19th Annual ALUMNI LEADERSHIP DAY
Friday, October 25, 2024
The Kinkaid School’s 19th Annual Alumni Leadership Day
Dear Class of 2025,
This year we have a very impressive group of over 50 alumni returning to campus to visit with the Class of 2025 about their respective careers and the decisions and paths that defined their choices.
We want to thank our alumni for participating in this special event. Each of them has generously made time for Kinkaid and is willing and eager to share their insights so that you will be better equipped for the opportunities, challenges, and decisions that lie ahead.
The alumni panelists have shared a brief summary of what a “day in the life” of their career entails, along with their contact info and educational and work history. We hope that this information can be used to provide you with a realistic view of the demands and expectations of these various jobs.
Our goal is that you will begin to better formulate questions about your next steps in college and beyond. We encourage you to ask questions during the panel sessions and follow up with the panelists after the program. Making connections within the vast network of Kinkaid alumni is extremely valuable, and we hope that the Class of 2025 will take advantage of this unique opportunity.
Sincerely,
Emily Dominique Alumni Activities Manager
Ricky Perusquia ’11 KYPO President 2024-2025
MADISON CALICCHIA ’14
Director of Creative & Operations for Global Communications at Worley
madison.calicchia@gmail.com
BFA Film & Television Production, NYU Tisch School of the Arts
Prior Employment:
Brand Writer & Producer, MTV & VH1 Head of Partnerships and Creative, Liquid Social, Creative Director (Freelance)
Madison is an award-winning creative professional with a background in media, branding, and film. She began her career at MTV and VH1, working on popular shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race, Jersey Shore, and Siesta Key. At age 23, she won Clio, ADDY, ProMax, and Faxie awards for her Titanicthemed promo for Martha & Snoop: Potluck Party Challenge. Since then, she has worked on creative projects for brands such as Netflix, Food Network, and BoxyCharm, and her experimental film Summon has earned recognition at film festivals across the U.S. Currently, Madison is the Director of Creative & Operations for Global Communications at Worley, where she played a key role in launching the company’s 2023 global rebrand.
TY DORAN ’16
Actor/Teaching Artist, Off the Bus Inc.
ty.doran@gmail.com
B.S. Theatre, Northwestern University
Prior employment: Ginny & Georgia (Netflix) EPIC Players LA Performing Arts Workshops Manifest (NBC/Netflix) The Blacklist, Chicago Fire (NBC) Bull (CBS) American Crime (ABC)
Ty is a professional actor and teaching artist based out of Los Angeles. He received his B.S. in Theater from Northwestern University and has since been working in the entertainment industry on shows such as Manifest and Ginny & Georgia. Ty also works as a mentor at EPIC Players, a neurodiverse theater company devoted to promoting accurate representation and lower barriers of entry for neurodiverse performers. Recently, he returned to Houston to direct Peter and the Starcatcher as St. Francis Episcopal School’s fall play.
MEGAN OLIVIA EBEL ’11
Founder, Independent Curator & Advisor at RUBY Projects and LaRucheHTX Residency and Exhibitions
meganolivia@rubyprojects.xyz
B.A. Studio Art, Sewanee: The University of the South Professional studies Curation & Art Business, Sotheby’s Institute of Art
Prior employers: Various galleries, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Fotofest, The Orange Show, KIPP Public Schools, Yes Prep Public Schools
Megan is a curator, art advisor, and project manager with over 15 years experience. She founded RUBY Projects to foster collaboration among galleries, institutions, and artists, with a focus on elevating Houston’s art scene. Her ethos emphasizes accessibility, creative collaboration, and the power of community. She has worked with renowned Houston galleries, including Heidi Vaughan Fine Art, Sanman Studios, Pablo Cardoza Art, and LaRucheHTX—a residency under RUBY Projects that connects experimental media artists. Her leadership extends to chairing and curating events like Fotofest Biennial Gala and The Orange Show Auction. She has collaborated with Houston Art Gallery Association and public spaces, engaging audiences through creative direction and event curation.
