers (2018), Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors (2019-2023), and AdvisorHub Fast Growing Advisors to Watch (2023).

  His volunteer activities include as Falls City ISD School Board Trustee, Falls City Education Foundation President, and St Mary University Alumni Association Board Member and past Treasurer.

  Steve Dziuk bio

La Quinta VIP Networking Reception
6 p.m. | Albert B. Alkek Business Building, Atrium
By invitation only

Wednesday, Oct. 25

Panel Session: Global Workplaces and Global Workforces: New Considerations
9:20 to 10:35 a.m. | University Center, Conference Room A
Moderated by Jeff Johnson, Ph.D., Professor of International Business

• 

  Zack Valdez, Ph.D.

  Chief of Staff, Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains, United States Department of Energy

  Prior to joining the Manufacturing Energy Supply Chain Office as Chief of Staff,  Zack Valdez developed policy strategy at the Office of Advanced Manufacturing within the National Institutes of Standards and Technology. Valdez has extensive experience with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math engagement with national non-profits and a background in the private energy sector. He is an alumni of the prestigious American Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology Policy Fellowship, where he served on the Energy and National Resources Committee of the U.S. Senate. Valdez received his academic degrees in his native state of Texas with a Ph.D. from Baylor University and Engineering and Physics B.S. degrees from St. Mary’s University.  

  Zack Valdez bio

• 

  Gerardo Galván

  Former North American General Manager, Topo Chico

  A visionary and entrepreneur who leads New Market Development Group, a boutique consulting group helping companies reach success in different ways, Gerardo Galván is on the hunt to help companies create similar “Topo Chico Business Cases” in the world. ​While successfully developing Topo Chico Mineral Water in the U.S. as President from 2000 to 2023, Galván helped the company reach #1 at Nielsen AMC (Imported Sparkling Mineral Water Category).​ In 2003, he developed and pitched the Coca-Cola Nostalgia Project to CCE (aka Coca-Cola Mexicana or Mexican Coke).

  Prior, Galván held sales, operation and marketing roles in the Coca-Cola Export Corporation in Mexico from 1986-1994 and was a consultant for The Coca-Cola Company for Latin America from 1994 to 1997 before leading the Topo Chico brand in Mexico (from 1997-2000) at Arca Continental (Grupo Procor).​

  Galván holds a doctorate honoris causa from UMED, an MBA from Cornell’s SC Johnson College of Business, an MBA from Smith School of Business at Queens University, Canada, a Bachelor of Business Administration from University of Monterrey, and a Leadership Program Certificate from IPADE Business School in Mexico).

  Gerardo Galván Bio

• 

  Armen Babajanian

  Chief Executive Officer, World Affairs Council of San Antonio

  Armen Babajanian currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the World Affairs Council of San Antonio. Babajanian was most recently the Chief Operations Officer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas.  He was born and raised in Los Angeles, California.  He attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in political science and developmental psychology.  He completed his Masters in Political Science from the University of Texas, San Antonio (UTSA).  Babajanian worked for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Houston for two years before moving to Kerrville in 2003 to restart and run operations for Big Brothers Big Sisters serving Kerr County.  In 2009, Babajanian relocated to San Antonio to continue to work with Big Brothers Big Sisters and focus on communications, marketing, partnerships and public relations, as VP of External Communications.  In 2014, Babajanian relocated to Warsaw, Poland, to help start and sustain the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Poland affiliate as their Executive Director.    
   
  Babajanian has also been a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer, worked for Head Start and has been a Big Brother mentor to Tyler and Jesse.  Finally, Babajanian has been involved with the Kerrville Area Chamber of Commerce as an Ambassador, was on the committee for Kerrville’s ‘Dancing with the Stars’ and on the Former Texas Rangers Foundation committee.  He has served on the Education and Workforce Committee for the San Antonio Greater Chamber of Commerce, a member and Board Member of the Rotary Club, a Board Member on the Nonprofit Council and was actively involved with the American Chamber of Commerce of Poland. 

