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Meet the Southwest judges

The success of the program relies on the efforts of our independent panel of judges. These past Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award recipients and civic and community leaders devote significant effort to review and deliberate the merits of each nominee. We deeply appreciate their dedication to the program.

Karen Aldridge

Karen Aldridge is a multi-award-winning serial entrepreneur, based in Dallas, Texas, and Marin, California. The company she founded in 2013, Rebel Athletic, now dominates the all star cheerleading apparel market, and has expanded into dance and retail athletic wear for girls who love to sparkle. Rebel Athletic was founded in 2013, focusing on designing and selling custom/couture cheerleading uniforms in the all star/competitive cheer industry and has grown to include a school cheer division, a dance costume division and a retail division, selling athletic wear, uniforms, warm-ups, practice wear, shoes, bags, cosmetics, and accessories to girls and women who love to sparkle. Karen was named an Entrepreneur Of The Year® for the Southwest Region. She was inducted into the North Texas Chapter of the Young President's Organization in January 2021. Karen was nominated to the National Board of Trustees, Pacific Region for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America in 2022. Rebel Athletic was the 2019 recipient of Tech Titans' "Technology Adopter" award for its development of the augmented-reality sizing application "Fit Freedom." Rebel Athletic and Karen were a featured cover story in Inc. magazine's March 2016 issue. Karen was named one of the "25 Women to Watch in Business" by the Dallas Business Journal in 2009, and one of the "10 Most Beautiful" by D Magazine in 2010. Back to top

Dennis Cail

Dennis Cail, Founder & CEO of Zirtue, is an award-winning entrepreneur, technology executive, board member, Navy veteran, Forbes Next 1000 Honoree, D CEO 500 and Entrepreneur Of The Year® Southwest winner. Founded with a mission to drive financial inclusion, Zirtue is the world's first relationship-based lending application that simplifies loans between friends and family. The platform is designed to make it easier to request and approve loans and make and track payments while managing and maintaining trusted relationships. Under Dennis's leadership, Zirtue has experienced rapid growth that has also garnered national attention of major media outlets, including Forbes, Fortune, Inc. magazine, Business Insider, Dallas Morning News, Dallas Business Journal, WFAA and Fox Business News. As a Navy veteran and an SMU graduate with a passion for closing the wealth gap by giving people a hand-up in lieu of a handout, Dennis is an active bank and community board member, including the Dallas Regional Chamber Board, Texas Security Bank Board, Goodwill Board, YMCA Foundation Board and SMU Alumni Board of Directors (Emeritus). Back to top

Maria Carell

Maria Carell currently serves as Chief Executive Officer and President of Revision Skincare and Goodier. In this role, Maria is helping the company build on its legacy of being first to market with innovative, science-driven, effective skincare that addresses the signs of aging and promotes overall skin health. She's also leading the brand's growth through acquisitions and expansion into new markets around the globe. Maria has an extensive background in operating, acquiring and developing health care and life science companies, with a particular focus on pharmaceutical and medical device companies. She has served as CEO of Exeltis USA (part of the Chemo Group), as President of Meda Pharmaceuticals and Executive Vice President of MEDA AB (NASDAQ OMX, Large Cap), as CEO and President of Q-Med (NASDAQ OMX, Mid Cap), and as General Manager of Actavis Pharmaceuticals. She has also served in several business development and sales and marketing roles for organizations ranging in size from small entrepreneurial to global multinational companies (Novartis, Johnson & Johnson). Throughout her career, Maria has led organizations to substantial organic growth and guided additional growth through transformational acquisitions. She is also credited with the successful divestiture of Q-Med to Galderma S.A., a transaction valued at approximately $1 billion. Maria has held several board assignments as a board member and as Chairman of the Board in both public and private life science and health care provider companies. She has also been nominated for numerous awards, such as Entrepreneur Of The Year®, Real Leaders Impact Award, the Most Powerful Business Woman Award and Rising Talent at the Global Women's Forum. Maria holds an MSc in International Business/Business Administration from Linkoping University, Sweden. Back to top