CARROLL ISON CUMMINGS ’13
Carroll Cummings Advisory
carroll@carrollcummingsadvisory.com
B.F.A. Studio Art, The University of Texas at Austin College of Fine Arts
Prior Employers: Christie’s, Perrotin, Hesse Flatow
MARCUS ROLLS ’04
Executive Director
Greater Houston Area Market Leader, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Marcus.Rolls@morganstanley.com
B.A. Economics, Southern Methodist University
Prior Employers: Wells Fargo Advisors, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Marcus is a market manager in the Houston area. While manages the day-to-day operations of the flagship downtown office, he also has supervisory duties over the Sugar Land, Woodlands, Clear Lake and West Houston offices as well. In this role, he works with both financial professionals and support staff to help deliver the full firm to their clients. He is a results driven, growth-focused, transformational leader with 10+ years of experience leading business development and navigating complex operational challenges. He joined Morgan Stanley from JP Morgan Chase where he was a Regional Director of Chase Wealth Management overseeing over 232 bank branch locations. Prior, he worked at Morgan Stanley as a Branch Manager, Associate Complex Manager, Business Development Manager and Financial Advisor. He also sat on several regional and national councils.
GEORGIANA SMYSER ZEHNER ’07
Managing Director & Co-Chief Financial Officer, Orion Infrastructure Capital
georgiana@oic.com
B.A. Dartmouth College J.D. /MBA The University of Texas at Austin
Prior Employers: Bridgewater Associates, Goldman Sachs
As Managing Director and Co-Chief Financial Officer, Georgiana is responsible for the firm’s financial planning and enterprise development. This includes leadership of capital raising for our funds and portfolio companies, strategic financial planning for the firm and oversight of our valuation processes. Previously, she served as Senior Vice President on OIC’s Infrastructure Credit Team. Georgiana is a member of the Valuation Committee and the ESG Committee. Prior to OIC, she was a Vice President in the Natural Resources Group of Goldman Sachs’ investment banking division, where she provided M&A and financing advisory services to Goldman’s upstream, midstream, oil field services, and energy transition clients. Previously Georgiana was a Management Associate with Bridgewater Associates in Westport, CT.
RICKY PERUSQUIA ’11
Vice President, CAZ Investments rickyperusquia@gmail.com
B.A. Economics, The University of Texas, MBA, University of Virginia
Prior Employers: Credit Suisse Dimensional Fund Advisors
We are a private investment firm with several investors across the US. I spend my time in three ways: 1. Finding, doing diligence on, and monitoring investments; 2. Meeting with existing investors to go through their investments with us; 3. Meeting with prospective investors to discuss investing with us. A typical day consists of two-to-three meetings with existing and prospective investors either in person or on Zoom, and the rest of the time, I review and prepare materials for prospective investments to help decide if we will participate.
MARY LABANOWSKI ’16
Private Equity Associate, KKR & Co. Inc.
mary.labanowski@gmail.com
B.S. Business Administration, The University of Southern California
Prior employer: Morgan Stanley
I am a private equity associate in the Energy Real Assets group at KKR. A typical day as an associate consists of evaluation and execution of new investment opportunities in addition to portfolio management of existing assets within the business.
banking, finance & accounting
WILLIAM ISON ’17
Vice President for the Surety Practice, CAC Specialty
william.ison@cacgroup.com
B.B.A. Finance, The University of Texas at Austin Business Administration, The London School of Economics
Prior Employers: Markel Chubb
William joined CAC Specialty in May of 2023 as a Vice President for the Surety Practice. Prior to joining, he served as the Contract Surety Underwriter for Markel Corporation and was responsible for the underwriting for Markel’s Alabama Contract Surety book of business as well as major Houston brokerage firms. He spent a couple of years with Chubb Ltd., where he performed capitalization and liquidity analysis when underwriting surety bonds to predict probability of default on jobs within contractor’s work in progress.
