Quality Texas Foundation
2019 – 2020 Board of Directors
Tommy Gonzalez – Chair of the Board
Tommy Gonzalez is the City Manager of El Paso, Texas, a position to which he was appointed in June 2014. Prior to working in El Paso, Mr. Gonzalez served as the City Manager for the City of Irving, Texas. He is certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and used Lean Six Sigma with the City of Irving to become the first city to use this system to identify process improvements that ultimately saved the city more than $74 million.
Mr. Gonzalez led his team in making history as the first municipality to win the Texas Award for Performance Excellence from the Quality Texas Foundation. Irving was named a 2012 recipient of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
Mr. Gonzalez is a member of the International Hispanic Group, Governing Texas Advisory Board and the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition Texas Advisory Committee. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after serving in the U.S. Army for 22 years.
Barrie Laing, Esq. – Vice Chair
Barrie Laing, President of Radiation Detection Company (“RDC”), Inc. since 1995 has led this founder based niche company to prominence in the radiation safety community with significant domestic and international business.
He has over twenty years of practicing law where he represented business and non-profit organizations both locally and nationally.
Barrie is active within the community and currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for multiple non-profit organizations both locally and globally.
Kirk Kriegel – Secretary
Kirk and his wife, Laurie, have been married for 38 years and have two married children and one grandson, two granddaughters. He is a native of Austin and has served for over 27 years as an Executive Pastor for churches in Florida, Oklahoma, and Texas and is currently the Executive Vice President at Children At Heart Ministries in Round Rock. (It is a family of four direct-care ministries) – www.childrenatheartministies.org.
He is also an adjunct professor at Concordia University in Austin teaching various leadership classes.
He has served on numerous teams and as a Team Lead for the Quality of Texas Foundation TAPE Award and is Chair of the Board and as a Subject Matter Expert for the Williamson County Institute of Excellence for Non-Profits.
Kirk has a BBA in Management from Baylor University in Waco and a Masters of Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth.
Kevin Lyons – Treasurer
Kevin Lyons is president of Shop LC, an electronic retailer of Jewelry and Fashion products based in Austin. Kevin joined Shop LC in February of 2016.
He leads the US business, which is a subsidiary of VGL Global, and in Austin leads the 24/7 365 Live TV Broadcast, Ecommerce, Call Center, Warehouse and all business support functions. He also serves on the Global Management Committee for VGL.
Kevin has served in the retail industry for 23 years in high profile positions with global brands such as Best Buy, Sears Holdings and hhgregg. He has also owned his own consulting practice in the retail innovation space and served as advisor for Gerson Lehrman Group and Guidepoint Global. Kevin also holds several patents in the digital retail space.
Dr. Ron Swain – Chaplain
Dr. Ron Swain is a servant-leader and social entrepreneur, who formed Swain Consulting Services, LLC (SCS) in 2013 after a forty-plus year career in higher education administration.
SCS’s mission is to facilitate individual’s development to achieve their maximum potential and to lead organizations and systems toward performance excellence and to do so with human compassion.
Dr. Swain is Past Board Chair for The Williamson County Institute for Excellence in Nonprofits, Inc.
Chris Connealy – Member
Chris has been in the fire service for 41 years. He started with the Houston Fire Department (HFD) in 1978 and promoted through the ranks to fire chief over a 26-year career before retiring. He was appointed fire chief of the Cedar Park Fire Department in 2004 and served 8 years. In 2012, Chris was appointed as the State Fire Marshal of Texas in 2012 and served six years. In July 2018, he was appointed as Senior Director of Emergency Services in Williamson County.
Chris led the Houston Fire Department to be the world’s largest accredited fire department and the nation’s largest Insurance Services Office (ISO) Class 1 city. He implemented strategic planning in HFD and worked with HFD Medical Director Dr. David Persse to implement the paramedic squad program, thus allowing Cedar Park to became an ISO Class 1 city and implemented various programs to improve the fire department.
As State Fire Marshal, he led improvements in fire investigations that are recognized as a national best practice and worked to minimize future risks that lead to the West Fertilizer plant explosion in 2013. Through those efforts, Chris was named a Public Official of the Year by Governing magazine in 2014 and accepted a Hall of Fame award from the National Association of State Fire Marshals.
He is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program, accredited as a Chief Fire Officer by the Center of Public Safety Excellence, master’s degree from Grand Canyon University, and completed the Harvard University State and Local Executive Program. Chris is passionate about public service and his family.
Dale Crownover – Member
Dale Crownover is the President and CEO of Texas Nameplate. Texas Nameplate received the Texas Award for Performance Excellence in 1996.
They received the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 1998 and again in 2004. He has served as the Board Chair of the Quality Texas Foundation twice and as a Judge for the national Baldrige Program.
Dale has also received the prestigious honor of being named a Quality Texas Foundation Fellow and Board Emeritus.
Dr. Ken Davis – Member
Dr. Ken Davis is the Chief Medical Officer for CHRISTUS Health South Texas Region serving South Texas San Antonio and Corpus Christi Region with 11 hospitals, 3 ambulatory surgery centers and a Medicare Accountable Health Organization (ACO).
