When Estela Reyes ('06) worked as an administrative assistant at the Pohl Recreation Center the year it opened, she had to help hire more than 200 student workers to staff the gym.

"That's where I started being exposed to human resources -- filling out all the required HR paperwork," Reyes says.

Between working three jobs and attending classes at night, she found time to volunteer. 

Now, 20 years later, the Frisco-based Reyes is still working in human resources and still giving back.

She is vice president of people for poppi, the fastest-growing non-alcoholic beverage in history, co-created by fellow alum Allison Ellsworth ('09). Reyes is also a board member and volunteer for Ausome Experience, a nonprofit organization for neurodivergent people and their families.

An Unexpected Gift 

When she was in the second grade, Reyes knew she was going to college.

She was determined, especially as the first in her family to go to college in the United States. Her parents emigrated from Mexico in the 1970s. Her father only went as far as the fourth grade, and her mother got a sixth-grade education.

Reyes, who grew up in Garland, had to work to pay for tuition. She earned scholarships and took jobs on campus. A psychology major with aspirations to be a lawyer, she started out as a full-time student worker at the UNT Speech and Hearing Center.

Before transferring to Pohl, she met Rita Landrum, then administrative assistant to the chair of the center. Landrum was about to retire, and she recommended Reyes take over her job.

Landrum also made another contribution to Reyes.

"I was scrambling to pay my bills and contribute at home, and Rita paid for my cap and gown for graduation," Reyes says. "I found that so inspiring because that made such a big difference to me -- that someone was so caring about me and my success."

"All my life, I've been fortunate to find individuals who care about me and my success," she adds. "And that reminds me to pay it forward."

Building from Scratch 

After graduation, Reyes decided to pursue a career in human resources. Her first job out of college was with GameStop, the retail company, whose recruiter said she was struck by Reyes' experience at UNT.

With exposure to all areas of human resources at GameStop, Reyes went on to earn her M.B.A. from Amberton University to further advance her career.

She worked at various companies, including Fitness Connection and Topgolf, when another recruiter saw her name and resume about three years ago.

There was an opening for a small beverage company called poppi. Although Reyes liked the concept of the low-sugar brand, the company was very new, and this felt like a big risk – especially as a single mother raising her young son.

However, after a 30-minute conversation with poppi CEO Chris Hall, she decided to go with the company.

She was poppi's first human resources employee and one of only 45 staffers. Now the company -- which recently sold to Pepsi -- boasts 240 workers and hit record sales in 2024, with analysts projecting that it'll become a multi-billion-dollar brand.

"I knew I had enough experience to lead an entire HR department," she says. "It's not an easy journey, but it's also something that keeps you excited, because there are so many unknowns. And then you get to build on that."

Full Circle

When she's not working, Reyes is involved with her community.

She's a board member for Ausome Experience, a newly formed organization fundraising for a dedicated space at arenas and sports venues for families with children on the autism spectrum. This way, if parents want to go to a concert or game, they can enjoy the event with the child, who may be sensitive to the noise, crowds and other sensory elements.

Reyes takes inspiration from her own family -- she has neurodivergent family members, and she remembers her grandmother always supporting others in her community.

"She would always have an extra plate of food for people whenever they went to her house," she says. "Back then, phones were such a commodity in Mexico. People would go to her house to borrow her phone."

Reyes' volunteerism represents a full-circle moment in another way. When she was at UNT, she and her friend Ryan Schuette ('07) -- with whom she reconnected and married 17 years later -- raised awareness for Invisible Children, an organization that helped children in Africa.

"That's always going to be a big part of me, just giving back in whatever way I can," she adds. "And again, it's part of my family upbringing. We're always going to help others."