2012 Stelors Alliance Award Recipients
Awarding likeminded professionials and businesses who continue the mission of the Stelos Alliance by providing post-graduate opportunities for dynamic young people
Rick Burchfield
Rick is a 1984 graduate of Texas State University. Rick was, and still is, an active member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He has been married to his wife Wendi for 23 years, and has two children, Trenton and Natalie Paige.
Upon graduation, Rick started his Professional Career with Motorola, Inc. Through dedication and a strong work ethic he was soon promoted to Sales Manager and was eventually transferred to Houston, TX. After years of success with Motorola, Rick decided to venture off on his own and started Commercial Wireless Solutions in 2001. CWS provides upper tier digital voice, data and video solutions to the Public Safety and Industrial/Petro Chemical Industries. 11 years later CWS was ranked #2 amongst all Motorola Channel Partners in the North American region.
Rick and CWS continue to make it a priority to support foundations such as the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, The Special Olympics, and Texas Equusearch. In addition, Rick is active in his local Community. Rick has served on numerous committees and served on his City’s Economic Development Corporation for seven years in numerous roles, including its President.
Rick is proud to be involved with the Housley Principled Leadership Program. As a proud Alum of Texas State University and an Entrepreneur who understands the ups and downs along the road to success, Rick hopes to be able to help lead future business men and women down the path of achieving their goals.
Bruce Howard
Bruce L. Howard is the Director of Operations and Development for the San Antonio, Texas based Certified Public Accounting firm of Fisher, Herbst & Kemble. In this role Bruce develops strategy and implements all administration, operations, recruiting and market development for the firm. Prior to rejoining FH&K in 2009 Bruce served over five years as the Associate Director of Employer Relations for UTSA’s University Career Center where he led the advancement of job identification and expansion of employer relationships for UTSA’s students and alumni. Bruce’s professional career started at Tesoro Corporation where he worked with both domestic and foreign based refining and marketing business sectors to develop and implement strategic initiatives for international sales and marketing, risk management, operations and logistics.
Bruce serves on many workforce and economic development boards, committees and organizations in San Antonio and Central Texas where he pursues his passion for helping people start, advance and adjust their careers. In addition, Bruce sits on local high school and university Academic Advisory Councils that help students with career development by fostering business/education partnerships. Bruce believes that both young and old have a place in the workforce and often helps individuals with developing career transition strategies. Bruce can frequently be found on many college campuses in the San Antonio area speaking about interviewing skills, how to write a killer resume and teaching students techniques they may use to achieve their career goals.
Bruce has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.
Linda Roach
Linda Roach is currently Vice President of Marketing for Planview, a market leader in portfolio management software. She is a skilled strategist with proven success positioning companies as innovators and market leaders, leveraging a combined technical, product development, and marketing approach. She is a versatile product marketer able to help companies increase revenue by creating go-to-market strategies across all market stages—from early stage to mature markets.
Prior to joining Planview, Linda held management positions at Pervasive Software, VTEL Corporation and Kodak where she led go-to-market initiatives covering new products, product line expansion and opening new market segments.
Linda has fostered the development of rising stars throughout her career. In her current role she formalized an internship program providing valuable, real-world experience to marketing and communications majors in central Texas.
Linda holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She is a recognized marketing leader and speaker with demonstrated expertise in metrics-based demand generation, customer programs, and product launches.
Jody Turnbow
Jody Turnbow is currently corporate VP of Supplier Relations for Glazer’s Distributors. Glazer’s, currently operating in 14 states, is one of the nation’s largest wholesale distributors of wine, spirits, and malt beverage products.
Jody has previously held the position of General Sales Manager, Southern Region E&J Gallo Winery. He joined E&J Gallo Winery in 1990. During his 20 year industry career at Glazer’s and Gallo, Jody has held numerous management positions including: General Sales Manager Glazer’s Texas, Retail Division Manager for E&J Gallo, Sales Manager for Glazer’s Bayou Division, State Manager, E&J Gallo in North Carolina, Area Manager for Glazer’s in Houston and District Sales manager for Schepp’s Distributor in Dallas. Jody holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Texas State University.
Jody graduated from Texas State in 1990 where he was active in numerous Campus organizations including, President Phi Delta Theta, IFC Judiciary Board, Student Organization Acceptance Committee and was elected Gallardian.
Jody is married to his lovely wife Meredith Ann Turnbow (also a graduate of TX State) and has two incredible boys Tanner and Trevor. Jody also enjoys Triathlons, running and biking. He has been a top 100 fundraiser for the MS-150 for the last three years, a cause he encourages everyone to support.