Abe Minkara

Abe Minkara is the Founding Partner of Legacy Knight. Prior to Legacy Knight, he was the Managing Director at Mark Cuban Companies. Abe managed the portfolio of investments at Mark Cuban Companies with a focus on technology, logistics and consumer product goods (Shark Tank). Abe is also actively engaged as an advisor and board member with a number of companies leveraging his expertise in strategy, operations and capital allocation to help accelerate their growth. D CEO magazine has recognized Abe as one of the 500 most influential business leaders in North Texas for 2020. Additionally he is a member of the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO Dallas Gold Chapter), an advisory board member at Eosera, an advisory board member at Productable, an advisory board member at Institute of Excellence in Corporate Governance, an advisor at City Rock Ventures, a mentor at Stadia Ventures, an advisory council member at Communities Foundation of Texas and an advisory board member at Eisemann Edge Initiative. Abe received his MBA from the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Back to top

Nipa Nobel

Nipa Nobel, an accomplished entrepreneur, civic leader and philanthropist, serves as Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of MTX Group, a leading global technology consulting firm that partners with government agencies and businesses to advance the happiness, health and economics of the communities they serve worldwide. Nipa is committed to supporting women in leadership through a one-to-one ratio of women to men leaders. As a passionate and active community leader, Nipa is a member of the New York City Police Foundation. In 2021, she received an Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award. In 2022, she was named a Dallas Business Journal "Leaders in Diversity Awards" honoree. A native of Bangladesh, Nipa immigrated to the US as a teenager. Outside work, Nipa enjoys spending time with her family. Back to top

Bryan Perkins

Bryan Perkins has more than 22 years of aerospace and defense operating experience. As CEO, President and Founder of Novaria Group, he continues to build a growing enterprise focused on aerospace Tier 2 manufacturing. Novaria consists of interrelated business units focused on aerospace fastener and engineered products manufacturing. Since 2011, Bryan has closed 24 aerospace component manufacturing transactions, all of which were privately held, multigenerational or entrepreneur-owned businesses. Novaria is a private business with more than 2,000 employees throughout North America serving the global aerospace and defense markets. Bryan's public and private company experience extends to the leadership and successful closure of multiple transactions, integrations and supplier-customer negotiations with original equipment manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers. He led the sale and recapitalization of Novaria in January 2020 to private equity firm KKR and continues to lead Novaria through its growth and transformation. Prior to founding Novaria, he spent 10 years in various aerospace manufacturing, operating and corporate development roles with diversified industrials conglomerate Parker Hannifin (NYSE:PH). Bryan is currently a member of YPO (Young Presidents' Organization), where he co-chairs the Aerospace Manufacturing Industry Group. In 2020, he received Aviation Week's "Gilbert Speed Award" for innovation and entrepreneurship within the aerospace supply chain. Bryan holds an MBA with an emphasis in Strategy and Corporate Finance, as well as a Bachelor of Science, from Texas Christian University. Back to top

Barbara Smith

Barbara Smith is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Commercial Metals Company (NYSE:CMC). Commercial Metals Company is a Fortune 500 company and leading manufacturer of concrete reinforcing and other steel products, a recognized leader in product and process innovation. Barbara joined CMC in June 2011 as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. She was then promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2016 and to CEO in 2017. Prior to joining CMC, Barbara was the Chief Financial Officer for Gerdau Ameristeel and FARO Technologies. Her career also includes more than 20 years of service with Alcoa Inc. In addition to her role at CMC, Barbara serves on the Board of Directors for Comerica Incorporated. She previously served on the Board of Directors at Minerals Technologies Inc. from May 2011 through July 2017. Barbara has been actively involved in various community organizations, including serving on the Dallas and Tampa boards of the American Heart Association. She currently serves as the American Heart Association Southwest Division Chairman. In 2020, Barbara was recognized by S&P Global Platts as the winner of the Global Metals Award, 2020 CEO of the Year. She was the recipient of the 2019 Association for Iron and Steel Technology (AIST) Steelmaker of the Year Award. In 2022, Barbara received the AIST William T. Hogan, S.J. Memorial Lecture Award, the Central Division and National Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award, presented by Ernst & Young LLP. Barbara is a graduate of Purdue University with a degree in Accounting and is also a certified public accountant. In 2013, she was recognized as a Purdue University Old Masters distinguished alumnus.  Back to top

