Key Executives is pleased to announce The Top 25 Executives of San Antonio for 2023. As the seventh-largest city in the US, San Antonio experiences steady economic growth. This is driven by modern industries such as bioscience and healthcare, IT, cybersecurity, and green technologies. However, time-honored industries such as produce, energy, construction, manufacturing, and entertainment also play a pivotal role. San Antonio is home to four Fortune 500 companies — Valero Energy, USAA, iHeartMedia, and NuStar Energy — of which some of our awardees helm executive roles.
Among this year’s awardees is Michael Beaver, the Chief Executive Officer of Northeast Methodist Hospital. Under his leadership, the hospital continues to expand with the addition of two floors, including 60 new inpatient beds. Awardee Sue Bonar, Chief Operations Officer of Sirius Computer Solutions, played a critical role in the integration of 13 acquisitions during her 24-year tenure. Also awarded is Dr. Jacob Cuellar, Chief Executive Officer of Laurel Ridge Treatment Center, whose commitment to supporting active duty service members was central to creating the Mission Resiliency Program.
Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 25 Executives of San Antonio for 2023.
1. Steven Gray
Chief Financial Officer, HCA Healthcare
Steve Gray is the Chief Financial Officer at Methodist Hospital Northeast. He has more than 26 years of experience working for various HCA healthcare systems. In his current role, Gray is responsible for the financial analysis for all growth projects, financial reporting, budgeting, and capital planning.
Previously, Gray worked as the Vice President of Finance for Methodist Hospital, Methodist Children’s Hospital, and Methodist Hospital Specialty and Transplant. Before that, he was the Director of Finance at Medical City McKinney in McKinney, Texas. Gray graduated from The University of New Mexico with a bachelor's degree in business administration and accounting.
2. Michael Beaver
Chief Executive Officer, Northeast Methodist Hospital
Michael Beaver is the Chief Executive Officer of Methodist Hospital Northeast. Under Beaver’s leadership, the hospital continues to expand with the addition of two floors, including 60 new inpatient beds. He also oversaw the opening of Methodist ER Converse and Methodist ER Nacogdoches, two new free-standing emergency departments.
Previously, Beaver served as the President of St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City with prior leadership experience at Methodist Healthcare. Before moving to Oklahoma, Beaver was Chief Operating Officer with simultaneous oversight of three Methodist Healthcare facilities: Methodist Hospital, Methodist Children’s Hospital, and Methodist Hospital Specialty and Transplant. In this combined scope, he was responsible for 1,258 beds, 4,300 full-time employees, and annual net revenues of over $870 million. Beaver graduated from Trinity University with a Master of Science in healthcare administration, the University of Oklahoma with a JD, and Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Science in speech communication.
3. Geoff Vines
Chief Financial Officer, Tenet Healthcare
Geoff Vines is the Chief Financial Officer of Tenet Healthcare. He first joined the company in 2019. Tenet Healthcare Corporation is a diversified healthcare services company headquartered in Dallas.
Previously, Vines was the Chief Financial Officer at Mission Trail Baptist Hospital. Before that, he was at Baptist Health System for over five years and served as Regional Controller and Controller of Physician Services. Vines earned a master's degree in healthcare administration from Trinity University and an undergraduate degree in molecular biology from The University of Texas Austin.
4. Gavin Gallagher
Chief Operating Officer, H-E-B
Gavin Gallagher is the Chief Operating Officer of H-E-B, an American privately held supermarket chain based in San Antonio, Texas. H-E-B has more than 340 stores throughout the US state of Texas and in northeast Mexico. Gallagher has been with the company for over 18 years.
He previously served as the Chief Information Officer for H-E-B, where he was instrumental in creating the company’s first school, CAST Tech. Gallagher is part of the school's 12-member industry advisory committee. Before this, he served as the company's IS Program Owner for Shopping Experience.
5. Wil Bennett
Chief Information Security Officer, USAA
Wil Bennett is the Chief Information Security Officer of The United Services Automobile Association (USAA). His responsibilities include establishing and maintaining an enterprise-wide information risk security program while ensuring tight linkage with the overall corporate strategy.
Prior to his current role, Bennett worked alongside a highly effective team of strategy and analytic professionals focused on financial crime prevention and detection. Bennett has been a member of the USAA team since 1998 when he joined the information security organization. Bennett first got his start in 1995 as a Senior Security Consultant at Trident Data System. He graduated from Colorado Technical University with an MBA in technology management and from The University of Texas at San Antonio with an undergraduate degree.
6. Doug McAndrew
Senior Vice President and COO, Concentra
Doug McAndrew is the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Concentra. In this role, he executes Concentra’s strategic field operations in the western US, overseeing 255 of Concentra’s community medical centers and 51 onsite health facilities. He optimizes and manages field operations, ensuring Concentra’s strategic and financial success.