  Armen Babajanian Bio

Future Leaders Series: Faculty Session — Defining You as a Fearless Leader
10:45 a.m. to Noon | Alkek Business Building, Atrium
Introduction by Gregory Pool, Ph.D., Professor of Graduate Industrial Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior
RSVP required by emailing lgarcia18@stmarytx.edu by Oct. 16.

• 

  Kathy McAfee

  Executive Coach and Author, Kmc Brand Innovation, LLC

  Kathy McAfee is a professional speaker, author and executive coach and mentor who works with organizations who want stronger more diverse leadership pipelines, and with professionals who want to be outstanding in their field.  Known as America’s Marketing Motivator, McAfee specializes in the arts of fearless leadership, high-engagement presentations, effective networking, and strong personal branding.  

  Learn more about Kathy at her website
  Learn more about her signature program 
  Connect with Kathy on LinkedIn  

  Kathy McAfee bio

Future Leaders Series: Student Session — Exploring your Major and Career through StrengthsFinder
10:45 a.m. to noon | University Center, Conference Room A
Introduction by Guillermo Martinez, J.D., Visiting Assistant Professor of Marketing

• 

  Yesenia Marili Smith

  Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and Founder, All Y’all Consulting, LLC

  Yesenia Smith graduated with a B.B.A. in Marketing from St. Mary’s University in 2005. While attending St. Mary’s, Smith served as President of Alpha Phi Omega, played the clarinet in the Jazz Band and completed a four-year work-study with the Army ROTC department.

  With over 16 years of experience in commercial real estate (CRE) marketing, research, and leadership, Smith is passionate about developing and encouraging people. As the National Director of Learning and Development (L&D) at Transwestern, she creates and implements L&D initiatives that raise team member competencies, improve efficiencies, and build leadership skills across the organization. She proudly serves on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) Training Committee at Transwestern and is committed to fostering a culture of inclusion and empowerment.

  Smith is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, providing strengths-based coaching and mentoring for communities and organizations. She works from a perspective rooted in natural talents, and helps individuals and teams discover and maximize their strengths. Smith’s top five strengths are: Individualization, Strategic, Maximizer, Relator, and Achiever.

  All Y’all Consulting, LLC is a strengths-based consulting, strategy, marketing and mentoring firm offering bespoke workshops for teams that want to thrive, founded by Smith in 2022 after a decade of coaching for internal teams and industry networking organizations. Yesenia’s professional experience in mentoring, corporate marketing, branding, design, and sales spans over two decades.

  Yesenia Marili Smith bio

Executive-for-a-Day Sessions
1:45 to 3 p.m. | Alkek Business Building (Various Rooms)

• “Research and Technology as Foundations for Entrepreneurship” | Alkek Business Building, Room 101

  

  Rene Dominguez, President and Chief Operating Officer, Texas Research and Technology Foundation

  Rene Dominguez is President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Texas Research and Technology Foundation (TRTF), a leading non-profit economic development organization established in 1984, and its subsidiary VelocityTX. TRTF strongly champions the long-term community goal of supporting commercialization and entrepreneurial development, strengthening and supporting our military missions and serving as a driver of the life sciences innovation ecosystem in San Antonio.

  Prior to his position with TRTF, Dominguez was appointed Director of the International and Economic Development Department for the City of San Antonio. For a decade, Dominguez was responsible for the implementation of the City of Antonio’s economic development strategy including the Industry Development, Small Business, Workforce and International Development Divisions.

  Dominguez came to the City from the Community Development Loan Fund (CDLF), a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), where he was President and CEO promoting economic development and small business growth. Before that, he worked at St. Mary’s University in various positions, ending his tenure as Executive Director of Development. 

