Meet the 2025 Southwest finalists

Dr. Karthik Koduru is the Founder & CEO of Archer Review.

Archer Review is a healthcare education technology platform serving both B2C and B2B markets. It targets medical and nursing students, graduate nurses, nurse practitioners, and physicians (MD and DO). For its B2B segment, Archer collaborates with medical and nursing schools, PA and NP programs, hospitals, and staffing agencies.

While 70% of its customers are in the USA, Archer also serves international markets, including Canada, Australia, the Philippines, India, Nepal, Kenya, Nigeria, Europe, and Latin America.

The platform offers test preparation resources for licensing exams, curricular support, ANCC-accredited board certification courses, and continuing education webinars. Archer also provides upskilling courses to help nurses enhance their skills and increase their compensation.

Approximately 1 million nurses, students, and physicians have utilized Archer Review’s innovative and affordable EdTech solutions, which include question banks, on-demand videos, computer adaptive testing, and live lectures. Archer has been named the fastest-growing technology company in Texas by Deloitte Fast500 for two consecutive years (2023 and 2024), achieving remarkable growth of 5,771% from 2020 to 2023.

Brad Hannagan is the Co-Founder & Principal, P.J. Brady is the Co-Founder & Principal, and David Cartwright is the Principal of ATCAP Partners.

ATCAP Partners is a premier real estate investment firm specializing in the acquisition and operation of industrial assets throughout the country. Founded in 2010 by Brad Hannagan and PJ Brady, our company emerged in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, recognizing a unique opportunity to acquire undervalued properties that institutional investors were divesting to stabilize their balance sheets. Our focus then, as it is now, is on Class B, multi-tenant warehouse properties—a segment that, at the time, was overlooked but offered attractive yield premiums due to its inherent liquidity challenges. We built our business on a foundation of cash flow investment strategies that not only generate high risk-adjusted returns but also provide a hedge against inflation.

Josh Ernst is the CEO & Co-Founder of Backflip.

Backflip is a real estate financial technology company that supports entrepreneurs in acquiring and renovating single-family homes. Founded in 2020, the company offers purpose-built technology and capital products to source, analyze, and finance these residential real estate investments.

Backflip's all-in-one platform provides a seamless experience through its mobile and desktop apps, granting members access to relevant real-time data to make informed decisions while on the move or from their desks. The Backflip app—referred to as an “analyst in your pocket”—helps members source, track, compare, and evaluate potential investments, in addition to securing project financing through Backflip.

With a business model and underwriting process designed to achieve investment-grade credit ratings, Backflip has funded the revitalization of over 2,000 homes to date, injecting over half a billion dollars into improving neighborhoods. The platform can be life-changing for members, with successful customers realizing an average gross profit of $87,000 per property on the platform and typically repaying their loans within six months.

Shilpa Abbitt is the CEO & Co-Founder of Caliber Resource Partners.

At Caliber Resource Partners, we’re more than just a non-operating investment firm—we’re a team of industry experts passionate about unlocking value and addressing capital needs in the upstream energy space. We take a hands-on approach to acquiring and managing non-operated drilling and PDP (proved developed producing) assets across the Lower 48, leveraging deep technical expertise and strong partnerships to drive growth. We believe that success comes from making smart, data-driven decisions while remaining adaptable in a constantly evolving industry. By fostering collaboration and building long-term trust, we are investing in assets and creating a company that stands the test of time. Our focus is simple: identify great opportunities, execute with precision, and deliver real results for our investors.

John Hanighen is the President & CEO of Cloyes Manufacturing.

Cloyes is a global manufacturer of automotive timing and tensioner products for the automotive aftermarket and OEMs for both light and medium-duty vehicles. Cloyes also owns Rotomaster, a distributor and remanufacturer of turbochargers and associated products for light, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles, including Class 6, 7, and 8 over-the-road vehicles.

Cloyes and Rotomaster's customers include major retailers in North America, as well as the majority of wholesalers and banner program groups.

Cloyes also operates in Mexico, Latin America, Europe, and Australia, with over nine locations in the USA, Canada, Mexico, and China.

Andre Angel is the Chairman & CEO of Curis Functional Health.

