Gay Warren Gaddis is president and CEO of T3 (The Think Tank). She started her company in 1989 with a cashed in IRA and two employees. Today, T3 is the largest independent advertising agency wholly-owned by a woman in the country, with offices in Austin, New York and San Francisco, over $200 million in capitalized billings, and a staff of 200. Organized as a marketing and creative think tank, T3 works with clients including Dell, Marriott, JCPenney, Chase Card Services, UPS, MSN, John Deere, Universal, Ingenix and MTV.
Her dynamic business acumen and corporate culture has led to national recognition. She has been recognized as one of Fast Company's "Top 25 Women Business Builders," Inc. magazine's "Top 10 Entrepreneurs of the Year" and 25 Advertising Working Mothers of the Year by Working Mother magazine. T3's family-friendly workplace programs have been recognized by the White House, NBC's Today Show, The New York Times and most recently in the May issue of Fortune Small Business.
Gay is an active industry spokesperson and entrepreneurial advocate. She is a business mentor for Count-Me-In's Make Mine a $Million Business™ program, a columnist for iMedia Communications, Inc., an interactive media and marketing trade publisher, and recently participated in the Global Businesswomen and Leaders Forum in Dubai, the New York Times Small Business Summit and the ad:tech Chicago Conference. In addition, she's a member of the Texas Governor's Business Council's executive board, the Advertising Women of New York (AWNY) and the Committee of 200 (C200).
Donald Zale is Chairman of Capitol Entertainment entities, a Franchisee of BLOCKBUSTER Entertainment Corporation, Atlantic Coast Tan, the initial franchisee of Palm Beach Tan, and President of NewCourse Capital, Inc. a private investment firm he established after leaving Zale Corporation where he served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. He was associated with Zale Corporation and the retail trade for 35 years. Mr. Zale was born in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1933.
He attended Texas A&M University in 1951-52-53 and received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University in 1954. After graduation, he joined Zale Corporation at its Denver location until 1956 and then returned to its general offices in Dallas. He was responsible for the company's initial computer installation in 1957 and the company’s extensive consumer credit program.
During his tenure he directed numerous acquisitions of retail businesses and was responsible for the company's strategic direction. Zale served in various capacities as Controller, Treasurer, Executive Vice President, President and CEO and Chairman and CEO until the company was sold in 1986.
After leaving Zale Corporation he has devoted his time to the establishment and successful operation of Zale Lipshy University Hospital, a referral facility connected with The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. He also worked closely with the Southwestern Medical Foundation in establishing their basic strategic investment policy. Capitol Entertainment was formerly the largest franchisee of Blockbuster Entertainment, and Atlantic Coast Tan is opening upscale tanning salons in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.
Mr. Zale's civic associations include Chairman of the M.B. & Edna Zale Foundation and the Abe Zale Foundation. He is also a board member of Children's Medical Center Foundation, Southwestern Medical Foundation, Zale Lipshy University Hospital, the H.L. & Ruth Ray Hunt Foundation and the Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians Foundation. Mr. Zale is past Board Chairman of the Zale Lipshy University Hospital. He received an honorary Doctor of Letters Degree from Texas A&M in December, 2003.
Mr. Zale resides in the Dallas area with his wife, Barbara. They are parents of three children - Barry, Julie Zale Tobolowsky and Dana Zale Gerard, and the grandparents of thirteen.
Kenny Kan is known to his family and in his expertise as a valued and committed businessperson. As a native of Malaysia, Mr. Kan put down roots at The University of Texas at Austin. Graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts during the 1970's, Kan took advantage of every opportunity after graduation. He knew entrepreneurial experience is the right key to success.
His best work has been said to be the result of working in and out of China for the last 30 years with prestigious companies. Kan has had the privilege to work with Setsco, Valero, Halliburton, ABB, Input/Output, Kerr McGee, Western Geophysical, China National Petroleum Company, China Southern Airlines, and many more. Currently, Mr. Kan is pursuing an opportunity with China Haier Group, the world’s 4th largest whitegoods manufacturer and one of China’s Top 100 IT Companies, working on a projects valued in the billions.
Nick is an Associate in the Corporate/Securities section in Andrews Kurth’s Austin office. His practice focuses on a wide range of general corporate and transactional matters, primarily in the context of venture capital financings, public and private offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance.