Outstanding Alumni

Every year the Department of Management is honored to recognize one of its former graduates as Alumni of the Year. The honorees are chosen because of their record of distinction in the business community, to the University of North Texas and to the community of North Central Texas. The award winners, listed below, set an example of excellence that current university students can aspire to, and, we couldn’t be more grateful for their contributions or proud to call them Department of Management alumni.

“We are proud of the success our former students have attained in their careers and service to their communities.”
Vicki Goodwin, Department Chair

Outstanding Alumni Award Recipients:


 

David Roylance 2012 Outstanding Alumnus

David Roylance graduated from University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1985.  Today, David, his wife Deborah and their two daughters reside in Houston, Texas.  Since earning his degree at UNT, David has focused his professional efforts toward the efficient transition of central-organized markets to competition.   He has established a distinguished track record in International and Domestic energy markets as they migrated from central planning to competitive market structures.  

David is co-founder and President of Cavallo Energy Texas, a wholesale power and retail services company.   He also co-founded and is Managing Director of Prism Energy Solutions, a strategic sourcing and energy risk management consultancy firm based in Houston.  

David brings over 25 years of oil & gas, electricity and commodity risk management knowledge to the entrepreneurial phase of his career.   Prior to co-founding his two companies, David established a proven track record of delivering innovative solutions to energy producers and consumers in Europe and the United States.   David joined Reliant Energy in 1998, where as Senior Vice President, he led their commercial and industrial sales and marketing division. He also served in several other capacities with Reliant, including Natural Gas Trading, and helped establish a European sales and marketing presence. Upon graduation from UNT, David joined ConocoPhillips in New Orleans as part of Conoco’s finance and administration discipline, before transferring to Conoco’s worldwide headquarters in Houston in 1989.  Over his 11+ years with Conoco, David held positions of increasing commercial and management responsibility in their domestic and international units. 

Beyond his energy career, David is an active community volunteer and is Board Chair for Children at Risk, a high impact nonprofit advocacy organization that seeks to improve the quality of life for children across Texas through strategic research, public policy analysis, community education, cross-sector collaboration and data-driven advocacy.

 

Denny Iker 2011 Outstanding Alumnus

Denny Iker, a 1968 graduate of UNT with a BBA, is a Senior Human Resources Executive with global experience in manufacturing and financial services. He currently serves as Principal at the Yi Consulting firm, where he provides consulting services in a variety of Human Resources and Strategic Planning areas.

Prior to his work with Yi Consulting, Denny served in a number of capacities. Most recently, he was Sr. Vice President of Human Resources with Celanese Chemicals. He spent 32 years with General Electric in such capacities as VP & Manager of Employee Relations, VP of Human Resources for GE Railcar Leasing, and Director of Human Resources for GE Financial Services Asia. Prior to his work with GE, Denny also worked in human resources with Phillips Petroleum and the Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America.

Denny and his wife, Linda, (also a UNT graduate) are semi-retired and enjoy a wide range of activities, including hunting and clay-bird shooting.

 

Dr. Warren H. Chaney 2009 Outstanding Alumnus

Dr. Warren H. Chaney has served as the Chief Executive Officer for Mind Technologies since 2005 and is the developer and creator of Mind Tech’s Mind Dynamic technologies.  A former management consultant for many of the nation’s largest corporate entities and organizations, Chaney has written numerous books, screenplays, theatrical dramas, professional and non-professional journal articles, entries for Colliers Encyclopedia, television and theatrical productions, and countless independent research studies.  Chaney’s film and television work has garnered many awards, including those for best writer and director.

Chaney’s work in memory and the mind’s ability to process information extends over three decades during which thousands of students from all ages and occupations were trained.  His continuing study and research led to the current publication, Dynamic Mind, and its accompanying workbook, which has received critical acclaim from professionals and nonprofessionals alike.  Chaney is considered the leader in the field for ABS (Audio-Brain-Stimulation) and his latest work, The Sound of Thought, has been commended for breaking new ground in the arena of cognitive development.

Dr. Chaney originally hails from Kentucky and has a Ph.D. in Management from the University of North Texas, an MBA with a concentration in Finance from St. Mary’s University, and a bachelors degree with a double major in marketing and Speech/Theater from Austin Peay University.  Chaney and his wife, Deborah Winters Chaney, have five children and currently reside in Houston, Texas.

 

Melanie M. Pizzey, C.P.M. 2008 Outstanding Alumnus

Melanie M. Pizzey, C.P.M. is Vice President, Global Product Operations for TTI, Inc.  TTI is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, TTI, Inc. is the world’s leading authorized distributor specialist of passive, connector, electromechanical and discrete components. TTI’s extensive product line and supply chain solutions have made the company the distributor of choice for industrial, military, aerospace and consumer electronic manufacturers worldwide. 

Melanie has a BBA in Administrative Management from the University of North Texas.  She joined TTI in 1986, and has held various positions including Management Trainee, Buyer, Product Manager, Director of Product Marketing, Vice President of Product Marketing and Vice President of Product Operations. 

In 2002 she was promoted to Vice President, Global Product Operations.  In her current position, she has global responsibility for asset management, supplier systems and reporting, supplier logistics, purchasing procedures, training and inventory systems management.  She is a member of NEDA (National Electronics Distributors Association) and the Chairperson for the NEDA Passive Components Roundtable.  Melanie was recognized with the Distinguished Service Award for NEDA in October, 2004.

Melanie is a Certified Purchasing Manager, and she is also a member of APICS (The Association for Operations Management).  Melanie currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Department of Management, CoB at the University of North Texas.

Melanie is married and has two children.

 

Fred La Vail, 2007 Outstanding Alumnus

Fred La Vail

Fred Stevens La Vail, C.P.M., A.P.P., President of Matt M. La Vail, Inc., is a 1968 graduate of the University of North Texas. He is a second generation OEM manufacturer of communications buildings, enclosures and support apparatus and general contractor for the telecommunications industry at the local, state and U.S. governmental levels. He began his career in purchasing in 1970 as a buyer, first for Gilbert X-Ray, then for Media Associates until 1974. He then joined Harris Corporation, where he moved through the organization, ultimately holding the position of Purchasing Manager for Harris Web Press and Harris Commercial Press Divisions until 1980.

In 1974, La Vail became actively involved in the National Association of Purchasing Management (N.A.P.M.) in Dallas, where he has served in many leadership positions, including President. He has received numerous awards for his efforts, including the Hubert Fuller Award as Outstanding Member in 1990; the Presidential Citation by the Institute for Supply Management National Office in 1999 for his contributions to the local and Forum memberships; and the Harold M. Cosgrove Award in 2004 by the Institute for Supply Management Southwest Forum as outstanding member for his contributions to his profession and to the membership throughout the five-state area.

La Vail currently serves as Chairman of Employment Services for both the Institute for Supply Management-Dallas and the Institute for Supply Management-Southwest Forum. In this role, he facilitates the distribution of information on employment opportunities, aiding individuals to find employment in supply management. La Vail also shares his expertise and experiences in business and supply chain management with students by speaking at universities, including UNT, and local area high schools.

Fred’s wife, Sharie, is a 1967 graduate of UNT and they have two daughters, Elizabeth and Kerri.