McAndrew started at Concentra in 1994 as a Sales Account Executive. His efforts were recognized with multiple promotions, culminating in a promotion to Vice President of Sales. After 11 years in sales, McAndrew transitioned to Concentra’s operations team, leading a culture of accountability and driving results in key business units. McAndrew has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Texas State University.
7. Cheryl Thomas
Chief Information Officer, Valero Energy
Cheryl Thomas is the Chief Information Officer of Valero Energy. She provides leadership, strategic, and operational direction to the information services department of Valero Energy. Thomas has served Valero and its predecessors since 1984. She previously served as Senior Vice President of Information Services, where she managed the company’s information systems development, support, and infrastructure teams. Prior to that role, Thomas served as Vice President of Retail Operations Support and Vice President of Retail Information Systems. She has played a key role in restructuring Valero’s Information Services Department and integrating recently acquired assets into Valero’s complex systems. Thomas earned a business administration degree in quantitative analysis from California State University.
8. Shelayne Clemmer
Chief Compliance Officer, Vericast
Shelayne Clemmer is the Chief Compliance Officer of Vericast. She first joined the company in 2018. As a former technology development and services executive turned corporate and litigation attorney, Clemmer now combines past expertise to lead Vericast’s compliance department.
Previously, Clemmer was a Chief Counsel and Compliance Officer at Harland Clarke. Before, she was the Vice President of Global Services Americas at NTT Security. Earlier in her career, she worked with Professional Data Solutions as an SVP. Clemmer earned a JD from St. Mary University School of Law and an undergraduate degree in accounting and computer science from Angelo State University.
9. Sue Bonar
Chief Operations Officer, Sirius Computer Solutions
Sue Bonar is the Chief Operations Officer of Sirius Computer Solutions. She’s responsible for the operational support of the entire Sirius Sales and Services organization. Bonar is currently leading a business transformation project implementing all-new systems across the organization to ensure that Sirius sales, services, and core support teams have the most efficient and automated tools.
Bonar has played a critical role in the integration of 13 acquisitions over her 24 years at Sirius. She also serves on the operations and services Executive Councils for numerous vendors and manufacturers. In 2012, she was inducted into the Sirius Hall of Fame, and in 2015 was named to CRNís 2015 Most Powerful Women of the Channel, as well as the elite subset of Women of the Channel Power 50 solution providers. She is currently a member of the Junior League of San Antonio, involved with the United Way’s Women’s Leadership Council, a participant on the board of the Heights Business Incubator. She supports the Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas. Bonar earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Abilene Christian University.
10. Bill Waechter
CEO, Baptist Health System
Bill Waechter is the President and Chief Executive Officer of North Central Baptist Hospital. He has led that hospital through a recent, significant expansion program and the development of the Baptist Orthopedic Institute.
Waechter previously served as a Chief Operating Officer at Northeast Baptist Hospital. Here he was responsible for developing “Heart Alert,” San Antonio’s first organized approach to treating patients with STEMI heart attacks. Waechter joined the Baptist Health System in 1994 as a Flight Paramedic. Later, he held leadership positions for San Antonio AirLIFE, the air medical transport service now owned jointly by Baptist Health System and University Health System. Waechter earned a master’s degree in healthcare administration from Ashford University and a bachelor’s degree in speech and communication from Texas A&M University.
11. Tom Shoaf
EVP and CFO, NuStar Energy LP
Tom Shoaf is the EVP and Chief Financial Officer of NuStar Energy LP. This is a publicly traded master limited partnership based in San Antonio and one of the nation's largest independent liquids terminal and pipeline operators. Shoaf joined NuStar Energy over 18 years ago as VP and Controller. He then went on to become SVP and Controller before being appointed to his current role.
Prior to this, Shoaf served in positions of increasing responsibility with Valero Energy Corporation, eventually becoming Director of Finance. Shoaf started his career as an Accountant with City Public Service, San Antonio’s energy utility company, after graduating with a bachelor of business administration degree in accounting from Abilene Christian University. In recognition of his experience and achievements over the years, Shoaf was named the Top Controller by the San Antonio Business Journal in 2012.
12. Bryant Ambelang
President and Chief Executive Officer, NatureSweet Tomatoes
Bryant Ambelang is the President and Chief Executive Officer of NatureSweet, the largest greenhouse producer of tomatoes in North America. Currently, NatureSweet operates seven facilities—six in Mexico and one in the U.S.—and pursues its mission of "unleashing the power of people" through a vertically integrated production model that offers full-time direct employment to over 8,000 associates.
