HALLMARK UNIVERSITY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Student Advising and Support Services
David Longoria Martinez is a director and consultant with a proven record of working and serving in the education, non-profit, and business consulting fields. With a passion for helping others, he is skilled in vision and strategic planning, public speaking, consulting, and teaching. David is a strong organizational and professional development expert with a Master of Business Administration from EGADE Business School and a B.S. in Economics from ITESM (Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey). David's professional life began in 1997 while he finished his bachelor's degree when he became employed as a managing consultant for Harbor Intelligence. After six years with this company, David moved on to Integrity School where he has been employed for sixteen years and currently sits and the Head of the School/Director of the Board. David currently sits on the Hallmark Board of Trustees and has been a member since 2013.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Trustee
David Longoria Martinez is a director and consultant with a proven record of working and serving in the education, non-profit, and business consulting fields. With a passion for helping others, he is skilled in vision and strategic planning, public speaking, consulting, and teaching. David is a strong organizational and professional development expert with a Master of Business Administration from EGADE Business School and a B.S. in Economics from ITESM (Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey). David's professional life began in 1997 while he finished his bachelor's degree when he became employed as a managing consultant for Harbor Intelligence. After six years with this company, David moved on to Integrity School where he has been employed for sixteen years and currently sits and the Head of the School/Director of the Board. David currently sits on the Hallmark Board of Trustees and has been a member since 2013.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chairman of the Board
Dean Rush is proud to be affiliated with Hallmark University. He learned to fly as a teenager, spent 11 years as a pilot in the U.S. Airforce, and then founded a number of aviation businesses. He has worked with American Airlines, Signature Flight Support, and retired as president of Fairchild Dornier, an aircraft manufacturing company.
Mr. Rush obtained his undergraduate degree in psychology from DePauw University and then later received a master's degree in public administration from Golden Gate University, and a master's degree in religious studies from Liberty University. Following seminary, he spent 15 years as an executive pastor. Presently Dean serves as the executive director of Faith Breakthroughs, a non-profit, whose objective is to get Christ into the home and workplace. His current position also involves working with organizations throughout the country about using biblical principles in business.
Dean and his wife, Vickie, have been married for over 51 years and have 2 children and 4 grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Trustee
Job Titles:
- Dean, School of Information Technology
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Trustee
- Founding and Inaugural President
Dr. Maria Hernandez Ferrier is Founding and inaugural President Emerita of Texas A&M University-San Antonio (TAMU-SA). Her history with the university began in April 2008 as executive director and the next year she was named president. Maria was the force behind the university's unprecedented growth and she also served as CEO of TAMU-SA from 2008-2015, and as the Director-General of the A&M University System's Relationship with Mexico. Prior to this, Ferrier held several national appointments including the Department of Education and Director of Bilingual Education & Minority Language Affairs. In 1992, President George H. Bush appointed her to the Commission for National and Community Service, where she served under both Presidents Bush and Clinton and in 2002, Bush appointed her Assistant Deputy Secretary in the Department of Education.
Other accomplishments include the creation and development of highly successful programs, such as City Year, Students Against Driving Drunk; Partners in Pride; "Safety Kids"; Helping Academic Leadership Through Theater; the Community Resource Fair; Nimitz 50, the Southwest ISD/Kelly AFB Mentoring Partnership and Partnership School. Ferrier has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Golden Deeds Award, San Antonio Hispanic Chamber's Lifetime Achievement Award; the San Antonio Silver Stars' "Women of Inspiration" Award; San Antonio College Outstanding Former Student; San Antonio University Roundtable's "Best and Brightest" Award; the Life of Idealism Award; the Hispanic Heritage Award from the Department of Labor; the Minority Leadership Award from the National Community Education Association as well as the "Point of Light" designation from the White House. Maria currently sits on the Board of Trustees for Hallmark University
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Vice President, Student Affairs & Support Services
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Trustee
- Board Member for the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas
Dr. Sandi Wolff has been a part of the community and has contributed to the San Antonio community for over 30 years. She has worked in education, community and student relations, marketing, public affairs, non-profit education, business development, and governmental affairs. She has deep experience in working with small businesses, national corporations, non-profit, and government entities.
Most recently, Dr. Wolff was the head of Strategic Relations for Catamount Constructors, a national general contractor specializing in high-performing and high-quality construction in the retail, industrial, healthcare, restaurant, senior living, and office industries. She has worked for over 15 years in education and over 20 years in corporate settings. Dr. Wolff was the Community Relations Director for Linebarger Attorneys at Law, and prior to that, the Governmental Affairs and Economic Development Manager at San Antonio Water System. She also served in non-profit education as the VP of Education for KLRN, San Antonio's local PBS station.