  Rene Dominguez bio

  Introduction by Zecong Ma, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Marketing

• “Authentic Leadership: The Secret Tool to Succeeding in the New Workplace” | Alkek Business Building, Room 103

  

  Tom Grothues, St. Mary’s University Trustee and President, Tom G Consulting

  Tom Grothues was a Senior Vice President at USAA, wrapping up a 30-year career in 2020.  Grothues held senior executive leadership positions across many disciplines including sales, service, marketing, product management, and culture transformation.  Grothues is a 1991 (B.B.A.) and 1997 (MBA) graduate of St. Mary’s.  He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for St. Mary’s University, as well as the Vice Chair of the Greehey School of Business Advisory Council of Executives.

  While mostly retired, Grothues currently serves as a part-time Program Director for The Conference Board, a global non-profit think tank, facilitating a group of senior customer experience executives (CX) from across diverse industries, sharing best practices and innovative thinking in the CX space.  He is also a board member of the Children’s Chorus of San Antonio, a community-based musical non-profit organization.  Grothues is married to Yvonne Grothues (St. Mary’s 1990) and they have an adult daughter, Caroline, who lives in San Diego.  

  Tom Grothues bio

  Introduction by Richard Priesmeyer, Ph.D., Emil C.E. Jurica Distinguished Professor of Management

• “Innovation’s Role in Creating Experiences for the Future Customer” | Alkek Business Building, Room 105

  

  Amela Ciric, Executive Vice President, Innovation, Customer Experience and Transformation, Broadway Bank

  Amela Ciric joined Broadway Bank in March 2017 as a member of the executive leadership team. She serves as EVP, iNext Leader and has responsibility for innovation, customer experience, transformation, and consumer digital channel.

  Prior to joining Broadway Bank, she worked at USAA and served as the Chief of Staff to the Bank President. She led operational and strategic planning for USAA Federal Savings Bank and was responsible for prioritizing and coordinating the bank’s run-the-business deliverables and executing key projects related to enterprise-wide initiatives including strategic and operational planning, Board of Directors meetings, as well as President’s internal and external engagements. Amela also served as Director of CEO Communications and led operational planning in support of the USAA CEO, the Board of Directors and internal engagements with almost 30,000 employees and leaders.

  Prior to joining USAA, Amela worked at World Savings and Wachovia and held various senior leadership positions in mortgage servicing, underwriting, product development, project management, operational analysis and budgeting.

  She attended St. Mary’s University on a volleyball and basketball scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance.

  Amela Ciric Bio

  Introduction by Sergio Palacios, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Management

• “Looking at Taxes From a New Perspective” | Alkek Business Building, Room 107

  

  Rudy Gonzalez, Director, State and Local Tax, VACO

  Rudy brings nearly 20 years’ experience providing exceptional client service around state and local tax advisory services. Prior to joining Vaco, Gonzalez worked with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, transitioned to a state and local tax consulting role with a Certified Public Accounting firm, and later managed an indirect tax department for a publicly-traded Fortune 500 retailer and a publicly-traded fuel wholesaler.

  His experience includes strategically managing multi-state and local sales and use tax audits and protests, researching complex state and local tax issues, performing voluntary disclosure agreements, creating and implementing (SOX) controls and processes surrounding transaction taxes (FAS 5/ASC 450), optimizing tax calculation models, systems and tax preparation, along with authoring tax technical memoranda.

  Gonzalez has been a speaker at various industry conferences and CPE events, and has published several articles regarding Texas sales and use tax and franchise tax. Gonzalez holds a B.B.A. in Accounting from St. Mary’s University and an M.S. in Accounting from the University of the Incarnate Word. Gonzalez is a member of the Institute for Professionals in Taxation (IPT) and has achieved his Certified Member of the Institute designation (CMI) in sales and use tax.

  Rudy Gonzalez bio

  Introduction by Valerie Ballesteros, D.B.A., Instructor of Finance

Future Leaders Series: Student Session — Creating a Fearless Leadership Mindset
3:25 to 4:40 p.m. | University Center, Conference Room A
Introduction by Cody Cox, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Industrial Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior

• 

  Kathy McAfee

  Executive Coach and Author, Kmc Brand Innovation, LLC

  Kathy McAfee is a professional speaker, author and executive coach and mentor who works with organizations who want stronger more diverse leadership pipelines, and with professionals who want to be outstanding in their field.  Known as America’s Marketing Motivator, McAfee specializes in the arts of fearless leadership, high-engagement presentations, effective networking, and strong personal branding.  

