McCombs Graduates Shine at Longhorn 100

Their businesses fill the top 10 and 46 slots overall in the Texas Exes awards

Businesses run by graduates of the McCombs School of Business took nine of the top 10 places, as well as the President’s Impact Award, at the Texas Exes’ Longhorn 100 Gala on May 2. Overall, McCombs alumni were involved in 46 of the 100 award-winning companies and firms, making it the most represented school on the list.

“Year after year, McCombs graduates show why our school remains at the forefront of business education,” Dean Lillian Mills said. “I’m incredibly proud to see our alumni dominate this year’s Longhorn 100 results. These awards showcase our community’s collective impact on innovation and growth.”

The No. 1 business was REV GUM, which makes a caffeinated, sugar-free gum. The Longhorn-rich company includes founder and CEO Blake Settle, B.S.A. ’19; head of supply chain Matthew Jernigan, BBA ’20; and head of sales Hannah Shebat, BBA ’18. Two of the company’s co-founders are Reed Burch, BBA ’19, and Sam Ehlinger, BBA ’20.

Two other notable top businesses were No. 4 BeatBox Beverages and No. 8 Direct Digital Holdings. Both have finished in the top 10 during all three years of the awards. “The Longhorn 100 is a powerful showcase of the entrepreneurial spirit at UT Austin. It’s proving, yet again, that what starts here changes the world,” Mills said.

The alumni association presents the awards to recognize the fastest-growing businesses founded, led, or owned by Longhorns. Chet Garner, host of “The Daytripper” TV show, was the master of ceremonies at this year’s festivities, with the help of outgoing Texas Exes CEO Chuck Harris.

“This was only the third year of the Longhorn 100, which was really built by my predecessor, Chuck Harris,” said Robert W. Jones, BBA ’87, the new CEO of the Texas Exes. “There is nowhere to go but up with this event — the number of thriving Longhorn businesses continues to grow, and we look forward to celebrating them for decades to come.”

Another Longhorn-rich company is Siete Foods, the winner of the  President’s Impact Award, which recognizes a Longhorn business that has had a lasting impact on an industry, community, or the society at large.

The family business was launched by Veronica Garza, B.A. ’03; brother Miguel Garza, BBA ’09, J.D. ’12; and their mother, Aida Garza. It quickly expanded, and other family members — including father Bobby Garza, BBA ’76, and sisters Linda Garza, B.J. ’97, and Rebecca Garza Cuellar, B.S. ’06, M.A. ’08 — joined the team. The company makes nontraditional versions of Mexican and Mexican American foods.

The full list of winners can be found on the Texas Exes website here.