Dr. Wolff holds a Texas Teaching Certificate in Secondary Technology. She has taught at Providence High School, Sam Houston High School, and served as Director of Students at St. Anthony Catholic High School.
Dr. Wolff is a board member for the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas and is the Vice-Chair for the Texas A&M San Antonio Foundation Board. Wolff served as the Economic Development Council Chair for the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce for two years, and the St. Mary's University Business School Advisory Council of Executives for seven years. In 2014, Dr. Wolff was elected to the Board of Trustees for North East ISD, the 8th largest school district in Texas, where she served until 2017. She has also served as the District 2 appointee for San Antonio's Historic Design and Review Commission and on the foundation boards of Northside ISD and San Antonio ISD.
Wolff earned her BBA in Marketing from St. Mary's University, her MEd through Our Lady of the Lake University, and her Ph.D. in Education and Leadership from the University of the Incarnate Word.
Job Titles:
- Secretary
- Secretary of the Board
Vanessa Hammler Kenon, Ed.D., serves as the UTSA University Technology Solutions (UTS) Associate Vice President Technology Compliance and Community Engagement and is responsible for management and leadership of the department's audit, compliance, risk services, business continuity and emergency management, internal and external community outreach and collaboration, and the department's Classroom to Career Program. She serves as a key UTS liaison with UTSA students, faculty, and staff.
Dr. Kenon serves on several UTSA committees and task forces, supporting technology, student success, community service, diversity and inclusion, academic research, audit and compliance, the UTSA annual United Way SECC campaign, and community outreach. Kenon serves as a lecturer in the College of Education and Human Development's African American Studies program teaching a contemporary course in film, media, and technology. Dr. Kenon has worked in higher education positions of instruction, leadership and management in both private and public higher education programs for over 28 years with 26 of those years managing departments and initiatives directly related to technology.
Kenon serves the San Antonio community on several educational and community boards and committees including service for Trinity University, the statewide TASSCC Board, University United Methodist Church, and Magdelana House. Kenon has presented and facilitated sessions at conferences and events across the globe and has presented for the American Education Research Association (AERA), Microsoft, Texas Association of State Systems for Computing and Communications (TASSCC), The International Higher Education Reform Symposium, The Association for College and University Technology Advancement, The New Media Consortium, South by Southwest, The International Society for Educational Planning, Ready Education, Achieving the Dream, the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) and EDUCAUSE. She served five years at UTSA in roles both coordinating and serving as PI on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation IPAS and IPASS projects and is also well published in the areas of Workplace Learning and Professional Development, Student Success Technology, and Global Education Collaboration.
Dr. Kenon is a first-generation college graduate and an alumnus of Trinity University where she earned bachelor's degrees in Communications and English. She is also a very proud UTSA alumna where she received her Master's and her Doctorate in Education and was a recipient of the 2018 Distinguished Alumni award from the UTSA College of Education Educational Leadership Department.
Job Titles:
- Student Accounts / Financial Services Office
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Trustee
- Retired Executive Director for the San Antonio River Foundation, Former Registered Nurse, Philanthropist, Community Volunteer, and Fundraiser
Job Titles:
- Financial Planning Office
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Trustee
- Specialist
- Texas Department of Economic Development As the Deputy Executive Director for Special Projects
Jerry Valdez is a specialist in understanding how government works. Serving in a number of public positions, Valdez has successfully advocated for regulatory and legislative change at the local, state, and federal level. He has coordinated the passage of landmark legislation in diverse areas including; Natural Resources, Real Estate Land Use, Public Finance and Consumer Matters, Higher Education and Energy. Jerry has a particular expertise in Transportation Planning and Funding, often successfully amending statutes after decades without change. In addition to successfully passing legislation, Valdez is adept at preventing activist actions that are detrimental to his clients.
Jerry serves with the Texas Department of Economic Development as the Deputy Executive Director for Special Projects where he leads efforts for business and industry relocation and expansion in the state. In this role he acts as liaison to the governing board and oversees the Executive Office, communications, governmental relations, and the agency's nonprofit corporation.
