Making the Cut

From left, front row: Melissa Reiff, Emmitt Smith; back row: Mike Rawlings, Andrew Beal, G. Brint Ryan ('88, '88 M.S.). (Portrait by Elizabeth Lavin)

For years, the University of North Texas has lived up to its mission of shaping the future and cultivating excellence in the next generation of scholars and leaders. This year's Dallas 500 -- a special, stand-alone edition of D CEO magazine that recognizes the top business executives in the North Texas region -- features many UNT alumni, faculty and administrators on its list, including UNT System Board of Regents Chairman G. Brint Ryan ('88, '88 M.S.), who is featured on the cover, UNT President Neal Smatresk, UNT System Chancellor Lesa Roe and Marilyn Wiley, dean of the UNT College of Business.

Dallas CEO highlights UNT leaders and alums in 2018 list

Here's a look at the UNT and UNT System leaders featured in the 2018 edition:

UNT

Neal Smatresk

Neal Smatresk, president, UNT
For 35 years, Smatresk has steered several universities to national prominence. In February 2014, he was appointed UNT's 16th president, marking his second university presidency. During his years of service, he has helped UNT fulfill its mission to provide the best education in Texas and transform students into the leaders of tomorrow.

Marilyn Wiley

Marilyn Wiley, dean, UNT College of Business
Prior to being appointed dean of the College of Business in 2015, Wiley served as senior associate dean and professor of finance. As dean, she has focused on preparing students to become critical thinkers who can identify problems, develop potential solutions and articulately defend their answers. Under her leadership, the College of Business has raised its freshman retention rate by 13 percent.

UNT System

Lesa Roe

Lesa Roe, chancellor, UNT System
Roe spent nearly 30 years at NASA before taking office as UNT System chancellor in 2017, where she made history as the first woman to serve in that role. As chancellor, Roe is responsible for general oversight of the system's campuses, as well as its more than 10,000 employees. In her first year, Roe identified her main priorities as strategic growth, research, inclusiveness and efficiency.

G. Brint Ryan

G. Brint Ryan ('88, '88 M.S.), UNT System Board of Regents chairman, chairman and CEO, Ryan LLC
Ryan was appointed to the UNT System's Board of Regents in 2009 and has served as the chairman since 2013. He is the CEO of Ryan LLC, a professional tax services firm based in Dallas, which he has grown into one of the world's largest tax consultancies.

Michael Williams

Michael Williams, president, UNT Health Science Center
Williams was named president of the UNT Health Science Center in July 2013 after serving for seven months as interim president. A 1981 graduate of UNTHSC, he is the first alumnus to lead the institution. He practiced anesthesiology and critical care medicine for more than 20 years, acted as CEO of Hill Country Memorial Hospital in Fredericksburg and served on the UNT System Board of Regents.

Alumni

Greg Biggs ('83), managing director, JLL
As managing director of JLL's Tenant Representations Group, Biggs plays a key role in implementing the firm's business development and negotiation strategies. He works to ensure that the commercial real estate needs of JLL's clients are fulfilled, including reducing operating costs and shareholder profits.

T.C. Broadnax

T.C. Broadnax ('93 M.P.A.), Dallas city manager
Broadnax has more than 23 years of local government management experience. Prior to becoming Dallas city manager in February 2017, he served as city manager for Tacoma, Washington, and assistant city manager for San Antonio. He is an International City/County Manager's Association Credentialed Manager.

Dionne Cooper ('94, '94 M.S.), specialty finance consultant, JPMorgan Chase Bank
With more than two decades of banking experience, Cooper is an expert in Small Business Administration financing. Her role as a specialty finance consultant at JPMorgan Chase includes helping small businesses achieve their financial goals.
Mark Duebner ('96 M.P.A.), director of aviation, city of Dallas
As the director of aviation for the city of Dallas, Duebner oversees operations at Dallas Love Field and Dallas Executive Airport. He has helped with Love Field's expansion efforts since the repeal of the Wright Amendment in 2013. Duebner also has held jobs in city management, public works and transportation, and was the top civilian commander for the Dallas Police Department.

Robert Earley

Robert Earley ('83), president and CEO, JPS Health Network
When Earley became president and CEO of JPS Health Network ― a nearly $1 billion, tax-supported health care system in Tarrant County ― his priority was to create a culture of kindness. This led him to initiate three guiding principles for the more than 6,000 members of his workforce: "Own it," "You seek joy" and "Don't be a jerk." He also served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1984 to 1995.

Daniel Glass

Daniel Glass ('00, '03 M.S.), chief information security officer, American Airlines
Glass is responsible for American Airlines' global information security, including security governance and policy, information regulatory compliance, data privacy, technical security controls, and identity and access management. Glass -- who earned a bachelor's in business administration and an M.S. in information technology management -- joined American in 2007 as senior architect, information security, before rising through the ranks to assume his current position in 2015.

Fehmi Karahan

Fehmi Karahan ('81 M.B.A.), president and CEO, The Karahan Companies
Karahan has played an important role in the North Texas region's first-class shopping scene. After coming to the U.S. seeking a master's degree, he received his M.B.A. at UNT and went on to lead high-end development projects such as The Shops at Legacy in Plano. Currently, he is in charge of the development of Legacy West.

Kevin Leung ('95), vice president of business banking for the Asian segment, Wells Fargo
With nearly 30 years of experience in the banking industry, Leung has spent the past decade as Wells Fargo's VP of business banking for the Asian segment, where he helps grow businesses by acting as a backing liaison and advisor on complex financial matters. He also sits on the advisory board for the U.S. Pan-Asian American Chamber of Commerce Southwest and is a former board member of the Greater Dallas Asian Chamber of Commerce.
Bryan Marsh ('82), vice president of global asset management, Digital Realty
Since 2009, Marsh has been responsible for Digital Realty's central region. He serves as the company's vice president and portfolio manager and is experienced in multiple property types, including data centers, office buildings and shopping centers. During his time in the industry, he has developed more than 1 million square feet and closed deals in more than 250 cities and 15 states.
Shawn Parsley, president, Texas Health Physicians Group
Parsley has served as president of Texas Health Resource's medical group since 2013. He works closely with the group's chief clinical officer and senior executive vice president to develop the system's physician-directed population health strategy. Parsley received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the UNT Health Science Center in 1994.
Kyle Rogers ('04), risk manager, HollyFrontier Companies
As risk manager, Rogers oversees two public companies for independent petroleum refiner and marketer HollyFrontier. His work focuses on petroleum refining and manufacturing of lubricants and asphalt products, as well as moving and storing oil-based products.

Fredrick Savelsbergh

Fredrick Savelsbergh ('82), chief financial officer, Baylor Scott & White Health
After earning his bachelor's degree in accounting and economics, Savelsbergh went on to become the executive vice president and CFO of Baylor Scott & White Health. He managed the financial piece of a 2013 merger that resulted in the largest nonprofit health system in Texas.

Debra Von Storch

Debra Von Storch ('82), partner and Southwest region strategic growth markets leader, Ernst & Young. After initially majoring in journalism, Von Storch switched her major to finance and accounting and went on to become partner and Southwest region strategic growth markets leader at professional services firm Ernst & Young. She also anchors two firm-produced cable shows for distance learning.

Jim Walton ('78), president and CEO, Genesis Physicians Group
Walton is president and CEO of Genesis Physicians Group, the North Texas region's largest independent practice association, which is home to roughly 1,500 physicians. After earning his B.S. in biology from UNT, he earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the UNT Health Science Center in 1982. Throughout his career, he has focused on improvement strategies to combat the challenges facing today's independent physicians.