Read the success stories from MBA Alumni, current professionals sharing insights about their experience and life after getting their MBA at UT Dallas.
Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Harland Clarke Holdings
I had the opportunity to meet some great professors and hard-working students. Many of the folks in my classes were working full time.
Partner and Chief Operating Officer, The Original Pancake House
Jonathan Seyoum never imagined a part-time job would one day lead to part ownership of one of DFW’s most well-known breakfast eateries.
Consultant
Hampton, who by his own account was at the doorstep of international relations and global events as an officer with the U.S.
Performance Improvement Consultant;
Insperity
I enjoy being part of the change continuum. I am often the catalyst for change in many of the groups I support.
Founder, Sales And Business Development Director, Martin House Brewing Company
David Wedemeier took a risk and left a management position at Nokia to start his own business. He put his own advice into practice, stepping outside his comfort zone and into a business-development role in a brand new venture. Wedemeier, along with two close friends, co-founded Martin House Brewing Company in Fort Worth. As a new-business owner and entrepreneur, he relies upon the skills and knowledge he accrued while pursuing his undergraduate and graduate degrees at the Jindal School.
Vice President And Senior Petroleum Engineer, Union Bank
Bate, vice president and senior petroleum engineer at Union Bank is experienced in the oil field and the corporate office. With more than 12 years in the oil and gas industry, Bate has a solid grasp on reserve estimation and reporting as well as field operations. He credits his time at the Jindal School as refining his understanding of organizational behavior and management, lessons he continues to utilize today.
Senior Property Manager, Crescent Property Services, LLC
In his current position, Jones manages a Class A commercial real estate portfolio for Crescent, which acquires, develops and operates high-end properties alongside an exclusive group of investors and high-net-worth clients. Crescent currently has $3.5 billion in assets in its portfolio. Jones said his education at Jindal School has opened a lot of doors for him. “I don’t think I’m smarter than I was, but it helped me in my ability to creatively problem solve, navigate multiple fields of expertise and remain confident in a rapidly evolving business environment,” he said. He earned three degrees at the Jindal School – a BS in Business Administration, an MS in Supply Chain Management and an MBA.
Senior Routing Manager, Keurig Dr Pepper
At Keurig Dr Pepper, Woolley manages a team that routes the company’s DSD (direct store delivery) trucks throughout the southern U.S., handling 50 locations and more than 700 delivery routes daily. Woolley, who completed her MBA and graduate degree in supply chain management at Jindal School, designed the companywide process for creating balanced sales and delivery route plans.
Entrepreneur
James, who completed his Executive MBA degree in 2010, manages two startup businesses. At 2020 Commercial, he provides commercial real estate sales, leasing and development services. At Mango Farms Digital Marketing, he and his staff provide web and mobile application development and manage digital marketing for clients.
Associate Site Administrator, Parkland Health And Hospital System
Wallace, who earned her MBA and master’s degree in Healthcare Management at Jindal School, assists with all aspects of operations at Parkland’s Southeast Dallas Health Center, including administrative, business and clinical, in addition to the design of work processes, prioritization of initiatives and clinic performance improvement projects. She’s been at Parkland for almost four years.
GM, Sales Director New Business, PepsiCo
Chokshi, a 2017 Minority Business Leader honoree by the Dallas Business Journal, credits his business success to both hunger and curiosity
Senior Manager, Vistra Energy
Michelle Ketsler, whose MBA studies included a concentration in finance and strategic management, is the senior manager for demand management and account service management at Vistra Energy. She is responsible for establishing and managing the governance of Vistra Energy’s retail technology investment portfolio and ensuring approved projects are aligned with the company’s strategy.
Americas Transactions Manager, Cushman & Wakefield
Right after graduating from college, Smithen worked with juvenile delinquents at Texas Youth Commission (now the Texas Juvenile Justice Department).
Financial Advisor, Northwestern Mutual
Hoang, who graduated cum laude with a Business Administration degree, says her degree gave her the knowledge, resources and connections to help people with their financial planning needs. “It helped me build character, business acumen and find the passion for what I do now,” she says. She says she is proud her work will impact families and businesses now “and last … on into the following generations.” She was recently selected as one of 60 representatives nationwide to attend a special fast-track program for young advisers in Milwaukee. While there, she took part in the challenge course.
SVP and Deputy General Counsel, Caliber Home Loans, Inc
After Meyers received her BSBA and MBA at UT Dallas, she went to University of Illinois College of Law, graduating in 2009 with a law degree. She returned to the North Texas area, working for a couple law firms before moving to Caliber Home Loans.
Business Development Consultant,
GMSA Management Services
Throughout her life, Gigi Bryant has overcome adversity – spending more than a decade in the foster care system. Since then, she has dedicated herself to serving others. She has started her own business consulting firm, established a foundation to assist youth in the foster care system and devoted her free time to volunteer work.
Vice President- Product Management, AMX
Robinson, a Dallas resident, has been at AMX since 2002, and in his current position for three years, where he leads the AMX Product Management team.
Associate, Dave Perry-Miller & Associates Real Estate
Darla Chapman Ripley places a lot of importance on maintaining all networks, regardless of industry or location.
President, Pandora Americas
As president of the Americas region, Sid Keswani is responsible for PANDORA’s markets in North America, the Caribbean and Latin America.
Senior Analyst, Fuel Strategy, Vistra Energy
Mueller, a recent Jindal School graduate, has spent a decade in mining engineering and operations, most recently at Luminant Energy in Dallas and Martin Marietta Materials in San Antonio. He earned his undergraduate and master’s degree in mining engineering at Southern Illinois University.