  Learn more about Kathy at her website
  Learn more about her signature program 
  Connect with Kathy on LinkedIn  

  Kathy McAfee bio

Chevron MBA Reception
5 to 7 p.m. | Alkek Business Building, Atrium
By invitation only

Thursday, Oct. 26

Faith and Work Session: The Increasing Importance of Faith in the New Workplace
9:45 to 11 a.m. | University Center, Conference Room A
Introduction by Jason King, Director, Center for Catholic Studies

• 

  Kathleen Gushoney

  Managing Director, Enterprise Management, Charles Schwab

  Kate Gushoney, Director of EORM Strategy and Operations, is an inspirational leader and accomplished change management executive, leading the charge to bring transformation to scale through a strategic focus on operations, process advancement and optimization, cross-functional business alliances, partnerships, organizational capacity building, risk management, governance, financial management, communications and training. Gushoney’s team led change management for the firmwide implementation of MyGRC, is supporting all EORM Strategic Obejctives and Inititiatives, budget, core operations activities, employee engagement and Glint action plans, DEI, learning and communications. Our change management team partners to build strong change management plans to ensure project success the first time through while supporting teams in shifting mindset and behaviors to deliver superior results at pace. Gushoney’s commitment to maintaining a future focus inspires work toward scalable solutions to complex change in a highly collaborative environment. 

  Prior to joining Schwab, Gushoney served as the Vice President and Regional Executive Director for the YMCA of the East Bay in Oakland, California. Earlier, Gushoney was Assistant Director at the San Francisco Friendship House Association of American Indians, a transitional housing and substance abuse recovery program that provides treatment, prevention and workforce development services. Servant leadership and a commitment to supporting the people side of change remain central to all of her work. 

  Gushoney earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Dayton, Ohio, and her Master’s in Pastoral Ministry from Boston College. She is a 2014 graduate of the YMCA National Leadership Symposium where she published a white paper exploring themes of cultural appropriation, civic engagement and how to lead in an increasingly diverse America. She has a certificate in Change Management from Prosci and is one of the longest tenured change management SME’s at Schwab.   

  Gushoney is a longtime vowed Lay Marianist and a member of the Visitation Marianist State Community.   

  kathleen gushoney bio

General Student Session: Learning to Engage Artificial Intelligence Responsibly
11:10 a.m. to 12:25 p.m. | University Center, Conference Room A
Introduction by Jialin Zhao, Ph.D., Chair of the Department of Finance and Quantitative Management

• 

  Tamilla Triantoro, Ph.D.

  Associate Professor, Quinnipiac University

  Tamilla Triantoro is an Associate Professor of Business Analytics and Information Systems at Quinnipiac University, with over a decade of experience in the field of data analytics. She has directed both graduate and undergraduate academic programs in Business Analytics at Quinnipiac University and the University of Connecticut. Her expertise includes Artificial Intelligence, Human-AI Collaboration, and the Future of Work. She has spoken about these topics in various parts of the world. Triantoro visited over 100 countries and presented her work on six continents. With a Ph.D. from the City University of New York, where she researched online user behavior, Triantoro brings a deep understanding of the human element to her work. She is committed to advancing the field of Business Analytics and Human-AI Collaboration, while also ensuring that her work has a positive impact on society as a whole. 

  Tamilla Triantoro bio

Career Trek to Methodist Hospital
12:30 to 4:30 p.m. | Methodist Hospital Stone Oak
First Floor, Classrooms 1 and 2
1139 E. Sonterra Blvd
San Antonio, Texas 78258
Students, sign up via Handshake

General Faculty Session: Adapting to the Challenges and Adopting New Forms of Artificial Intelligence
2 to 3:15 p.m. | Alkek Business Building, Atrium
Introduction by Sung-Tae Kim, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Finance and Quantitative Management
RSVP required by emailing lgarcia18@stmarytx.edu by Oct. 16.