Dr. Davis is a two-time national Baldrige Recipient with North Mississippi Medical Center in 2006 and again in 2012. He was also heavily involved in the 2014 QTF Award for San Antonio Methodist Healthcare.
He just finished a three-year tour as a member of the Panel of Judges for the National Malcolm Baldrige Program.
Susan Jadlowski – Member
Susan Jadlowski, MSN senior healthcare clinician and leader, currently serves as an Advising Collaborator at Healthcare Advisory Collaborative (HAC). Prior to joining HAC, Susan served as Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer at Memorial Hermann’s Greater Heights Hospital a 260-bed acute care hospital for four and a half years. Susan led the MH Greater Heights Journey to Excellence Always, resulting in many prestigious honors for the hospital ranging from a #4 ranking among Houston hospitals by US News & World Report, Truven Top 50 Cardiovascular hospital, Magnet Recognition in 2017, and an “A” grade for Patient Safety from Leap Frog six times. Earning 2016 AHA honors, Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital was recognized as the finalist for the American Hospital Association-McKesson Quest for Quality Prize for leadership and innovation in quality improvement and safety. Susan has served over 14 years in the C-Suite including CEO, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer.
Susan is an executive consultant and coach and holds a Master of Science in Nursing. She has extensive experience leading strategic, operational and financial turnarounds focused on evidence-based measurable improvement, marketing for growth, engaging executives and physicians in broad-scope and multispecialty clinical improvement and leading the execution of broad rebranding and expansion efforts.
Dr. Adena Loston – Member
Dr. Adena Loston is the President and Chief Executive Officer of St. Philip’s College. She is responsible for providing strategic leadership, developing collaborative partnerships, implementing a performance budgeting model, implementing district priorities, and establishing and maintaining institutional effectiveness measures with an operating budget over $60M and $20M in grant funds; over 13,000 credit students, over 3,000 dual credit students; 4 Early College High Schools, and 3 military installations and over 700 full-time employees.
Manuel E. Maldonado Cotto – Member
Professor Manuel E. Maldonado Cotto is the Founder, President and CEO of Intelligence Forecasting, Corp located in San Juan, Puerto Rico since 2006.
He is responsible for market research, intelligence research, symbolic analysis along with training and development, change management, organizational development. He has taught for the University of Phoenix and the University of the Sacred Heart. He also serves as a Director on the Board for Leonardo’s.
Alejandro (Alex) Meade – Member
Alex Meade was appointed as the City Manager of Pharr in December 2018. Prior to joining the City of Pharr, he was CEO of the Mission Economic Development Corporation where he served in that capacity since August 2011.
Mr. Meade, a Brownsville native, was recently appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to the Texas State Technical College System Board of Regents and was previously appointed by Governor Abbott to the Texas Economic Development Corporation. He has also previously appointed by then Governor Rick Perry to the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation, the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, and the Governor’s Advisory Board of Economic Development Stakeholders.
Pedro Luis Meléndez Rosario – Member
Mr. Pedro Luis Meléndez Rosario is the Chief Executive Officer of the Mennonite Health System (SSM for its acronym in Spanish), the only nonprofit health services corporation that reinvests 100% of its profits in the Puerto Rican community, founded 75 years ago under a strong Christian faith basis.
With over 35 years of professional experience, Mr. Melélendez Rosario is a recognized and respected figure in Puerto Rico’s health industry, where he has occupied important executive positions, ensuring that under his leadership, organizations have a strong operational, financial and clinical structure to meet the needs of the patients, their families and communities.
Richard McDonald – Member
Richard McDonald is the Vice President of Finance at Santanna Energy Services. Previously the company’s Controller, a position he held since July 2009, Mr. McDonald served as the Accounting Manager for Santanna. He currently oversees and leads the company’s financial vision and performance excellence program.
Mr. McDonald holds a BBA in Accounting and is currently pursuing his MBA.
Jim Parisi – Member
Jim Parisi is the President of CHI St. Luke’s Woodlands and Lakeside Hospitals as well as the Springwoods Village facility. Jim has held a variety of positions increasing in responsibility and scope in various healthcare organizations. Most recently, he served as Chief Executive Officer for Memorial Hermann Health System’s Katy Hospital.
Under Jim’s leadership, the hospital received the Quality Texas Foundation’s 2017 Award for Performance Excellence and attained a top two percent patient safety score from Truven. Further, the facility was one of only 72 hospitals in the United States to achieve Leapfrog Straight A’s since 2012 and was named on Becker’s Top 49 Hospitals.
Jim has also serves on numerous national, state and local boards and professional organizations.
Tony Passamano – Member
Tony T. Passamano is a Director of Quality and Mission Success efforts for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.
He has over 25 years’ experience in planning and implementing strategic Quality Assurance objectives and has been recognized by multiple US Army Customers (Patriot Lower Tier Project Office, Aviation and Missiles Research Development and Engineering Directorate, Aviation and Missile Command) as a results-oriented, strategic and tactical Quality leader.
He has an Associates of Applied Science in Avionics & Aircraft Electrical System from the US Air Force University and has a BLS degree from the University of Oklahoma.