energy / oil & gas
KEVIN CLEGG ’08
Vice President - Emerging Energy University Lands
kclegg7@gmail.com
B.A. Mechanical Engineering; B.S. Plan II Honors, The University of Texas MBA Energy & Finance Concentrations, Rice University
Prior Employers: OGCI Climate Investments Chevron Tregan Energy Partners
University Lands manages the surface and mineral interests of 2.1 million acres of land across nineteen counties in West Texas for the benefit of the Permanent University Fund (PUF). The PUF is one of the largest university endowments in the United States and benefits more than twenty educational and health institutions across both The University of Texas System and Texas A&M University System. My role involves thinking strategically about using this expansive land resource to generate clean energy and deliver returns for the University of Texas System. Earlier in my career, I worked at Chevron in a variety of technical and project management roles. I am fascinated by the energy industry and look forward to helping solve the challenges of the energy transition ahead of us.
HALEY EBEL O’BRIEN ’14
Business Development Representative, Gibson Energy
hbeobrien@gmail.com
B.A., Elon University MBA Candidate, University of Virginia, Darden School of Business
Haley is a Houston based corporate development professional in the crude oil space. She focuses her time on evaluating and negotiating West Texas and Gulf Coast pipeline opportunities through M&A, greenfield development and expansions. Haley’s day is spent working alongside oilfield producers, operations and engineering, and corporate strategy to execute on growth projects.
MATTHEW HUSSEY ’08
Reservoir Engineering Manager - South Texas, Crescent Energy
matthew.hussey@crescenteneregyco.com
B.S. Mechanical Engineering & B.B.A. Engineering Route to Business, The University of Texas at Austin
Prior employers: Chesapeake Energy SilverBow Resources
I lead a team of engineers who work with a cross functional group of landmen, geologists, and other engineers to determine which wells to drill across South Texas to achieve company objectives. My primary job is to ensure my engineers and executives have the information and analytical tools they need to make good decisions. I previously worked in business development and operational roles allowing me to gain a broad understanding of the upstream oil and gas business.
AIDAN REED ’18
Project Engineer, Datum Engineers
aidan.t.reed@gmail.com
B.S. Civil Engineering The University of Texas at Austin
M.S. Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin
My career involves designing the structural system (beams, columns, foundations) for buildings. I collaborate with architects, other engineers, and contractors to create beautiful, efficient, and cost-effective solutions for the public. A typical day for me could be designing the reinforcement in concrete foundations for a church in the morning, followed by modeling steel beam connections for a high school after lunch, and ending on a visit to a construction site to answer and review questions from the contractor.
Vice President – Projects, Wood dzummo@gmail.com
B.S. Mechanical Engineering and B.A. Plan II, The University of Texas
Prior employer: UniversalPegasus International
I lead teams that design and build complex industrial projects. This involves engaging with customers and suppliers to understand their needs and industry trends, then developing project teams to turn concepts into operating facilities. A typical day includes working with other engineers and business leaders to solve problems, learning about new technologies and identifying ways to apply them with our teams, and testing new approaches to more effectively deliver projects.
DAVID ZUMMO ’06
Senior Consultant, Deloitte Consulting LLP
joshhamat@gmail.com
B.S. Mechanical Engineering (Petroleum Emphasis), University of Southern California MBA, University of Houston Bauer School of Business
Prior Employer: USA Compression
I am a Senior Consultant in Deloitte’s Enterprise Performance operating portfolio. We predominantly advise executive teams in defining and executing on their strategic objectives through innovation and collaboration. We help our clients design modernized operating models that allow businesses to focus on their strategic competencies.