Curis Functional Health is a pioneering healthcare company that integrates chiropractic care, mental health, and functional nutrition, using the nervous system as the body's signaling platform to discover the root causes of health issues and provide holistic, patient-centered wellness solutions.

Tony Capucille is the CEO of EightTwenty.

EightTwenty is a tech-enabled, regional solar Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) firm dedicated to simplifying solar adoption for Main Street America businesses and nonprofits. Founded in 2020, EightTwenty operates across seven states in the Midwest and South, focusing on traditionally underserved solar markets.

The company manages every step of the solar process—from design and engineering to installation—ensuring high quality, efficiency, and lasting performance. Its innovative technology platform makes complex solar projects simple and accessible, helping businesses and nonprofits seamlessly transition to renewable energy.

EightTwenty also offers creative financing through Brightwell, its nonprofit tax equity marketplace. Brightwell connects impact investors with community organizations, allowing nonprofits to access solar projects without upfront costs. This model reduces utility expenses and frees up resources for nonprofits to focus on their core missions.

With a relationship-driven approach, a focus on high-quality suppliers, and a culture that attracts top talent, EightTwenty combines technology and purpose, driving financial savings, sustainable growth, and lasting community impact.

Karen Ezell is the Owner of Event Supplies & Services Inc.

Event Supplies & Services (ESS) provides staffing and support to venues throughout the United States, acting as the liaison between the venue and the event merchandise companies when the artists or events they represent are performing at the venues with which we are contracted.

ESS has contracts with over 30 venues, ranging from as far north as Grand Forks, North Dakota, to as far south as Corpus Christi, Texas. We operate as far west as Loveland, Colorado, and as far east as Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

We are responsible for the pre-advance of merchandise, coordination of inventory, sales, and settlement during the event, as well as payment processing to venues, artists' merchandising companies, and vendors.

Will Edwards is the CEO of Firehawk Aerospace.

Conventional solid propellant formulations use thermoset polymers as binders and are manufactured with precise process control, resulting from the finite window of time available for mixing, processing, and casting operations. Challenges include:

• Must be mixed at the time of production, impacting safety and logistics
• Extended cure times and post-cure inspection prior to use
• Sole-source U.S.-based manufacture of ammonium perchlorate (AP), one of the most extensively used oxidizers in solid propellant formulations
• An industrial base unable to meet current demand at full manufacturing capacity
• Specialized casting molds and tooling, limiting the potential to affordably and rapidly expand or scale production capacities to meet emerging needs

Firehawk has developed 3D-printable thermoplastic-based solid propellant formulations that solidify in seconds and leverage standard additive manufacturing (AM) equipment. Benefits include:

• Produced in a fraction of the time required for cast solid rocket motors (SRMs)
• Simple and affordable production of mission-optimized SRM designs or rapid scaling of production capacity
• AM feedstock can be produced in advance and used on demand
• Utilizes easily sourced materials
• Can be produced in multiple locations of strategic relevance

Aaron Smith is the CEO and Callie Turk is the Chief Operating Officer & Co-Founder of Flexcare Infusion Centers.

Our mission is simple: we care for patients as if they were members of our own family. FlexCare Infusion Centers provides specialty infusion and injection services to adult and pediatric patients with rare, chronic, and complex conditions.

Our infusion clinics were founded on the premise that patient-centered care should be accessible and affordable. Our streamlined referral process, comfortable infusion suites, and convenient hours and locations are designed with patients and referring providers in mind. Since opening our doors in 2019, FlexCare has helped thousands of patients and families on their journey to better health.

Kevin Keller is the Co-Founder and Allen Shafer is the Co-Founder of Fulton & Roark.

Over the years, we’ve come to refer to what we do at Fulton & Roark as American Fine Fragrance®. It’s not just about where we’re from; rather, it stems from a pattern that we keep seeing. Whether you’re talking about great American winemakers, painters, chefs, or even breweries, an interesting arc emerges.

So often, each of these creators spent their early years learning and even imitating the ways and customs of the European establishment, often with the belief that the long traditions of the old world were inherently better. But then, something happened…

Whether it was Cabernets, IPAs, or Rock ‘n’ Roll, Americans truly made their mark when they disregarded the way things had always been done and started creating things in their own ways—knowing the rules and choosing to break them.

