DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) North Texas, the advocate for the profession of directorship, today announced its new officers and board members for the 2017 - 2018 calendar year.
Maribess Miller will now serve as Chair for NACD North Texas. In addition, Miller currently serves on three corporate boards including Zix Corporation, Midmark Corporation, and Triumph Bancorp. From 1984 to 2009 Miller was a partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she worked with clients in the healthcare, energy, technology, and consumer and industrial products industries.
“Miller was a clear choice for Chair of NACD North Texas,” said Rhys Best, NACD North Texas Chapter Chair. “Her background offers extensive expertise on issues affecting business leaders around the globe and her corporate leadership experience will guide our chapter by sharpening the governance skills of our members.”
Rhys Best, NACD Director of the Year in 2014, will serve as Past Chair of NACD North Texas Chapter. Best brings to this appointment vast experience in corporate leadership and governance as Chairman of the Board of MRC Global, the largest distributor of pipe, valves, and fitting products to the energy and industrial markets. Best also currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Austin Industries, a leading commercial construction and industrial services company. He also holds board positions with Cabot Oil and Gas, Commercial Metals Company, and Trinity Industries.
Rich Howell will now serve as Vice Chair for NACD North Texas. In addition, Howell has extensive experience in corporate governance and with public company reporting, SEC filings, auditing, internal controls and risk management. Howell served as an Audit Partner for 28 years of his 37 year career with Arthur Andersen LLP. Currently, he is a trustee for LKCM Funds and on the Board of Directors of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. and serves as Chair of the Audit Committees of each entity.
Other officers include Billie Williamson serving as treasurer, and Todd Murray serving as secretary.
Billie Williamson served as a Senior Assurance Partner and the Americas Inclusiveness Officer of Ernst & Young LLP until her retirement at the end of 2011. She began her career at Ernst & Young LLP in 1974 and became a partner in 1984. She then left to become CFO of AMX Corp. in Dallas where she led the Company’s successful IPO and subsequently became Senior Vice President, Finance of Marriott International, Inc. in Washington, D.C. She rejoined Ernst & Young in 1998 in EY’s Center for Strategic Transactions.
Williamson now serves on the Board of Directors of Pentair Ltd, CSRA, Inc. and Energy Future Holdings Corporation. She formerly served on the Board of Directors of Annie’s, Inc., Exelis, Inc. and Janus Capital Group until their respective sales.
Williamson graduated with highest honors from Southern Methodist University with a Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting and is a licensed CPA in the State of Texas.
Todd Murray focuses his practice on securities litigation, director and officer fiduciary duty and corporate governance disputes, litigation involving complex accounting and financial issues, and energy-related matters. His clients are located throughout Texas and the U.S., and comprise a wide variety of business types, sizes and industries. Murray has argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, served as lead and secondary trial counsel in numerous cases, and has represented his clients in all aspects of complex business litigation in federal, state and county courts.
New board members this year include Renee Arrington, Pearson Partners International, Inc.; Don Robillard, Jr., CEO & Chairman, ES Xplore, LLC; Marsha Cameron, Co-Founder, Paradox; Sue Fish, Managing Director, JFO Group; Selena LaCroix, Global Semiconductor Practice Leader, Egon Zehnder; Mark Sinclair, Partner, Whitley Penn, LLP.
Additional board members include: Alan Bell; Margot Lebenberg Carter; Bella Goren; Lou Grabowsky; Kathy Harless; Ray Hemmig; Craig Jimenez; Yon Jorden; David J. Keller, CPA; Mark King; Mark Lancaster; Sandra Beach Lin; Carter Pate; Pat Priest; Jim Skinner; Peggy Vaughan.
“Our North Texas chapter is made up of experienced directors who are or have been business leaders in the Dallas market, providing experience that makes us a better chapter as a whole,” said Maribess Miller, Vice Chair, NACD North Texas. “The NACD North Texas 2017-2018 officers and board members will bring invaluable knowledge to our members and program guests alike.”
This year, NACD North Texas will host 12 monthly luncheon programs from September 2017 through May 2018 in Dallas and Fort Worth. The North Texas chapter is one of 22 chapters of the NACD, and has seen membership increase more than approximately 8-10 percent per year. For 10+ years, the chapter has been serving members with high-quality educational programs, events and networking opportunities. www.nacdntx.org