JOSH HAMAT ’14
KUNAL PASRIJA ’11
Founder & Managing Partner, Wickdale Capital
kunal@wickdalecapital.com
B.B.A. Southern Methodist University
MBA Northwestern UniversityKellogg School of Management
Prior Employers:
RBC Capital Markets, Intrepid Financial Partners, Uber, Agility Recovery, Yahoo
I’m an entrepreneur pursuing a unique path called entrepreneurship through acquisition. Instead of starting a business from scratch, I raised money from investors to search for and buy an existing small business to run as CEO. My typical day involves researching industries/ companies that could be good acquisition targets; reaching out to business owners to see if they’re interested in selling; analyzing financial data of potential acquisitions; meeting with investors and advisors; and negotiating deal terms when I find a promising company. Once I acquire a business, I’ll transition to fulltime CEO. This path allows me to become an entrepreneur and business owner faster with less risk than a startup, while still getting to grow and improve an existing company.
KAMI NADER ’19
CollegeBites COO/Founder
kn@collegebites.com
B.S. Public Policy & Law, Trinity College
I founded CollegeBites, a mobile platform dedicated to connecting college students with the best local restaurants in town. CollegeBites is a restaurant-focused platform designed to provide a direct advertising pipeline to college students to boost in-person traffic by giving exclusive deals ranging from 20% of entire bills to free items with purchases. Our company partners directly with colleges to be promoted as a new value-added service to the student body and faculty. CollegeBites launched in Hartford, CT, this fall with over 60+ partnering restaurants. I am expanding our service nationwide, starting with Houston, with a planned launch for Fall 2025.
CLEMMIE PIERCE MARTIN ’12
Chief of Staff, The Cannon cmartin@thecannon.com
B.A. Plan II Honors; B.S. Corporate Communications, The University of Texas
Prior Employers: Teach for America, Houston Exponential
No day in the life of a Chief of Staff is ever the same! As a member of the leadership team, I work side by side with the C-Suite to align our organizational objectives, drive strategic effectiveness, and ensure top-down communication is managed in a timely manner. My projects range anywhere from strategic restructuring of business lines and operating companies to marketing initiatives and event execution, to innovation consulting and mentorship. My job is truly one of a kind!
BRYNN HARRIS ’13
Chief of Staff to the CEO, University of Utah Hospitals & Clinics
Brynn.Harris@hsc.utah.edu
B.A. Philosophy; Hispanic Studies; Pre-Med, Columbia University
Master of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center Fellowship in Healthcare Administration, University of Utah Hospitals & Clinics
I split my time between managing the executive office and working with the senior leadership team on strategic initiatives, system communications, and alignment of our educational, clinical, and research missions. I’m currently leading an enterprise risk assessment with our CFO to assess 30+ categories of risk and implement mitigation strategies across the system. I also manage our Board of Directors and lead recruitment, orientation, continuous education, and monthly meetings. Some of our key areas of focus currently are on system growth, expanding resources to underserved communities, and maintaining financial viability in a market with rapidly changing demographics. I am a Fellow of the American Hospital Association, a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children in the Utah court system, and a Board Member of the University of Utah MHA program.
CAITLIN BAILEY MCCLURE ’07
Owner, CBM Integrative Wellness
Caitlin@CBMintegrativewellness.com
B.A. Psychology, University of South Carolina
M.Ed. Counseling Psychology, University of Houston
Ph.D. Integrative Mental Health, Saybrook University.
Previous Employer: The Tarnow Center for Self-Management
Dr. McClure integrates advanced neurotherapeutic techniques like Neurofeedback, Biofeedback, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, and qEEG Brain Mapping to explore and address the root causes of mental health challenges. By combining these cutting-edge tools with comprehensive diagnostic tests, such as micronutrient and food sensitivity testing, Dr. McClure ensures that each treatment plan is uniquely tailored to the individual’s physiological and psychological needs. Whether through individual or family therapy, Dr. McClure is dedicated to empowering clients to achieve lasting well-being, offering a holistic approach that fosters healing and personal growth.
