Events

Brian Luallen has more than 20 years of experience in destination tourism and

experiential events. His career has been dedicated to developing and delivering

impactful experiences for employees and guests, re-launching attractions, and

growing public-private partnerships including Stone Mountain Park in Atlanta

Georgia, The RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach, CA and the Witte Museum in San

Antonio,Tx.

Brian’s work transforming concepts into reality has been featured in Time

Magazine, The Wall Street Journal and numerous other national media outlets. He

holds degrees in education and pre-law from Georgia State University and enjoys

living in Dallas with his wife, Tina. 

Speaker: The Honorable Michael Williams
Program Title: The Soul of a Conservative
 

Michael Williams has served Texas and the nation in a remarkable and spirited public service career spanning more than 30 years that encompasses significant contributions, ranging from serving as a federal prosecutor with the Department of Justice to leading Texas state agencies, all while breaking racial barriers and providing insightful leadership and thoughtful perspective. 

Williams’ career has placed him squarely in the role of a number of groundbreaking firsts. He currently is the inauguralDistinguished Leader in Residence at the University of North Texas at Dallas. From 2012-2016, he served as the first blackcommissioner of the Texas Education Agency, overseeing pre-kindergarten through high school education for more than five million students. And from 1999 - 2011 Williams became the only Black American in Texas history to be elected to the Executive Branch of Texas state government as the Texas Railroad (Oil and Gas) Commissioner.

Williams’ service as TEA commissioner was one of many Governor Rick Perry appointments including his designee in 2005 tolead Texas ’ long-term relief efforts following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and echoed Williams' lead in dealing with the Texasresponse to the tragedy in Darfur.

After earning a Bachelor’s, Master’s and law degree from the University of Southern California, Williams returned to hishometown of Midland, Texas where he served as an assistant district attorney. Williams ’ particular talent for prosecutingand winning difficult cases led him to accept an assignment in Washington D.C. as a federal prosecutor at the U.S. Department of Justice, earning the Attorney General ’s Special Achievement Award for the conviction of six Ku Klux Klan members. Williams prosecuted the KKK cases under the protection of federal agents after receiving death threats.

President George H.W. Bush appointed Williams as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Law Enforcement at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where Williams exercised policy oversight responsibility for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Customs Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the Financial CrimesEnforcement Network.

In 1990, President George H.W. Bush named Williams the Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education. He established much of the DOE civil rights policy still in effect today regarding increased investigative resources to issues such as the overrepresentation of minority males in special education, the underrepresentation of females in advanced placement courses, racial harassment on college campuses, and the treatment oflimited-English proficient students.

In 1998, Governor George W. Bush appointed Williams to an unexpired term on the Railroad Commission of Texas, the oldest regulatory body in this state (and worst named state agency in American politics since it has nothing to do with railroads). The three-member commission oversees oil and gas regulation. Texans subsequently elected him to this position in 2000, 2002 and 2008. He became the first Black American in Texas history elected to a position in the Executive Branch of Texas Government.

Williams narrates short stories for children and is a past Honorary State Chairman of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Texas and chairman of the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission. Williams has followed in his parents’ professional educator footsteps as well, having served as an adjunct professor at Texas Southern University, the University of Texas at the Permian Basin, the Texas Wesleyan School of Law and now, the University of North Texas at Dallas.

Michael and Donna, have been married 35 years. 

Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) announces the appointment of Kenneth T. Novice as its President. Novice will begin his position on May 1, 2017 with an immediate plan of action to continue the work that David Hyslop, DSM’s Interim Managing Director, started last year of instilling stability and sustainability for the organization.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ken to Dallas as the next President of the Dallas Summer Musicals,” said Ted Munselle, DSM Board Chair. “His experience is the perfect blend of what DSM needs to continue to excel at what we do best, and to build upon our storied history as a leader in the Dallas arts community. Ken has an engaging personality, as well as a broad vision of where we can and should go as an organization. His ability to think outside of the box will help keep DSM relevant and exciting for future generations of arts patrons. We sincerely believe that Ken is the best person to take us forward into our next 77 years, continuing and expanding DSM’s great legacy, while ensuring DSM’s financial and artistic success in the future.”