Christopher Shutts – Member
Christopher Shutts serves as the Vice President Value-Based Health Care Improvement Implementation for Baylor Scott & White Health in Dallas, Texas.
In this role, he oversees the delivery of process improvement methodologies such as Lean, Six-Sigma, and Kaizen, leads and facilitates performance improvement teams at the hospital and corporate, and is responsible for improvement training program growth, development, and coordination of consulting services to entities outside of BSWH.
He is a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt, and holds Lean certification from the Juran Institute. He is a TeamSTEPPS Master Trainer for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and is a graduate of the 20-day Advance Training Program through Intermountain Healthcare.
Dr. Cade Smith – Member
Cade Smith serves as the Superintendent of Schools for the Brock Independent School District. Prior to his role as superintendent, Mr. Smith has held various leadership roles in public education including executive director, high school principal, campus administrator, teacher, and coach. Most recently, Mr. Smith was awarded the Educational Administration Award by the American Association of School Administrators.
Mr. Smith is a member of the Texas Association of School Administrators, serves as an examiner for the Quality Texas Foundation, and received his Ph.D. in School Improvement from Texas State University.
Eric Stockton – Member
Eric Stockton is the Building Services Officer for the City of Austin. He is responsible for Facilities Management to include a Strategic Facilities Assessment reported to the City Council.
He has been a major supporter of QTF with many Examiners coming from his office and he has been an Examiner and Team Leader for QTF as well. His office will receive the Progress Recipient Recognition this year (2017). He has a BA and MPA from the University of Texas.
Wes Tidwell – Member
Wes Tidwell is a Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Ascension Healthcare Texas/Seton Family of Hospitals. He is responsible for strategy development and operational oversight for all aspects of healthcare delivery at Seton Medical Center Williamson, in Round Rock, TX.
Wes has more than 10 years of experience in health care leadership. Prior to joining the Seton Family, he served as the Chief Operating Officer for Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital in Houston. He is a motivational change leader with proven ability to lead teams in achieving operational targets, improving clinical indicators and enhancing overall performance.
Wes holds an MBA, MHA, is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and is board certified in health care management. He currently serves as a member of Texas Hospital Association’s Council on Policy Development.
Rob Tortorice – Member
Rob Tortorice worked for Jason’s Deli from busboy, dishwasher, delivery driver, and line employee to become sequentially an Assistant Store Manager, Regional Manager, Chairman of the Executive Committee, Chief Operating Officer, and finally the President and Chief Operating Officer from 2000 to 2016
In 2016, Rob started his own commercial real estate development corporation, Tortorice Realty Group and where he serves as the President. Rob was a member of the QTF Board from 2014-2016 and QTF is honored to have him back.
Cary Westin – Member
Cary Westin is the Deputy City Manager of the City of El Paso specifically focused on Economic Development and Tourism.
Cary is a retired Army Colonel with over 30 years of military, private sector and municipal government leadership experience developing business, building teams, managing resources and directing large, complex projects to successful completion.
He has special expertise in strategic planning and organizational execution. Cary has a BA from the Virginia Military Institute and a MSS from the US Army War College.
Liz Youngblood – Member
Liz serves as the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the Texas Division of CommonSpirit Health, the largest not for profit health system in the US. She ensures the effective and efficient operations of the 17 hospitals and multiple outpatient cares sites within the Texas Division. Liz has an extensive healthcare background having worked with Baylor Scott & White Health and most recently with the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She is a registered nurse and has an MBA from Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business. Liz has been involved with the Quality Texas Foundation for over 12 years. She has been an examiner and was the team lead for the first health care recipient of the Texas Governor’s Award for Performance Excellence. She has also been a member of the Board of Overseers and has served as the QTF Chair of the Board of Directors.
Dr. Mac McGuire – Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Mac McGuire served over 30 years in the United States Army and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel commanding a high priority unit as a Company Commander, commanded two battalions – one combat and one academic.
He also was the principal staff officer and writer for the 2000 Chief of Staff, Army Communities of Excellence Gold Award (international competition; highest Army Award) for the Texas National Guard. He served as the Total Quality Coordinator for the Texas National Guard from (1995-2000) for over 25,000 troops in 117 Texas cities.
Dr. Mac has also been an adjunct professor at the University of Texas, Austin, the University of Mary Hardin Baylor, one semester at Southern Methodist University and lectured at Texas A&M and Texas State in leadership focused classes.
He has been associated with Quality Texas from the early days serving as a military ombudsman to the Governor’s office from 1990-1993. He has served in multiple position for QTF including as a Board Member and Lead Judge for QTF. He began his full-time tenure as the CEO of the Quality Texas Foundation in October 2014 leading QTF to explosive growth the recognition of being one of the best state programs in the nation. All training conducted/facilitated by Dr. Mac has received 99% satisfaction or higher on training for over 4 years.
Dr. Mac is also a Master Examiner for the National Baldrige Program, and he has three books to his credit. He has been a part of the Greater Austin Quality Award, the Army Communities of Excellence Program, Executive Director of the University of Texas Performance Improvement Program, and the national Baldrige Program.