HANNAH ROSENTHAL ‘06
Emergency Medical Services Fellow, UTHealth Houston; Medical Director, Houston Fire Department; Emergency Physician, Memorial Hermann TMC & LBJ General Hospital
hrrosenthal@gmail.com
B.S. English Literature, United States Military Academy at West Point MD/MBA, Dell Medical School & McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin
Hannah commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant branched Military Intelligence in the US Army and served in the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne Division as a platoon leader and company executive officer in the Military Intelligence Company, and as a Battalion Intelligence Officer with 1-504 Parachute Infantry Regiment. Hannah deployed twice to Afghanistan, in 2012 and 2014, and became a master rated parachutist. After an esteemed career in the military, she decided to pursue a career in medicine. Hannah graduated from Dell Medical School and the McCombs School of Business at UT Austin in 2021, then completed Emergency Medicine Residency in Phoenix, AZ.
MADISON GOERINGER ’13
Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Primary Care
madison.goeringer@gmail.com
B.S. Child Development/Psychology & Minor in Spanish, Vanderbilt University, Master of Science in Nursing Pediatric Primary Care, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing
Prior Employers: ABC Pediatric Clinic, Clinic Concierge, Legacy Community Health, YES Prep Southeast Elementary
I knew from a young age I wanted to work with children and make a difference in the world. I dreamed of being a doctor, nurse, or teacher - the beauty of being a Nurse Practitioner is that I get to play the role of all three! I see my own panel of patients from newborns to teens in a primary care setting and independently assess, diagnose, manage, plan, and prescribe with support from the doctors around me when I need it. Each day brings learning, new experiences, challenges, and growth. A big part of my job is educating children and families about their health and advocating for children who have no one else to help them fight for their needs. I have worked in a pediatrician’s office, for a pediatric home health company, and in a school-based health clinic where we provided primary care services. I have Kinkaid’s Spanish program to thank for my fluency. I speak it with about 75% of my patients. I love what I do, and it’s fulfilling to be able to make an impact in our community by providing high-quality, individualized, holistic care to pediatric patients and their families!
WALKER SHORT ’10
Chief Resident, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine
wshort631@gmail.com
B.S. Neurobiology, University of Washington
M.D. Baylor College of Medicine
General surgical residency is typically a five-to-seven-year program which involves training in the perioperative care of patients with a wide variety of conditions including surgical oncology, trauma surgery, acute care surgery, pediatric surgery, vascular surgery, and thoracic surgery. Next year, I will be transitioning to a two-year fellowship in pediatric surgery at Oregon Health and Sciences University.
HANNAH FRED BRADLEY ’12
Attorney, Allen Boone Humphries Robinson LLP
hannah.fred.bradley@gmail.com
B.A. Corporate Communications, University of Houston
J.D. Summa Cum Laude, South Texas College of Law Houston
Previous Employer: Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
I serve as general counsel and bond counsel for special purpose districts that provide for the financing and construction of water, sewer, drainage, road, and recreational facilities and other development infrastructure in Houston and surrounding areas. A typical day includes reviewing contracts between developers and local governments, as well as leading public board meetings for special purpose districts.
NIKKI HILL ’06
Partner, McCall, Parkhurst & Horton L.L.P.
nikkihill811@gmail.com
B.A. Journalism & Spanish, Southern Methodist University JD, The University of Texas at Austin School of Law
Prior employers: Andrews Kurth LLP Orrick, Herrington and Sutcliffe LLP
I am a partner at a boutique firm that has dedicated its practice to public finance for over a hundred years. Public finance is transactional work, but the client isn’t a company, it’s a local government, such as cities, school districts, municipal utility districts, counties, etc. I work with these issuers and with underwriters who finance governmental projects. A day in the life includes client calls, reviewing and drafting documents, working with the Texas Attorney General’s office in getting financings approved, or sometimes even viewing what I’m working on around the city, like a stadium, toll road, or new master planned community.
CHRISTOPHER PAIZ ’03
Tax Counsel, ConocoPhillips
Ashley.boyar@gmail.com
B.S. Marketing & Retail Management, Syracuse University
JD, University of Houston Law Center
Prior employers: Deloitte, BBVA, NOV
I am tax counsel for ConocoPhillips in its tax technical group. When there are questions about how to report any issue with Federal income taxes that requires research and documentation, I am the go-to person. My day involves lots of legal research, writing memos for our files, and doing various modeling exercises of how taxes will be calculated under different scenarios.