Juli Spottiswood

Juli Spottiswood is the Chairman of Onbe, Inc., a FinTech company focused on global payments for Fortune 500 companies. Onbe, Inc. was formed via a majority investment by Centerbridge Partners and the merger of daVinci Payments and Northland Technologies, a subsidiary of Wirecard AG. Juli was formerly the Chairman and CEO of Syncapay, Inc., a holding company formed in conjunction with the acquisition of daVinci Payments by Bain Capital Ventures. Prior to forming Syncapay, Juli was the President & CEO of Parago, Inc., a tech-enabled marketing services and payments company that she cofounded in 1999. The company was sold to Blackhawk Network Holdings, Inc. in 2014. During Juli's tenure at Parago, she pioneered the use of open loop prepaid cards in the corporate incentives space and was a founding board member of the Network Branded Prepaid Card Association. Juli was recognized as an Entrepreneur Of The Year®, both in 2009 and in 2021; won several awards, including the Stevie Award for Women in Business, Best Places to Work; and holds a patent. Juli served as Audit Chairman and board member at Cardtronics PLC, the world's largest retail ATM provider, from 2011 until its sale to NCR in 2021. She currently sits on the board of Billtrust, Inc. and is a member of YPO in both Dallas and Orange counties, where she is the membership chairman. Juli graduated with a BBA in Accounting from The University of Texas. Her career began at Arthur Andersen & Co. where she was a certified public accountant. Back to top

Jay Still

Jay P. Still founded Guidon Energy in 2016 as President, CEO and Chairman of the Board in partnership with Blackstone Energy Partners, one of the leading private equity investors in the energy space. The company built a significant acreage position in the core of the Midland Basin, one of the most prolific oil and gas fields in the world. Guidon was sold in February 2021 for more than double the capital invested. Swallowtail Royalties was formed in 2018 as a separate Blackstone investment and continues to operate with more than $50 million of cash flow in 2021 and is growing with no further investment required. The Guidon team assumed management of Waterfield Midstream Services, a company in the produced water management space, in 2020 and sold the company in 2021 for more than double capital invested. Previously, Jay was President and Chief Operating Officer and Board of Directors member of Laredo Petroleum. Prior to joining Laredo, he held various positions with Pioneer Natural Resources, most recently as Executive Vice President, Domestic Operations where he was responsible for assets in the Rockies, Alaska, Barnett Shale, West Panhandle, Mid-Continent and South Texas. His responsibilities also included Corporate Engineering, Eagle Ford Midstream and Sustainable Development. In 1995, Jay joined Pioneer's predecessor, Parker & Parsley Petroleum Company, and subsequently spent ten years with Mobil Corp. in multiple engineering and international business development positions. He currently serves on the boards of directors for several industry-related companies and nonprofit organizations and served as Chairman of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association. Jay holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University and graduated with a Reserve Duty Commission where he served for seven years in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Reserved Forces. He also has a Master's degree in Business Administration from Loyola University. Back to top

Joe Urso

Joe P. Urso purchased Electrolux North America in 1998 and transformed the company into what is now ActivePure Technologies, a science-driven company and industry leader in creating healthy, safe indoor environments. Joe led the development of ActivePure Technology, which initially was used exclusively by NASA in outer space. ActivePure Technology has been cleared by the FDA as a class 2 medical device, and is used in major hospitals, educational facilities, US military compounds, businesses and homes. It has demonstrated efficacy to reduce exposure to and transmission of infectious disease, reduce sick days and improve academic achievement. In many applications, ActivePure also reduces energy usage, thereby helping reduce carbon emissions. In his childhood, Joe lived in a public housing project in a multigenerational immigrant family. This indelibly influenced his personal mission to do all he can to lift and equalize opportunities for the disadvantaged. ActivePure has empowered him to do so. In June 2022, Joe was honored as an Entrepreneur Of The Year® national finalist. In August 2022, ActivePure Technologies was recognized on the Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America. Back to top