The SFA Alumni Association kicked off the year in style with a Dallas-area Lumberjack Business Network breakfast on Jan. 19. Tom Mason, a 1970 SFA alumnus and CFO of real estate development company Hillwood, was the presenter. Tom wowed the group with a discussion of the company’s many projects, which span Dallas/Fort Worth, the country and the globe. He absolutely proved that Lumberjacks Make Great CFOs!
The event was attended by a fantastic group of SFA alumni learning about a fellow alum’s impressive work. Additional Dallas breakfasts are scheduled from 7 to 8 a.m. April 19, July 12 and Oct. 11, at Maggiano’s Little Italy at NorthPark Center.
The Lumberjack Business Network is the centerpiece of the SFA Alumni Association’s 2016 programming, but do not let the name fool you—you do not need to hold a business-related degree to attend. For example, my SFA degree is in political science, and I benefit tremendously from attending the breakfasts, where I can network with other professionals who live and work in my geographic area.
The Alumni Association hosted its inaugural Lumberjack Business Network breakfast in Houston on March 8 at Maggiano’s Little Italy near the Galleria. Additional Houston breakfasts are scheduled from 7 to 8 a.m. at Maggiano’s on May 10, Aug. 16 and Nov. 15.
Additionally, the inaugural Lumberjack Business Network of The Woodlands will be held from 7 to 8 a.m. April 14, at Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse.
In other news, our Alumni Association Board of Directors met in Nacogdoches in January and attended the SFA Envisioned Strategic Planning Committee’s town hall meeting. SFA is in the midst of a comprehensive strategic planning process, which includes several interdependent goals. Transformative student experiences is the overarching goal and is supported by four operational goals: attracting and supporting high-quality faculty and staff members, fostering academic and co-curricular innovation, redefining university culture, and increasing connections. You can learn more about SFA’s strategic plan at www.sfasu.edu/strategicplan.
The increasing connections goal includes linking with SFA alumni and friends—we want you to be connected to SFA and the Alumni Association! Lumberjack Business Network events are one way the Alumni Association is working to increase connections with our stakeholders.
Throughout the remainder of the year, I hope your connection to SFA grows stronger and that you will join us at alumni events. You can access the Alumni Association’s online calendar at www.sfaalumni.com/events to view more information about upcoming events. Also, don’t forget you can keep up with the Alumni Association and SFA on social media. “Like” the SFA Alumni Association on Facebook, follow SFA Alumni on Twitter and check out our new presence on Instagram.
Axe ’em, Jacks!
Karen Gregory Gantt '95 - McKinney, Texas
President, SFA Alumni Association