Ambelang graduated from the University of Denver with an MBA and from The University of Texas at Dallas with an undergraduate degree.
13. Evan Hafer
Chief Executive Officer, Black Rifle Coffee Company
Evan Hafer is the founder of Black Rifle Coffee Company and has served as its Chief Executive Officer since the company’s inception. He started Black Rifle Coffee Company to provide high-quality coffee to the pro-American and Veteran communities.
Prior to founding Black Rifle Coffee Company in 2014, Hafer served in the US Army for twenty years, fifteen of which were spent in special forces. Here he was a Green Beret with the 19th Special Forces Group. Hafer also served as a contractor to the Central Intelligence Agency. Hafer attended the University of Idaho and studied Political Science and Government.
14. Bobby Friedel
CFO, SpawGlass
Bobby Friedel is the Chief Financial Officer of SpawGlass. SpawGlass is an employee-owned, Texas-based full-lifecycle construction services provider. He’s responsible for administering the company's day-to-day business affairs, including supervision of financial reporting, treasury management, and the accounting, human resources, and risk management departments. Friedel has spent more than 22 years at the company, first joining as Vice President of Finance and Administration in 2000.
Before joining SpawGlass, Friedel was an Audit Manager at Padgett, Stratemann, and Co. Before that, he was an Auditor at Arthur Andersen. Friedel graduated from Texas State University with an undergraduate degree in accounting.
15. Dr. Veronica Edwards
CEO, InGenesis
Dr. Veronica Edwards is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of InGenesis. InGenesis is a staffing firm specializing in health services, including recruitment, outsourcing, and independent contractors. In 2018, Dr. Edwards oversaw the InGenesis acquisition of Kelly Healthcare Resources, a division of Kelly Services. She sits on the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, San Antonio Branch board. In 2022, Dr. Edwards was named in Forbes' 50 Over 50 Entrepreneurs list.
Before this, Dr. Edwards was the Chief Executive Officer at Healthcare Standards Institute. A first-generation Mexican American, she started her career as a telemarketer after completing college. Dr. Edwards earned an MBA and Doctorate in business administration from the University of the Incarnate Word and a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Texas State University.
16. Lynnea Castillo
CFO, Touchstone Communities
Lynnea Castillo is the Chief Financial Officer of Touchstone Communities. With an extensive accounting, finance, and leadership background in several industries, Castillo brings a wealth of professional experience and business acumen to Touchstone Communities. Castillo is responsible for the leadership and management of the company’s financial, accounting, and technology systems. Since she joined Touchstone in 2004, Castillo has worked extensively with the Texas Veterans Land Board to develop technology and accounting systems in support of daily operations and management strategies.
Castillo has served in several leadership roles on Catholic Charities’ board of directors, and she is affiliated with the Texas Health Care Association, the Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Castillo received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA).
17. Dr. Jacob Cuellar
CEO, Laurel Ridge Treatment Center
Dr. Jacob Cuellar is the Chief Executive Officer of Laurel Ridge Treatment Center. Under the leadership of Dr. Cuellar, Laurel Ridge has developed specialty programs for adult acute care, detoxification and rehabilitation, and child and adolescent acute care and residential programs. As a result, it serves as the largest civilian provider for treating military-related PTSD in the country. Dr. Cuellar’s commitment to supporting the highest quality treatment program for active duty service members was central to creating the Mission Resiliency Program. During his tenure, the hospital has been a joint commission top performer and a two-time recipient of the coveted UHS Behavioral Division Service Excellence Award for its achievement of industry-high patient outcomes.
Before Laurel Ridge, he was the CEO of Universal Health Services (UHS). Dr. Cuellar received a Doctor of Medicine from The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University and a bachelor's degree from Duke University.
18. Joshua Bailey
Chief Information Officer, Santikos Entertainment
Joshua Bailey is the Chief Information Officer of Santikos Entertainment. Santikos Entertainment is an American movie theater and entertainment center chain based in San Antonio, Texas.
Previously, Bailey was the Director of Information Security at Qualfon. Before that, he was the Chief Information Officer at Culture.Service.Growth, LLC, and a Senior Information Systems Technologist at CSC. Prior to this, Bailey was a Network Administrator at Walton SignageWalton, where he was responsible for designing, installing, and supporting the computer systems within the organization. Earlier in his career, he worked as an Information Systems Security Officer with the US Air Force. Bailey earned an undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of the Incarnate Word.
19. Thomas Thill
Chief Executive Officer, AmeriVet Veterinary
Thomas Thill is the Chief Executive Officer of AmeriVet Partners Management Inc. AmeriVet is a leading veterinary services platform with approximately 140 animal hospitals across more than 30 states, making it the tenth-largest platform in the US. In 2022, Ernst & Young announced that Thill was named an Entrepreneur Of The Year 2022 Central South Award winner.
