Mays Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Forum
Buying, Owning, and Operating Texas BusinessesQuick Links
Buying, Owning, and Operating Texas Businesses
This exclusive event brings together accomplished Texas business owners, operators, and top-tier students to explore Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) — buying, owning, and operating existing businesses as a legitimate and lucrative career path.
In Texas, where thousands of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) need succession plans and ownership transitions are happening at scale, the Mays ETA Forum creates a vital connection between current and former students seeking meaningful entrepreneurial pathways and business leaders building the future of Texas commerce.
Who Should Attend?
Business Owners and Former Students
Meet the next generation of Aggie business leaders interested in ownership and operations. Whether you’re exploring succession planning, looking for top-tier talent to hire, or seeking partners who share Aggie Values and understand Texas markets, this is your chance to build relationships that strengthen the Texas business community.
Hear from industry leaders, including Curtis Feeny ’79, Robin Alex ’07, Dan Tinker ’96, and more, as they share insights on successfully navigating business ownership in Texas.
Elite Entrepreneurial Students
This is your opportunity to explore ETA as an alternative to traditional corporate paths or startup entrepreneurship. Connect directly with Texas business owners as potential employers, mentors, and career path models. Learn what it takes to buy, own, and operate a business in Texas, and discover opportunities for post-graduation employment or acquisition targets.
Apply to Attend
The Mays ETA Forum is limited to ensure an intimate, high-caliber experience where meaningful connections can be made.
Space is limited. Apply by Sept. 1.
Apply to AttendWhat to Expect
The Mays ETA Forum goes beyond traditional networking events. Through panel discussions, fireside chats, case studies, and curated networking sessions, attendees will:
- Learn from the Best: Hear from successful ETA practitioners who have bought, owned, and operated businesses in Texas.
- Understand the ETA Process: Explore how acquisition works in practice, from search strategy and deal evaluation to operating leadership and value creation.
- Build Real Connections: Current and former students connect with business owners as potential employers and mentors; business owners meet top-tier Aggie talent for hiring, succession planning, and partnerships.
- Discover Opportunities: Identify acquisition targets, career paths, and business opportunities across Texas markets.
- Strengthen the Aggie Network: Build relationships rooted in Aggie Core Values and commitment to Texas business stewardship.
This forum is the beginning of long-term relationships that will shape the future of business ownership in Texas.
Event Information
Date: Friday, Sept. 18
Time: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
RSVP Deadline: Sept. 1
Questions? Contact Levi Belnap, Executive Director, Center for Applied Entrepreneurship and Innovation at levibelnap@tamu.edu
Itinerary
9–9:30 a.m. | Registration and Welcome
Opening Remarks from the Center for Applied Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Attendee check-in, networking, and an introduction to the center’s vision for regional business acquisition and ownership pathways in Texas.
9:30–11 a.m. | Session 1: The Golden Standard vs. The Texas Frontier
Featured Panel and Fireside Reflection
Speakers: Curtis Feeny ’79 (board member, Peterson Partners & Khan Academy), John Lippe (acquisition operator & president, Federal Corporation & Harvard MBA), and Omar Garza ’15 ’19 (acquisition operator, Aggie, Stanford MBA)
Explore the mechanics of elite search funds and institutional backing, pivoting to how Texas A&M is mobilizing a new generation of Aggie operators to address the massive succession and legacy preservation opportunity across Texas.
11:00 a.m.–12 p.m. | Session 2: The Modern Operator’s Playbook
Operational Masterclass and Program Launch
Speaker: Robin Alex ’07 (co-founder, HighLevel)
Learn how technology can supercharge the margins and scale of small-to-medium businesses. Discover the technological tools and strategies future owners need to modernize established SMBs and drive growth through tech-enabled operations.
12–12:30 p.m. | Networking Lunch
Catered Lunch and Strategic Networking
Connect with fellow attendees, speakers, and prospective partners. Build relationships between students, business owners, and capital allocators.
12:30–1 p.m. | Special Luncheon Fireside Chat: Corporate to Construction
Keynote Lunch Interview
Speaker: David Lockett (owner and CEO, Austex Fence & Deck and Mays Dean’s Advisory Board member)
Shift your perspective from institutional search funds to personal lifestyle design, family wealth orchestration, and local business modernization. Hear how David transitioned from a 21-year executive career at Dell to acquiring Austex in 2014, building a paperless, tech-enabled regional infrastructure, and integrating his children into a true multi-generational legacy playbook.
1–2 p.m. | Session 3: Operating for Equity and Experience: Making Jobs in Real-World Businesses Cool Again
Interactive Leadership Panel
Speakers: Gina Luna ’95 (founder and managing partner, Genesis Park), Bill Sims ’89, ’95 (executive chairman and CEO, 25 acquisitions with Accent), and Jay Vaughn III ’17 (CEO, combined $1B industrial enterprise)
Explore the immense wealth-generation potential hidden in traditional Texas industries and learn how alternative funding mechanisms back non-traditional operators. Discover why choosing accelerated operational experience beats entry-level corporate roles.
2–3 p.m. | Session 4: The ‘Guys in Trucks’ Thesis
Market Sourcing Strategy Session
Speakers: Robert Irving ’14 ’16 (founder, Buffalo Growth Partners) and Mark Gibson ’11 (portfolio director and Dean’s Advisory Board)
Dive deep into deal flow mechanics, buy-and-build strategies, and business aggregation within Texas. Learn how to spot, buy, and scale Texas SMBs.
3–4 p.m. | Session 5: Keynote Fireside Chat with Dan Tinker
Closing Keynote
Speaker: Dan Tinker ’96 (founder, SRS Distribution)
Hear how Dan turned down traditional tech opportunities at graduation to pursue a fast-paced operating role — and built a building materials distribution powerhouse recently acquired for $18.25B. The definitive validation of the apprenticeship-to-ownership pathway.
4–5 p.m. | Closing Reception
Ecosystem Networking
Closing remarks followed by a reception to solidify partnerships, explore talent pipeline opportunities, and strengthen the community infrastructure built throughout the day.
Get Involved
Interested in CAEI programs, partnerships, or contributing as a former student? We’d like to hear from you.