CPS Energy’s interim CEO joins Shark Tank star, USAA CEO, watch magnate

Paula Gold-Williams, interim CEO of CPS Energy, will be the next prominent business executive to speak in the 2015-16 Forum on Entrepreneurship Breakfast Series, hosted by the Meadows Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at St. Mary’s University.

Nov. 5, 2015: Paula Gold-Williams, interim CEO of CPS Energy, St. Mary’s alumna
Feb. 11, 2016: Daymond John, founder of FUBU, author, Shark Tank TV star
April 7, 2016: Stuart Parker, CEO of USAA, St. Mary’s alumnus
– Oct. 8, 2015: Tom Kartsotis, founder of Fossil watches and Shinola handcrafted goods

Each event is held at the Pearl Stable of the Historic Pearl Brewery. Registration, networking and breakfast begin at 7 a.m., followed by the program from 8 to 9 a.m.

“The Greehey School of Business is thrilled to present these distinctive leaders,” said Dean Tanuja Singh, D.B.A. “They offer a wealth of knowledge and thought-leadership to share with St. Mary’s University and San Antonio.”

The Meadows Center for Entrepreneurial Studies fosters innovation, entrepreneurship and creativity with the intent of empowering students to pave their road to success with an emphasis on the characteristics and values of a Marianist education.

“It’s our duty to our students to allow them every opportunity to succeed. This speaker series not only benefits them with scholarship aid, but also gives them role models –
real-life examples of the kinds of leaders they can become,” said Chris Edelen, St. Mary’s Executive in Residence and Director of the Meadows Center.

The purpose of the Forum on Entrepreneurship Breakfast Series is to offer the larger San Antonio community and students of St. Mary’s University a forum to hear from some of the most talented individuals in the entrepreneurial space. Funds generated from the series support student scholarships and encourage entrepreneurial activities in San Antonio and the region. These breakfasts focus on the interests and problems of entrepreneurs, researchers, scientists and venture financiers.

Past speakers include Colleen Barrett, president emerita and corporate secretary of Southwest Airlines; Gregory J. Goff, president and CEO of Tesoro Corporation; Dick Evans, chairman and CEO of Frost Bank; and Bill Greehey, chairman of NuStar Energy, L.P., and many other local and nationally acclaimed speakers.

The series’ 2015-16 title sponsor is PwC. For information on sponsorship opportunities and purchasing tables and individual tickets, please email Pamela Duffy, CAP-OM or call 210-436-3124.

More about the Meadows Center for Entrepreneurial Studies
Brother Paul Goelz, S.M., Ph.D., followed his passion for education and entrepreneurship by devoting his life to teaching free enterprise at St. Mary’s University and helping entrepreneurs succeed. He established the Algur H. Meadows Center for Entrepreneurial Studies in 1981 with a grant he obtained from the Meadows Foundation of Dallas, which later was supplemented by a gift from the Gulf Oil Foundation. The academic programs in entrepreneurship focus on the career preparation of students who plan to initiate and operate their own businesses.

Through the Meadows Center, Goelz built a strong relationship with South Texas business professionals who engaged in entrepreneurial activities. In 1986, he developed the Forum on Entrepreneurship Breakfast Series. Each year, four breakfast meetings feature prominent entrepreneurs who share their experiences and insights.

Back to top