Thill first got his start in 1997 as a Senior Marketing Manager, District Manager, and Sales Representative at Eli Lilly and Others. From there, he went on to Stryker before eventually becoming the CEO of United Allergy Services. Thill graduated from the University of Michigan with an MBA and from Vanderbilt University with an undergraduate degree in chemistry.
20. Asif Sakhawat
COO & SVP of Enterprise Operations, Mossy Oak
Asif Sakhawat is the Chief Operating Officer of Mossy Oak. He is responsible for strategic and operational leadership of Mossy Oak’s supply chain, logistics, technology, retail and global operations. Sakhawat has been instrumental in establishing the enterprise's goals, implementing objectives, and executing business plans as the company expands domestically and internationally. He serves on the Governing Board that sets the overall strategy and direction for Mossy Oak.
Before joining Mossy Oak, he was the General Manager of Haas Outdoors and Area Practice Manager of ePartners. Sakhawat graduated from Louisiana State University with an MS.
21. Rick Mangum
Chief Financial Officer, Fresh From Texas
Rick Mangum is the Chief Financial Officer of Fresh From Texas, LLC. Fresh From Texas produces and supplies fruits, vegetables, and herbs to retail grocery stores and food service companies.
Before joining Fresh From Texas, Mangum was the Chief Financial Officer and Partner at Aventine Hill Partner. Before that, he was the President and CEO at Clarity Medical System. He's also held a number of executive and senior financial roles at Vidacare Corporation, iHeartMedia, PhyCor, and Baptist Health System. Earlier in his career, he worked with Ernst and Young as an Audit Senior Manager. Mangum graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with an MBA and an undergraduate degree in accounting.
22. Pete Sitterle
CEO, Comet Signs
Pete Sitterle is the CEO of Comet Signs. Comet Signs provides manufacturing, installation, and maintenance of on-premise signage across the United States and Mexico. Sitterle has been with the company since 1986 and assumed the role of CEO in the 90s. As a leader, he has continued to build the organization through a strategy focused on manufacturing technology advancements and first-class customer service. He was also instrumental in the 2012 acquisition of the Barker Sign Company, which has played a significant role in the company's expansion. Sitterle graduated from Texas Tech University.
23. Roy Patton
Chief Commercial Officer, Howard Energy
Roy Patton is the Chief Commercial Officer of Howard Energy Partners. He joined the company with nearly 35 years of experience in the natural gas pipeline industry. His experience spans all aspects of commercial activities including gathering and processing, high-pressure transmission pipelines, business development, and mergers and acquisitions.
Prior to joining HEP, Patton was Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations at Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. where his responsibilities included the management of approximately 7,500 miles of pipelines in Texas and Louisiana and more than 60 billion cubic feet of natural gas storage. He most recently oversaw ETP’s activities in Mexico and was responsible for creating approximately 1 billion cubic feet per day of new business and developing more than 300 miles of 42-inch pipeline with more than 2.5 billion cubic feet per day of capacity from the Permian Basin to Mexico.
24. Brian Colton
Chief Financial Officer, The RK Group
As Chief Financial Officer for The RK Group, Brian Colton provides the organizational oversight for all related financial administration activities, including: strategic planning; funding (debt and capital); financial reporting; cash flow management; budgeting and internal controls; value alignment; risk management; and business acquisition financing.
Colton has over 20 years of executive management experience in the hospitality industry, having served as COO for a Dallas-based restaurant group where he directed the company’s growth from a small startup business to a multi-million dollar concern. In his current role with The RK Group, he is additionally responsible for relevant contributions to the company’s special projects such as municipal RFPs and RFQs and supervising all accounting personnel team members and their day-today efforts. Colton holds a bachelor of business administration in finance from The University of Texas at Austin.
25. Kelly Green
CEO, Airrosti Rehab Centers
Kelly Green is the Chief Executive Officer of Airrosti Rehab Centers. Airrosti is a healthcare group that employs and trains providers who specialize in delivering high quality, outcome-based musculoskeletal care that significantly reduces recovery times for patients and prevents unnecessary MRIs, pharmaceuticals, injections, and surgeries.
Green brings a vast array of business experience to Airrosti. He spent 20 years with CUC International, an international marketing firm and one of the first companies to offer products online and through the Internet. He joined Airrosti as its CEO in March of 2006. Seeing that the current healthcare system is hungry for “results based” treatment options, Mr. Green is focused on further strengthening the unique culture at Airrosti that is committed to positively impacting the lives of patients by attracting and supporting true Airrostifarians who have a genuine passion for helping others as part of their core DNA. Mr. Green became Airrosti’s Chairman of the Board in September 2018.