Each fall and spring semester, we invite accomplished entrepreneurs and business leaders to speak with students enrolled in the Studies in Entrepreneurship (MGT 3360) course. As part of this speaker series, students gain personal insights into entrepreneurship as the guest speakers describe their accomplishments, share stories about their career path, and offer recommendations for growth and success.
Although the speaker series is intended for students enrolled in MGT 3360, we are able to accommodate special guests on certain occasions. If you are interested in attending a presentation, complete our guest registration form via the link below.
Fall 2026
Tuesday, October 13
MARK ADAMS
CEO, SOZO Global, Inc.
Businessman Mark Adams has been recognized by the governor of Texas and the Texas House of Representatives as Outstanding Texas Entrepreneur and by Ernst & Young as Entrepreneur of the Year.
He began his career with corporations such as Xerox, Johnson & Johnson and Bostik Inc. In 2003, he launched a medical liability insurance underwriting company called Advocate, MD. This company became one of the largest med-mal underwriters in Texas before it was sold in 2009. Since then, Adams has become a serial entrepreneur and has founded numerous companies in a variety of industries including healthcare, finance, electric vehicles, software, medical biologics, restaurants, real estate, nutritional products, and farming. Adams’ entrepreneurial career is based on a simple premise, “when things shift, opportunities are created.”
Tuesday, October 27
LAURIE HOWELL
Founder, People Showcase
Laurie Howell has spent more than 35 years in the people business, building a career around helping employers find, understand, and develop great talent. She began her career in the staffing industry, quickly advancing into leadership roles overseeing recruiting and staffing teams, and later became an entrepreneur, building, growing, and selling three people-focused companies.
Throughout her career, Laurie has worked closely with business owners and leaders on recruiting, human resources, talent strategy, and organizational development. Her work has given her a unique perspective on both sides of the hiring process—what employers are looking for and the challenges individuals face in communicating who they are, what they can do, and what makes them different from other candidates.
Tuesday, November 10
BRIAN MCCOY
Board Chair, McCoy's Building Supply
rian McCoy was born in Galveston, Texas, and graduated from Ball High School in 1972. In 1975, he graduated from Texas Tech University with a BBA in Finance. Brian married his high school sweetheart, Wetonnah Lane, in 1976, and they have two grown children and four grandchildren.
Brian has been actively involved with McCoy’s since the age of 17. Yard hand, truck driver, floor salesperson, assistant store manager, store manager, merchandise manager, vice president, co-president, and CEO are all positions he has held over the past 53 years. Today, he serves as chair of the board. McCoy’s Building Supply is privately held by Brian’s family and operates in 90 locations across 3 states. The McCoy Team serves independent home builders, repair/remodel contractors, and project-oriented do-it-yourselfers as targeted customers.
In 2012, Brian was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus of Texas Tech University. In 2022, he received the Denise M. Trauth Outstanding Leadership Award from Texas State University. He currently serves as President of the Emmett & Miriam McCoy College of Business Foundation at Texas State University. Brian’s personal interests include traveling with his wife, Wetonnah, reading, swimming, hiking, and, perhaps best of all, being “Gramps.”