Alumni
2017-2019 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients
The Distinguished Alumni Award is the most prestigious honor bestowed by Texas State University and the Texas State Alumni Association. The award recognizes graduates who have achieved prominence and distinction in their chosen business, profession, or life work on a national or international level. The leadership shown by these alumni inspires all members of the Texas State community.
2019 Distinguished Alumni Award Honorees
Federico Gorbea ('85)
President and general director of Archer Daniels Midland in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and northern South America; positioned ADM as a market leader
Carrie Angell Hurt ('87)
President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau Inc. of Austin, a national BBB leader that supports over 17,000 accredited businesses in 105 counties across Texas
Adam E. Laubach ('93)
Director of Amani Baby Cottage in Jinja, Uganda; former chief technology officer and CEO of Exothermix, focusing on the transformation of materials and products through self-heating technology
Jeff Novak ('15)
Founding partner and chief architect of business direction and development for Novak Brothers, a residential and commercial real estate development company in Georgetown
Joel Stone ('88)
Chairman and CEO of SpawGlass, a commercial and civil contractor; directly involved with the construction of nine buildings on the Texas State Campuses
2018 Distinguished Alumni Award Honorees
Mark E. Adams ('85)
Recognized by the governor of Texas and the Texas House of Representatives as Outstanding Texas Entrepreneur, founding numerous companies in industries including healthcare, finance, electric vehicles, medical biologics, restaurants, real estate and farming
Karen Carroll ('88)
The vice president and general auditor for 3M Company, heading the assurance audit function and the enterprise risk management initiative; also serves on the Women’s Leadership Network and the Catalyst Leadership Development program
Dr. Light Townsend Cummins ('68)
Official State Historian of Texas from 2009 to 2012, professor of history at Austin College and a two- time winner (2010, 2015) of the Liz Carpenter Award for the best book about a Texas woman
The Honorable Douglas R. Miller ('76)
A former state representative for District 73, president of Miller & Miller Insurance Agency and a major in the Texas State Guard; awarded the Texas Outstanding Service Medal
Tracey L. Porter ('79)
Executive vice president and chief operating officer of Commercial Metals Company (CMC), overseeing all commercial functions, manufacturing operations, supply chain, government affairs, and trade relations for the U.S. and Europe
2017 Distinguished Alumni Award Honorees
Kenneth R. Huewitt ('85)
Vice president of Finance and Administration and chief financial officer for Texas Southern University; rose from controller at Houston Independent School District to deputy superintendent and CFO and served as interim superintendent
Deborah Kissire ('79)
On the boards of directors of three public companies; inducted into the Washington Business Hall of Fame in 2014; named one of Washingtonian’s 150 Most Powerful People in Washington, D.C.
Michael McGaugh ('95)
Executive vice president and chief operating officer of BMC Stock Holdings; served in a number of management and operational roles at The Dow Chemical Company; earned his master’s of business administration from Harvard University
Michael Raiford ('90)
Corporate vice president of the FAB Factory Engineering Division at Samsung
Austin Semiconductor, where he leads overall factory operations and is
an instructor for leadership classes and host of open employee development forums
Dana Simmons ('77)
Executive vice president and chief of staff to USAA’s CEO; decorated U.S. Air Force veteran who retired as a brigadier general and commander of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI)
*Deceased