That’s what we’re doing in the world of fine fragrance: looking to new ingredients, formulation methods, and even formats to make our mark on the fragrance world for men and women alike.

While we love and admire the histories and creations that come from the Parisian Maisons, we’re out to do something entirely different—something uniquely our own. We call that ambition American Fine Fragrance.

Kristin Rogers is the President of IQ Supply Solutions.

IQ Supply Solutions was founded in July 2017. Since then, we have expanded our business by dedicating ourselves to providing our customers with the very best service, focusing on detail, dependability, and uniqueness. We have streamlined the inventory management process using our custom-made WMS system. Our team consists of personnel with years of experience in procuring and managing electrical and mechanical equipment.

Eric Fortenberry is the Founder & CEO of JobTread Software, LLC.

JobTread is transforming the construction industry with a powerful, all-in-one management platform that helps contractors streamline operations, increase profitability, and drive business growth. Designed to simplify complex workflows, JobTread provides cutting-edge solutions for estimating, project management, financial tracking, and team collaboration.

Since its launch, JobTread has empowered thousands of contractors with intuitive tools that improve accuracy, efficiency, and organization. By centralizing job data and automating key processes, our platform enables construction businesses to scale effectively while reducing costly errors and inefficiencies.

Led by founder and CEO Eric Fortenberry, JobTread has rapidly gained industry recognition for its innovation, customer-first approach, and measurable impact on construction businesses of all sizes. With a commitment to continuous improvement and industry advancement, JobTread is setting new standards for how contractors manage projects, control costs, and drive long-term success.

We’re revolutionizing construction management—one project at a time.

John Humphrey is the CEO of JULY Business Services.

JULY specializes in managing retirement plans for small businesses, their financial advisors, and employees.

The company provides a comprehensive range of services, including plan design, technology-driven recordkeeping, compliance, and support for plan participants. The firm delivers client services through a hands-on approach from dedicated and qualified Client Service Managers who focus on enhancing service quality.

To reduce the client’s workload, lower the risk of errors, and enhance a plan’s effectiveness, JULY offers a modern, fiduciary-based service model that takes on complex tasks often left for business owners to manage. This includes serving as an administrative fiduciary and optionally as an investment fiduciary through Expand Financial, the company’s Registered Investment Advisory firm.

To make 401(k) plans more accessible to small businesses, the company pioneered the use of Pooled Employer Plans introduced in 2021 via the SECURE Act. This enhances efficiency and scalability, reduces costs, and makes plans more affordable for small businesses.

The company also provides a technical staffing solution to third-party administrators through its offshore subsidiary located in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Sara Shenkan-Rich is the CEO of Just Right Reader, Inc.

Just Right Reader, founded in 2019 by former principal Sara Rich, specializes in literacy and education by providing decodable books and reading materials designed to support phonics instruction and literacy development. Our offerings include take-home decodable packs, classroom libraries, and bilingual reading materials, all aimed at making reading fun and accessible for all students. The company's mission is to accelerate student achievement and create joyful reading experiences through high-quality Science of Reading materials and resources, an extensive family engagement platform, and a commitment to personalized learning.

Steve Little is the President & Co-Founder, Keith Post is the CEO & Co-Founder, and Jayne Williams is the CFO, Safety Officer & Co-Founder of KPost Company.

Based in Dallas, Texas, KPost was founded in 2003 by Keith Post, Steve Little, and Jayne Williams. Today, KPost is a nationally and regionally award-winning contractor operating from a single, five-acre campus in the DFW metroplex.

KPost is the Roofing and Waterproofing Partner of the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers.

KPost’s operations consist of new and remedial commercial building envelope projects, including roofing, waterproofing, lightweight insulating concrete, sheet metal, and service.

KPost’s residential division installs shingles, slate, standing seam, and conventional roofs. In 2023, KPost added Tesla solar roofs with Powerwall energy storage.

KPost’s primary end-customer industries include stadiums, industrial facilities, hospitals, offices, retail and entertainment venues, and education.

The company has over 460 commercial and residential employees, along with a management team that possesses more than 215 years of collective building envelope business experience.