• 

  Tamilla Triantoro, Ph.D.

  Associate Professor, Quinnipiac University

  Tamilla Triantoro is an Associate Professor of Business Analytics and Information Systems at Quinnipiac University, with over a decade of experience in the field of data analytics. She has directed both graduate and undergraduate academic programs in Business Analytics at Quinnipiac University and the University of Connecticut. Her expertise includes Artificial Intelligence, Human-AI Collaboration, and the Future of Work. She has spoken about these topics in various parts of the world. Triantoro visited over 100 countries and presented her work on six continents. With a Ph.D. from the City University of New York, where she researched online user behavior, Triantoro brings a deep understanding of the human element to her work. She is committed to advancing the field of Business Analytics and Human-AI Collaboration, while also ensuring that her work has a positive impact on society as a whole. 

  Tamilla Triantoro bio

Inclusive Excellence Session: Leveraging Inclusive Excellence to Create a Winning Workplace — The Case of H-E-B
2 to 3:15 p.m. | University Center, Conference Room A
Introduction by Rowena Ortiz-Walters, Ph.D., Dean, Greehey School of Business

• 

  Mayerland Harris

  Group Vice President of Talent, H-E-B

  Mayerland Harris is seasoned leader with over three decades of combined Human Resources and store operations experience in the grocery retail industry. As the Group Vice President of Talent for H-E-B, Harris leads the strategic functions of Human Resources. Those functions include total company compensation, talent acquisition, onboarding, leadership development, training, HR technology, people analytics, and employee connection—including the DEIB function. Additionally, Harris is an Executive Board Member for Favor.   

  Harris is a lifelong learner. She received her undergraduate degree in Marketing from the University of Texas at Austin and earned her MBA from Texas A&M University. Harris is currently pursuing a doctoral degree for Learning and Organizational Change at Baylor University. 

  Harris is a dynamic, influential speaker with expertise in people-centric innovation and thought leadership. She applies a creative thought process and in-depth knowledge of Human Resources to provide unique solutions to complex problems in the people space. Harris’s gift for storytelling has helped her become a nationally sought-after speaker for many conferences and public appearances. She provides her audience with someone relatable and is sure to leave a lasting impression.  

  Mayerland Harris bio

Panel Session: The Interface of Business and Law in Practice and Academia
3:25 to 4:40 p.m. | University Center, Conference Room A
Moderated by Suzanne Oliva, LL.M., CPA, Assistant Professor of Business Law

• 

  Mary Brennan Stich

  St. Mary’s University Trustee and former Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Rackspace Technology

  Mary Brennan Stich is a double alumna; she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Mary’s University and a Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) from the School of Law. She graduated with academic honors. She played volleyball and basketball as a Rattler and received one of the first athletic scholarships awarded to a female athlete. Attending St. Mary’s was a family affair for her; six of her siblings and cousins attended St. Mary’s. Stich is currently a member of the University’s board of trustees. 

  Stich has represented businesses for most of her forty-year legal career. She has served as an executive, a C-suite advisor, and as deputy general counsel for public and private companies across many legal specialty areas including commercial lawsuits, employment law, risk management and compliance, intellectual property, and data privacy. She is former vice-president and deputy general counsel at Rackspace Technology (RXT), a multi-cloud technology solutions company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, where she led a global legal team. Stich is a former shareholder and partner at the commercial law firm Cox & Smith Incorporated (now Dykema). She is the former chief litigation and employment counsel at iHeart Media. She also served as an Associate Dean at the law school and oversaw its career services and alumni offices. Stich is currently in private practice and is licensed to practice law in the State of Texas and before the U.S Supreme Court. 

  Stich serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations. She is on the board of directors of Goodwill Industries of San Antonio. She provides pro bono legal services as a board member, officer, and volunteer for the San Antonio Legal Services Association. She is a founding member and former president of the Bexar County Women’s Bar Association. 