Legal Counsel, Kongsberg Maritime Inc.
paiz.chris@gmail.com
B.A. Business and Communication Studies, Southwestern University
J.D.; MBA Villanova University
Prior Employers: Rolls-Royce, Gulf States Financial Services, Navigant Consulting
My typical day includes meeting with colleagues all over the globe. Topics range from litigation matters, contract negotiations with customers, and solving/ settling problems that appear through normal course of business. Most days I’m providing “counseling” more than legal advice. I am a trusted advisor that helps fix some of the most complex problems in our company.
ASHLEY ELLERIN BOYAR ’06
WILL FULLENWILDER ‘12
Associate, McGuireWoods LLP
wfullenweider@mcguirewoods.com
B.A. Villanova University
J.D. The University of Texas School of Law
Prior Employer: Jones Day
I work in the corporate and private equity practice group advising independent sponsors and private equity funds on transactional matters including mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance. A typical day for me involves assisting in different areas of the deal process, including due diligence, preparation of the purchase agreement and ancillary agreements, and generally preparing for closing. Our clients are involved in a broad range of industries.
OLIVIA MARRUS ’19
Account Executive, Dancie Perugini Ware Public Relations
oliviammarrus@gmail.com
B.A. in Media Studies, University of Virginia
I began as an intern at DPWPR the summer after my junior year of college and have worked for them ever since! I manage public relations for clients in healthcare, legal, arts and non-profit, commercial real estate, hospitality, and civic sectors. Each account demands a different strategy, but broadly I act as the liaison between my clients and the media with the goal of generating earned media coverage. I create press materials such as press releases, media advisories, and post-event scenarios, pitch stories to reporters, assist clients with in-person fundraising and social events, and compile thorough coverage reports, and collaborate with coworkers to present fresh and exciting campaigns. Our office works as one team to deliver local, regional, and national communications campaigns with precision, creativity, and efficiency.
Associate Product Marketing Manager, Poshmark
meganlaforge623@gmail.com
B.A. Business Administration, B.S. Theatre, Chapman University M.S. Integrated Marketing Communications, Northwestern University
Prior employer: francesca’s
After completing my master’s degree, I joined Poshmark’s product marketing team, where I now serve as an Associate Product Marketing Manager. I oversee end-to-end marketing campaigns, promoting new features to our users and educating them on best practices. This includes managing high-visibility projects such as the launch of our AI listing tool, creative strategy for international market expansions, and leading strategic partnerships with celebrities such as Doja Cat, Jessie Murph, and Karl Anthony Towns, launching charity pop-up closets that drive brand engagement.
MEGAN LAFORGE ’13
ANABELLE READE WARD ’12
Account Executive - LTK Connect Sales, LTK (formerly rewardStyle & LIKEtoKNOW.it)
anabellereade@gmail.com
B.S. Retail Merchandising and Consumer Sciences; Business Foundations Certificate, The University of Texas at Austin
Prior Employer: BPCM
I educate brands on who LTK is, how brands can work with creators through LTK, and best practices in using our Brand Self Service Platform - LTK Connect. I am on calls almost all day, either with brands or agencies, and then working to get those brands onboarded. I spend a lot of time cross team: with our creator side of the business, Creator Success, fostering Creator x Brand relationships; with our Product Team to test and learn all the new updates on our online creator site/brand site/LTK App (over 40M+ registered users!); and with internal LTK Sales/Brand Management teams. I work from home, but LTK has amazing culture. Sometimes my day includes a virtual cooking class, traveling to conferences all over the US, or meeting up with local creators and agencies. I also have a creator account on LTKfind me there to connect!