McCombs 2025 Longhorn 100 Winners

1. REV GUM

Matthew Jernigan, BBA ’20

Head of Supply Chain

Hannah Shebat, BBA ’18

Head of Sales

Reed Burch, BBA ’19

Co-Founder

Sam Ehlinger, BBA ’20

Co-Founder

Austin – Food and Beverage Products

2024 Returning Winner Top 10

2. Alafair Biosciences Inc.

John Joyoprayitno, B.A. ’02, MSTC ’13

Co-Founder, CEO, and President

Bhushan Holay, MBA ’13

CFO

Austin – Health Care

3. Water Lens

Keith Cole, BBA ’88

Founder and CEO

Houston – Energy and Environment

4. BeatBox Beverages

Justin Fenchel, MBA ’13

Co-Founder and CEO

Aimy Steadman, B.S. ’08, MBA ’13

Co-Founder and COO

Austin – Food and Beverage Products

2024 Returning Winner Top 10

5. Best Case Leads

Fadi Halim Agour, BBA ’99

Founder, CEO

Houston – Legal Services

6. Bucket List Events

Brian Peters, BBA ’21

Co-Founder

The Hills – Travel and Lodging

2024 Returning Winner

8. Direct Digital Holdings

Diana Diaz, BBA ’85

CFO

Houston – Science and Technology

2024 Returning Winner Top 10

9. Strategar

Yareli Esteban, BBA ’99

CEO and President

Dallas – Marketing and Advertising

2024 Returning Winner

10. Mainstream Medical Devices

Dana Wilcox, MSTC ’03

CEO

Austin – Manufacturing

12. MALK Organics

Jason Bronstad, BBA ’02

CEO

Austin – Food and Beverage Products

13. RiverCity Cabinets

Jeremy Johnson, MBA ’12

President

Buda – Construction, Home Improvement, and Structure

2024 Returning Winner

15. Covenant Underwriters

Wesley Murray, BBA ’14

Co-Founder, COO

Houston – Insurance

16. WildFire Energy

Drew Cozby, BBA ’89

CFO

Houston – Energy and Environment

18. CloudServus

Steve Painter, BBA ’90, MBA ’91

CFO

Austin – Information Technology

2024 Returning Winner Top 10

20. Alto

Will Coleman, BBA ’07

Co-Founder, CEO

Dallas – Transportation and Delivery Services

22. Hamperapp

Jorge Rodriguez, MBA ’23

CEO

Miami – Other

24. Texas Standard

Drew Bagot, BBA ’08

CEO

Austin – Retail and Shopping

2024 Returning Winner

25. MangoChango

Rene Larrave, MBA ’87

Founder, Chairman

Dallas – Information Technology

31. Page

Thomas McCarthy, BBA ’88

CEO

Washington, D.C. – Architecture, Interior Design, and Planning

2024 Returning Winner

34. BB Imaging

Blanca Lesmes, MBA ’11

Co-Founder and CEO

Austin – Health Care

2024 Returning Winner

45. Tempjacket

Brendan Crouch, MSTC ’24

Co-Founder and President

Austin – Manufacturing

49. IRSProb.com

Randell Martin, BBA ’97

Managing Director

Dallas – Business and Professional Services

53. Bridge Insights & Media

Carrie Stein, BBA ’95

Co-CEO

Austin – Marketing and Advertising

58. LeMel

Melanie Fitzpatrick, BBA ’08

Co-Founder

Houston – Retail and Shopping

2024 Returning Winner

63. Antone’s Nightclub

William Bridges, MBA ’11

Co-Founder, President, Operator

Austin – Arts, Culture, and Entertainment

64. Brandy Perryman Shooting Camp

Amanda Elena Cobarruvias Perryman, BBA ’99

Co-Owner

Austin – Sports and Recreation

65. MaxPar Group Holdings

Gregory Busch, BBA ’92

Owner

Chesterfield, Missouri – Health care

2024 Returning Winner

66. Pachamama Coffee

Thaleon Tremain, MBA ’00

CEO

Sacramento, California – Food and Beverage Products

67. Elixirr Consulting

Eric Rich, BBA ’92

Partner

Frisco – Business and Professional Services

2024 Returning Winner

68. Maestro Integrations

John Cerda, MSTC ’03

CEO

Austin – Communications and Telecomms

2024 Returning Winner

74. Abilitie

Bjorn Billhardt, BBA/B.A. ’97

Founder and CEO

Austin – Education, Training, Consulting

2024 Returning Winner

76. Cambridge Caregivers

Adam Lampert, BBA/B.A. ’88

Founder, CEO

Dallas – Health Care

80. Austin Wealth Management

Kevin Smith, BBA ’04

Managing Partner

Austin – Banking and Finance

2024 Returning Winner

81. North Texas Real Estate Information Systems

John Robert Pharr, BBA ’72

CFO

Dallas – Information Technology

82. Mixtape marketing

Ben Steckbeck, BBA ’00

Co-Founder

Austin – Marketing and Advertising

87. Coyle Capital

Brandon White, BBA ’02, MBA ’13

President

Lakeway – Banking and Finance

88. Ticket City

Randy Cohen, BBA ’87

Founder

Clark Kothlow, BBA ’93

CFO and Executive Vice President

Austin – Retail and Shopping

2024 Returning Winner Top 10

89. Wealth Enhancement Group

Michael Fitzgerald, BBA/MPA ’88

Senior Vice President

Houston – Banking and Finance

90. Two Roads Consulting

Kevin Rammage, MBA ’09

Partner

Scott Chiou, MBA ’09

Partner

Denton Newham, MBA ’06

Partner

Jeremy Dunford, MBA ’13

Partner

Dallas – Education, Training, and Consulting

91. Drafft

Nathan Klatt, BBA/MPA ’95

CFO and Treasurer

Dallas – Food and Beverage Products

92. Venturity

Tracey Huff, BBA ’92

COO

Dallas – Business and Professional Services

93. Dollamur Sport Surfaces

Donald Ochsenreiter, MBA ’81

CEO and President

Fort Worth – Manufacturing

95. Risher Martin

Christopher Risher, BBA ’99

Principal

Austin –  Construction, Home Improvement, and Structure

96. Accord Business Funding

Adam Beebe, MBA ’11

President

Houston – Banking and Finance

2024 Returning Winner

97. Neighborhood Veterinary Centers

Shay Hanson, BBA ’02

CEO

Nederland – Pet Services

99. Howe & Romero, CPAs

Iain Howe, BBA/MPA ’02

President

Austin – Accounting and Tax Services