Jerry is active in his community, serving on the Advisory Board of Caritas of Austin; a nonprofit faith-based organization helping the working poor in Central Texas, the Advisory Board of the Wine and Food Foundation, as well as the Development Council of the Austin Can Academy. He volunteers alongside his wife and young daughter with Eanes ISD, the Junior League of Austin, and Partnership's for Children and their West Austin Church.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- President
Joe Fisher has a BA in International Relations and an MBA in Global Management. Joe has spent the past 26 years passionately committed to the development of excellence in Higher Education. That passion has focused on innovation in education delivery and creating methods for producing excellence and character in the future workforce. Joe has served as Chancellor of Hallmark University in San Antonio, TX since 2014 and prior to that served as the University's President for 15 years. Prior to Hallmark, Joe served as President of the National Aviation Academy for seven years. Joe has worked closely with all segments of accreditation both Regional and National and has been a frequent speaker on the subject of accreditation at the State and Federal levels.
In 2007/2008 Joe served as the liaison between five national accrediting bodies, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and Governor Rick Perry's office in the development of new regulations which provided for the recognition of those accreditors by the Coordinating Board. These efforts are expected to contribute 30 - 40,000 additional associate and bachelor degree graduates in the State of Texas by 2015 representing a major contribution to the State's "Closing the Gap" initiative. In November of 2008, Joe assisted in preparing testimony for the Governor's committee on the Global Competitiveness of Texas Higher Education.
Joe's work in higher education includes service as Chairman of Career Colleges and Schools of Texas (CCST), Chair of Governmental Affairs - CCST, Chair of Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board committee - CCST, Treasurer of Aviation Technician Education Council, and committee positions with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and Career College Association.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Vice President, Philanthropy
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Trustee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Parliamentarian
Job Titles:
- Vice - Chairman
- Vice - Chairman of the Board
- President and CEO of CommuniCare Health Center
Paul Nguyen is the President and CEO of CommuniCare Health Centers. His career as a healthcare administrator spans over 30 years in both inpatient and ambulatory services, with focuses on being the healthcare provider of choice and the best place to work. Paul's healthcare administration background includes leading both inpatient and outpatient services in hospitals and ambulatory care centers. He was a recipient of the 2015 San Antonio Business Journal Healthcare Heroes Award in the category of Outstanding Healthcare Executive and serves on various industries governing boards including banking, higher education, and technology. Paul Nguyen has a Bachelor's Degree in Social Psychology from Park University and a Master's Degree in Healthcare Administration from Webster University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Trustee
Rob started his career as an active duty Medical Service Corps officer in the US Army. He served for 12 years, living in such places as Germany and Washington State. This is the 4th time he's lived in San Antonio. He's been deployed to combat twice and enjoyed his time in the military. He spent the next 13 years as a Healthcare Executive in such positions as COO and most recently as CEO of Methodist Children's hospital.
Currently, Rob works as a Real Estate Professional and a consultant and coach to healthcare tech and start up companies.
Rob is married to his wife Erin and has two children, a 14-year-old girl, and an 11-year-old boy. In his free time, you can find him on the lake wake surfing, in the gym working out, or at the beach while traveling.
Job Titles:
- Dean, College or Aeronautics
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Leadership Team
- Vice President, Institutional Strategy
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Trustee
Mr. Theodore Guidry II (Theo) retired in 2019 as a senior member of Valero Energy Corporation's management team. He was responsible for the risk management function of the largest independent petroleum refiner in the world. He is an exceptional leader with a proven track record of exemplary performance and international success.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer
- Treasurer of the Board
- President of
Thomas W. "Tim" Lyles is President of MedCare Holdings. Mr. Lyles has managed an investment portfolio for over twenty-five years, including both public and large private companies. He also serves on numerous for-profit and non-profit Boards of Directors. Mr. Lyles' primary responsibility is President of a private holding company, which oversees both strategic and operational issues for various portfolios companies. Mr. Lyles helped organize each fund in the predecessor MedCare Investment Funds group and served as President of each of the funds from 1991 to 2018. Mr. Lyles, through his role as President of MedCare Holdings and the predecessor, MedCare Investment Funds, has founded and established numerous health care companies. From 1984 to 1989, Mr. Lyles was an Attorney with the law firm of Haynes and Boone in Dallas, Texas. During 1986 and 1987, he taught Real Estate Financing at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. From 1983 to 1984, he was appointed a Briefing Attorney for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas. In 1983, Mr. Lyles received his J.D., Cum Laude from SMU School of Law. Prior to attending law school, he was employed by KPMG Peat Marwick. Mr. Lyles earned an accounting degree from Texas A & M University, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1979. In addition, Mr. Lyles is a retired Certified Public Accountant and has written material for the Texas State Bar and has been a speaker for the State Bar of Texas and the Dallas Bar.
Mr. Lyles is a devoted Christian who firmly believes in the objective of Hallmark University. He is married and the father of nine children.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Trustee