@MyFriendsMadeMeBuyIt
GEORGIA WILLIAMS ’18
Speech Language Pathologist, Clinical Fellow; Richardson ISD
georgiacw1718@gmail.com
B.S. Communication Sciences & Disorders, The University of Texas at Austin
M.S. Speech-Language Pathology, The University of Texas at Dallas
Prior employers: N/A
I am a speech-language pathologist in Richardson ISD, just north of Dallas. I work at a Title I elementary school serving students with a variety of speech and language impairments including receptive/ expressive language delay, speech sound disorders, pragmatic language disorders and fluency disorders. My day consists of working with children from Pre-K to 6th grade, both in self-contained classrooms and general education classrooms. I also collaborate with special education and general education teachers to advocate for these students and help them communicate in the most effective and authentic way possible. My days are full of fun and never boring!
ALEXA LEACH ’09
Advancement Services Manager, The Kinkaid School
alexa.leach@kinkaid.org
B.B.A. Marketing, The University of Texas at Austin
Prior Employer: Vinson & Elkins LLP
My role can be described as “air traffic controller” of our fundraising team and our All In Campaign. Organization and efficient multi-tasking are a must! I prep our gift officers with research, data, and strategy and keep them on track to hit our fundraising goals through reporting and metrics tracking. I have recently added fundraising to my responsibilities and now have my own portfolio as well. I serve as a liaison between various groups working on different parts of the campaign. I work closely with our business office, gift records/database team, volunteers, donors, consultant, advertising firm, construction team, architects, signage studio, etc. I coordinate all campaign meetings and am responsible for campaign communications, documents, and processes. I also assist with donor stewardship and campaign events, and I help the Director of Advancement with special projects.
DEVON HARRIS ROTHLISBERGER ’10
Director of Special Education Compliance, Mesa Unified School District
devonharris023@gmail.com
B.F.A. Acting, Syracuse University
M.Ed. Special Education, Arizona State University
M.Ed. Educational Leadership (Principalship), Arizona State University
As the Director of Compliance, I oversee special education procedures and documentation for over 10,000 students in Preschool through 12th grade. I develop and implement professional learning for all special education teachers and related service providers in our district. Utilizing my previous experience as an Elementary Assistant Principal and Interim Principal, I support school administrators with their special education teams on campus. Additionally, my department oversees special education records and our student information system platform. On a typical day, I can be found collecting and analyzing data on our current special education systems, collaborating with district leadership on how to support student achievement, and leading professional learning for teachers and other staff.
KEL MABATAH ’05
Founder & President, The ‘Kel Strong’ Mabatah Foundation
kmabatah@gmail.com
B.B.A. Entrepreneurial Management, Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University
As the founder of a growing nonprofit, my day-to-day revolves around driving our mission forward. I focus on leading our fundraising efforts, ensuring we meet our yearly goals, and connecting with donors to share our vision. A big part of my role involves building partnerships with institutions that support our work with those affected by brain injuries, as well as organizing various fundraising events throughout the year. As a founder of a small, evolving organization, I wear many hats and do whatever it takes to ensure our success—ultimately benefiting the people we aim to serve.
TX HARRIS ’18
U.S. Cooney Fellow, The Kinkaid School tx.harris@kinkaid.org
B.S. Quantitative Analysis of Markets and Organizations, The University of Utah
Prior Employers: University of Utah, Applied Health & Performance Science Department; WorkForceQA LLC; StrategyNow LLC
My position is a one-year fellowship that allows prospective educators to preview the classroom teaching experience and gain the skills to move smoothly into the profession. The program is designed for people interested in teaching who did not pursue a degree in education. I grew up with an educator in my home, giving me the unique position to see the rewards and challenges of teaching first-hand. I spent my recent years working in the fields of consulting, finance, and data analytics. I had the opportunity to work with student athletes at the University of Utah which spurred my interest in teaching. This fellowship provides many benefits other first-year teachers would not have access to, including professional development programs, working with highly motivated students, the support of accomplished educators, a community that holds its members to lofty standards, and the opportunity to engage in all areas of Kinkaid activities, including coaching.