KPost ranked #26 in the country on Roofing Contractor’s 2023 Top Roofing Contractors list and has been ranked in the top 25 for the past 10 years.

Garrett Reed is the CEO of Layne's Chicken Fingers.

Founded in 1994, Layne's Chicken Fingers has been serving our guests hand-breaded chicken fingers cooked to order, along with Texas toast and drinks. It was established in College Station, TX, with a mission to serve the community great food while having a lot of fun doing it.

Starting out of a 1,200 square foot building off the Texas A&M campus and fueled by a passion for good food, Layne's began its humble journey with one of its sayings: "Soon to be Famous."

Over the decades, Layne's opened three locations, and the owner had no desire to grow beyond that because he was very happy with his business and life. It wasn't until 2017 that Garrett Reed and Matthew O'Reilly approached him to buy the majority of the business and expand it. Garrett Reed, who grew up in College Station, knew Layne's was meant for bigger things. In 2018, Layne's opened three locations in the DFW area to refine the processes, systems, and training methods. By 2020, they were ready to franchise. Today, the company has over 18 franchisees, with more than 250 stores planned for development, 24 stores opened, and another 20 estimated to open this year.

Ethan Ellenberg is the Founder & CEO of Moonshot.

Moonshot is a UL-listed electrical manufacturer specializing in the AI and data center sector. In just three years, Moonshot has delivered 4.5 GW of infrastructure—ranging from substation transformers and MW switchgear to pad-mount transformers, UPSs, and ATCs—and produces custom server racking, PDUs, and UL-listed low-voltage switchgear. With 300 MW of backlog underway for Q1 2025, Moonshot embodies its core values—Always Provide Value, Find a Way to Win, In It Together, and Extreme Ownership—to drive continuous innovation and quality.

Beverly Coghlan is the President of Neighborhood Management, Inc.

Neighborhood Management Inc. (Neighborhood) is a leading community association management company committed to delivering exceptional service, innovative solutions, and proactive management to the communities we serve. With a focus on enhancing property values and fostering strong relationships, we provide comprehensive management services tailored to the unique needs of each association. Our experienced team works closely with board members, homeowners, and vendors to ensure seamless operations, financial transparency, and community engagement. From administrative support and maintenance coordination to financial management and compliance enforcement, we handle all aspects of community association management with professionalism and integrity. At Neighborhood, we believe that strong communities create better living experiences, and we strive to provide the expertise, resources, and support necessary for neighborhoods to thrive. Let us help your community succeed with customized, responsive, and hands-on management solutions.

Rachel Sanchez is the CEO of Prestige Maintenance USA.

Prestige is a family-owned business with nearly 50 years of experience providing high-quality, sustainable cleaning solutions. Founded by Alex and Marie Dinverno, we have grown from a small local operation to an industry leader known for our customer-centric approach and commitment to innovation.

As a CIMS-certified Green Building contractor, Prestige embraces environmentally responsible practices and cutting-edge technologies to ensure operational efficiency while minimizing our environmental impact. Our core values—Respectful, Responsive, Reliable, and Results-Driven—shape every interaction and guide our mission to create cleaner, safer, and healthier environments.

We pride ourselves on building strong, long-term relationships with clients, employees, and communities. With a strong succession plan and a third generation joining in 2024, we are positioned for continued growth and success. Prestige’s commitment to quality, innovation, and service excellence has made us a trusted partner in the cleaning industry.

Pradeep Govindasamy is the Co-Founder, President & CEO of QualiZeal Inc.

QualiZeal is North America's fastest-growing independent digital quality engineering services company. With a diverse portfolio of digital transformation services encompassing Quality Engineering, Digital Engineering, Advisory and Transformation, and Emerging Technology Testing, QualiZeal empowers organizations of all sizes globally to achieve quality excellence and sustainable market leadership. Trusted by over 70 global enterprises and with a headcount of more than 850 elite software quality engineers, QualiZeal is pioneering AI-enabled, platform-driven, modern quality engineering innovation. QualiZeal has consistently maintained an outstanding client Net Promoter Score (NPS) of over 75, reflecting its unwavering commitment to client satisfaction and service excellence.

Bruce McClelland is the President & CEO of Ribbon Communications, Inc.