  Stich also serves as an advisory director on the board of a for-profit company, Third Coast Bank (TCBX), which is publicly traded on the NASDAQ. 

  She is a recognized leader in the community. She received the Ethical Life Award from the Association of Corporate Counsel and the President’s Award from the San Antonio Bar Association. She is a recipient of the Belva Lockwood Outstanding Lawyer Award from the Bexar County Women’s Bar Association. Stich was awarded a Women’s Leadership Award and Outstanding Lawyer Award from the San Antonio Business Journal. 

  Mary Brennan Stich bio

• 

  Sara Dysart

  St. Mary’s University Trustee and Attorney, Dysart Law

  Sara E. Dysart is a graduate of St. Mary’s University (B.A. magna cum laude and & J.D. with distinction) and UTSA (M.A.). Dysart is a sole practitioner. She is Board Certified in Commercial Real Estate Law and currently serves on the Texas Board of Legal Specialization Real Estate Law Advisory Commission and Texas Board of Legal Specialization Real Estate Law Exam Commission. She is a fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers. An advocate of Texas Bar CLE programs, Dysart has served as course director for Advanced Real Estate Law, Advanced Real Estate Drafting, Advanced Real Estate Strategies, and Annual Summer School, and is a frequent author and presenter. 

  Dysart serves on the Board of Trustees for St. Mary’s University and the Board of Directors of Incarnate Word High School. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Broadway Bank, the Texas Bar College, and local non-profit organizations. She is the current Chair-Elect of the Fellows of the Texas Bar Foundation. She has been Chair of the SBOT Real Estate Forms Committee, Trustee of the Texas Bar Foundation, Director of the SBOT, Co-Chair of the 2015 SBOT Annual Meeting, Council Member of REPTL, President of St. Mary’s Law Alumni Association, and Chair of the San Antonio Bar Foundation.  

  Dysart is a recipient of the  San Antonio Bar Association Lifetime Achievement Award–the Joe Frazier Brown, Sr. Award of Excellence; State Bar of Texas Real Estate Probate and Trust Law Section Lifetime Achievement Award—Real Estate; Texas Board of Legal Specialization Tom Garner Award; San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Awareness Allan K. DuBois Community Champion Award; San Antonio Legal Services Association President’s Award; Texas Bar Foundation Terry Lee Grantham Memorial Award; SBOT President’s Award; SBOT Presidential Citation; four San Antonio Bar Association President’s Awards; San Antonio Business Journal Outstanding Lawyer Award; San Antonio Bar Foundation Peacemaker Award; SBOT CLE staff’s Standing Ovation Award; SBOT Advanced Real Estate Weatherbie Workhorse Award; Association of Corporate Counsel South Texas Chapter C. Lee Cusenbary Ethical Life Award; Lawyer’s Concerned for Lawyer’s Ralph Mock Award; and Bexar County Women’s Bar Foundation’s Belva Lockwood Outstanding Lawyer. 

  St. Mary’s University honored Dysart as a 2019 Distinguished Graduate. St. Mary’s University School of Law Alumni Association honored her as the 2021 Distinguished Law Graduate. 

  Sara Dysart bio

• 

  The Hon. Nelson Wolff (B.B.A. ’66, J.D. ’66)

  St. Mary’s University Distinguished Service Professor and former Bexar County Judge

  The Hon. Nelson Wolff is a retired Bexar County judge and Democratic politician from San Antonio. He represented Bexar County in the Texas House of Representatives from 1971 to 1973 and the Texas Senate from 1973 to 1975. Wolff served on the San Antonio City Council from 1987 to 1991 and then as mayor of San Antonio from 1991 to 1995. He served as Bexar County judge from 2001 until 2022. In January, Wolff was appointed as University Distinguished Service Professor at St. Mary’s University. 

  The Hon. Nelson Wolff bio

Chevron Business Week Awards Dinner
6 to 9 p.m. | University Center, Conference Room A
By invitation only