ROBIN KATE DAVIS ’17
Pre-Construction Manager, Premier Project Management
robinkatedavis@premierpm.com
B.A. Mathematics, Sewanee: The University of the South
Prior employers (if applicable): None
I liaise between our internal teams of architecture, design, procurement, and project management to execute our thirdparty projects. I am also responsible for keeping track of all upcoming and current project schedules being handled by our company and relaying that information and related analyses to our company’s executives. Each day at my job is different from the day before, and I thrive on adapting quickly to solve any issues that may arise.
DAWSON SMITH ’15
Associate Broker, Avison Young dawson.smith@avisonyoung.com
B.S. Industrial Distribution, Texas A&M University
Prior Employer: Shell Oil Company
I specialize in leasing and sales for the industrial and office sectors in the Greater Houston market. I help my clients align their business strategies and real estate needs by providing data-driven market analysis, space/site optimization, economic advising, transaction management, and leading deal negotiations. When not serving existing clients, I spend time on business development and bringing new clients to our firm.
real estate & development
RAYAN BEKHRADI ’14
Vice President and Operations Manager, Bek Builders Group
rayan.bekhradi@gmail.com
B.A. History, The University of Texas at Austin
Prior Employer: Gypsum Management & Supply
Every day is extremely different in my role and that is why I love it. “A day in the life” ranges from overseeing our current development projects to managing our existing properties and everything in between. It has been a nice transition from a large corporation. You wear a lot of different hats, but it allows you to appreciate the results.
Associate, JLL kennedygamble112@gmail.com
B.A. Economics, Stanford University MBA Rice University
Prior employers (if applicable): N/A
I find, negotiate, and secure office space that fits a company’s unique needs and goals. I conduct market research to identify available properties, analyze lease terms, and negotiate favorable agreements for my clients. I focus on aligning the space with their financial and strategic goals while minimizing risks. Acting as a trusted partner, I guide my clients through the entire leasing process, helping them make informed decisions that optimize their workspace and expenses.
KENNEDY GAMBLE ’18
BEN THOMAS ’13
Founder and CEO, Gatby
benji@gatby.com
B.B.A. Finance, Baylor University
Prior Employers: Nutiliti
Morgan Stanley Energy Partners
Wells Fargo Investment Banking
At a startup, every day looks different, but sometimes there is some structure. I try to spend time with each of our heads (CTO, COO, and CPO) and see where we are on product development, operations, and growth. I spend a lot of time evaluating new technologies that we can leverage to deliver a product experience to our consumers.
JAMES EILERS ’06
Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA)/Space Walk Operations Specialist, NASA
jameseilers@gmail.com
BS, Computer Science, Georgia Tech
MS, Human Factors Engineering, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Prior Employer: U.S. Navy
The team I am with at NASA trains the astronauts in EVA or space walk operations: everything from how to operate and maintain the space suits to using tools and moving around in zero gravity. We also plan and execute all the space walks from Mission Control at Johnson Space Center.
student notes
student notes
student notes
student notes
schedule of events
8:45 – 8:55 Check-in
9:00 – 9:30 Assembly, Moss Amphitheatre
9:45 – 10:15 Panel 1
10:25 – 10:55 Panel 2
11:05 – 11:35 Panel 3
11:40 – 12:30 Roundtable Luncheon, Ogilvie Lobby
The panel sessions will take place in the following rooms:
1. Arts & Creative Panel: Main Conference Room
2. Banking, Finance & Accounting Panel: Moss Amphitheatre
3. Energy/Oil & Gas Panel: Photography Center
4. Engineering Panel: Classroom 203
5. Entrepreneurship Panel: Classroom 202
6. Healthcare Panel: Brass Recital Hall
7. Law Panel: Debate Center
8. Marketing & Communications Panel: Classroom 206
9. Non-profit & Education Panel: Digital Filmmaking Room
10. Real Estate & Development Panel: Student Publication Room
11. Technology Panel: Character Education A