Ribbon Communications (Nasdaq: RBBN) delivers communications software, IP and optical networking solutions to service providers, enterprises and critical infrastructure sectors globally. We engage deeply with our customers, helping them modernize their networks for improved competitive positioning and business outcomes in today's smart, always-on and data-hungry world. Our innovative, end-to-end solutions portfolio delivers unparalleled scale, performance, and agility, including core-to-edge software-centric solutions, cloud-native offerings, leading-edge security and analytics tools, along with IP and optical networking solutions for 5G. We maintain a keen focus on our commitments to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) matters, offering an annual Sustainability Report to our stakeholders. 

Justin Shugrue is the Owner & CEO of Shug's Bagels.

Shug’s Bagels is a beloved Dallas bagel shop renowned for serving authentic New York-style bagels, sandwiches, and deli classics. Founded on hard work, hustle, and a passion for quality, Shug’s has grown into a thriving business with two Dallas locations generating over $6 million in annual sales each, supported by exceptional cash flow metrics. From humble beginnings, the business was built through bootstrapped financing, starting with a small family and friends fundraising effort and primarily funded by SBA loans. By focusing on delivering an unmatched bagel experience and fostering strong community connections, Shug’s has become a staple in the Dallas food scene. Now, with its proven success and dedication to excellence, Shug’s Bagels is expanding to New Orleans and Austin, bringing East Coast flavors and warm hospitality to new markets. As we continue to grow, our commitment to quality, authenticity, and customer satisfaction remains at the heart of everything we do.

Alfonso Montiel is the CEO of SilverStone Health.

SilverStone Health specializes in providing advanced medical care for complex chronic conditions, advanced diseases, and terminal illnesses. Our comprehensive services support patients and families in home, facility, and transitional care settings following hospital discharge. With all medical services conveniently located under one roof, SilverStone Health simplifies the process of finding, coordinating, and managing care. Our offerings include Home Health, Wound Care, Telehealth, Palliative Care, Hospice, and Specialty Physician Services. We are proudly a minority- and women-owned organization committed to excellence in healthcare.

Rob Morris is the CEO of Skybox Datacenters.

Skybox Datacenters is a national data center developer and owner headquartered in Dallas, Texas. With a customer-centric approach, Skybox delivers purpose-built, mission-critical facilities for speculative, campus, powered shell, turn-key, and build-to-suit project capabilities through active development and operations teams across the United States.

Mike Freeman is the President of Steele & Freeman, Inc.

Steele & Freeman, Inc. is one of the largest construction management firms in the Metroplex. All work is conducted under fee-based, negotiated contracts in both the public and private sectors. Typical project values range from $10 million up to the largest current contract value of $360 million.

Founded in 1979, Steele & Freeman has worked primarily in the Metroplex area, completing over $2.5 billion of in-place construction in the local market.

Leif Savage is the CEO of Tall City Brine LLC.

Tall City Brine is a solution mining company that specializes in the production and sale of 10 lb. brine water in the Permian Basin. Since its founding in 2013, the company has grown to operate 27 locations, delivering high-quality brine and fresh water to a variety of industries.

Using a solution mining process, Tall City Brine injects fresh water into underground salt formations to produce brine water. This brine is essential for applications such as base drilling fluids, well workovers, pipeline testing, road treatment by TXDOT in cold weather, and water softening systems in hospitals.

With a focus on innovation and reliable service, Tall City Brine is committed to meeting the water needs of its valued customers across the Permian Basin.

Jordan Jayson is the CEO & Chairman of the Board of U.S. Energy Development Corporation.

U.S. Energy Development Corporation (USEDC) invests in and manages oil and gas assets to provide long-term returns to itself and its partners. USEDC and its partners have participated in over 4,000 oil and gas wells and deployed over $2 billion, primarily in the Permian Basin. In 2024, it deployed nearly $800 million through 29 transactions and has announced plans to deploy up to $1 billion in 2025. The firm is experiencing its best financial positioning since its inception and has grown its value tenfold since 2018. USEDC's greatest assets are its 90 experts in geology, land, engineering, finance, tax, accounting, real estate, legal and regulatory affairs, marketing, human resources, and investor services.