The BackPage meetings are held every 4^th Tuesday of the month, unless that date conflicts with a major holiday in which case they are usually moved up one week, at the Park City Club. The contact is Jim Smith as the sponsoring Park City Club member.  Jim makes all the arrangements and will email the monthly RSVP notices to BackPage advertisers.  If you would like more specifics, or are interested in joining the BackPage please let Jim Smith know.

Patrick Walsh is a Senior Advisor in Oliver Wyman’s global Aerospace & Defense Services practice based in Dallas, TX., and a retired, four-star Admiral.  As the 59^th Vice Chief of Naval Operations, he served as a member of the Deputy Secretary of Defense-led Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC), and provided testimony to the House Armed Services Committee, Senate Armed Services Committee, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the Seapower Subcommittee on matters related to the Readiness, Manpower, and Acquisition accounts for the Department of the Navy.  He held significant leadership positions across a 34-year career to include command of US Pacific Fleet, the largest naval force in the world where he led the US military response to the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake, tsunami, and radiation release. 

Overview to Relevant Experience

He has Fortune 50 business leadership experience within Aerospace & Defense and Cybersecurity, leading P&Ls from small businesses to Original Equipment Manufacturers, and Defense Prime Contractors.

Enterprise Growth & Transformation

• Recruited to initiate business transformation, turnaround, and divestiture leadership experience within industrial manufacturing, government aviation and supply chain distribution.
• Successfully transformed a $1.3 billion-dollar defense services business from low-single-digit annual growth to a 3-year 33% CAGR

Operational Excellence

• Identified a $200M+ balance sheet issue as a result of ineffective warehouse inventory and investment management.  
• Retired this risk with accelerated cash generation and an aggressive working capital efficiency strategy. 
• Launched lean sigma resulting in a 15% reduction in supply chain / distribution operational expenses.
• Extensive experience with organized workforce containment strategy and implementation.

Prior to Oliver Wyman, Pat was Vice President of The Boeing Company, Global Services Navy Marine Corps Services business. Prior to Boeing, Pat was the Senior Vice President/General Manager at iSIGHT Partners, a FireEye Company, (NASDAQ: FEYE), and President, Strategic Programs, Academic Partnerships, LLC.  Pat has an extensive executive-level record of leadership and management of a multi-billion-dollar enterprise, as well as demonstrated performance in crisis action, conflict resolution, coalition building, and international diplomacy over the course of a career as a carrier-based, combat fighter pilot and former Slot Pilot for the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels. 

Pat has an established record of leadership in the public, private, and non-profit sectors.  He holds a Bachelor of Science from the US Naval Academy, a Master of Arts in Law & Diplomacy and Doctor of Philosophy from the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, Tufts University.  He was a White House Fellow assigned to the Office of Management & Budget during the Reagan and Bush administration.  Pat is the Chairman of the Board of Visitors, National Defense University, the Chairman of the Dallas Committee on Foreign Relations, and a Senior Fellow at Southern Methodist University.

The Club Board meets every 4th Wednesday immediately following the club meeting to review Club Business. 

The BackPage meetings are held every 4^th Tuesday of the month, unless that date conflicts with a major holiday in which case they are usually moved up one week, at the Park City Club. The contact is Jim Smith as the sponsoring Park City Club member.  Jim makes all the arrangements and will email the monthly RSVP notices to BackPage advertisers.  If you would like more specifics, or are interested in joining the BackPage please let Jim Smith know.

The Club Board meets every 4th Wednesday immediately following the club meeting to review Club Business. 

The DRCF Board of Trustees meets quarterly on the 1st of the month to review financial statements, investment reports and development reports. A Zoom code to join the meeting will be emailed to each board member in advance. All Club members are welcome to sit in, if you would like to join please email our chairman. Dennis Connally. 

The Club Board will meet the 3rd Wednesday in June, next Wednesday is Changing of the Guards. This will be President Jim's final Board Meeting immediately following the club meeting to review Club Business. 

The BackPage meetings are held every 4^th Tuesday of the month, unless that date conflicts with a major holiday in which case they are usually moved up one week, at the Park City Club.  The contact is Jim Smith as the sponsoring Park City Club member.  Jim makes all the arrangements and will email the monthly RSVP notices to BackPage advertisers.  If you would like more specifics, or are interested in joining the BackPage please let Jim Smith know.

The Club Board will meet every 4th Wednesday with the exception of November, December, and June immediately following the club meeting to review Club Business. All are welcome to attend by emailing for the zoom code.