PARTNERS
We are currently ten serial entrepreneurs energized by the creative forces of our colleagues. We each bring different skills to the venture and a complementary attitudes about investment. In short, we work well together. We respect each other’s perspectives, and trust each other’s judgments. This is why it works. From time to time we will consider adding investors to our ranks. Should you feel compelled to dabble in the world of entrepreneurial adventure, contact Shelby@practicalprotocol.com.
Founding Partners
Cindy Boyd, President of Sentigy
Biography
Cindy Boyd is an experienced technology entrepreneur who is recognized for creating experienced, high performance technology teams that provide solutions where “it’s never been done before.” Her newest venture, CBM Enterprise Solutions, LLC, is bringing to the market an innovative software, CBMvision™, an automated equipment health monitoring platform, allowing companies to maintain equipment based on condition, saving millions for industrial facilities.
In addition to her professional achievements, Cindy is a recognized community leader. She served as Chair of Houston’s Emerging Technology Council and is a Founder of nCourage. She is a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), and recently completed a 3-year term on the Global Board of Directors. She has presented at various Technology and Business organizations, including the Association of Information Technology Professionals, Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals and the Information Systems Security Association. Cindy is a past recipient of AWC’s Leadership in Technology Award and was a finalist in Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. Email Cindy
Elizabeth Wiggins,
Director, various community boards
Biography
Elizabeth Wiggins has had a thirty-five year career in public accounting. She was a shareholder and president of White, Petrov, McHone, CPAs, PC, prior to its merger with BKD, LLP, in 2000. Her clients included privately-held manufacturing and service firms. With her designation of ABV – Accredited in Business Valuation – she valued companies for contractual agreements and for tax and estate purposes. Beth currently works as a community volunteer, serving on several tax exempt entity boards. Email Elizabeth
Lamar Mathews, President of GP of Falcon Partners, Ltd.
Biography
Lamar Davis Mathews is a serial entrepreneur who has started, built and sold businesses in the following categories: employment agency, healthcare imaging services, promotional products and manufacturing. She was also a part of a bank start up, serving on the board of Independence Bank for 10 years until it merged with Allegiance Bank at the end of 2013. In addition to overseeing various investments for a number of limited partnerships, she serves on the boards of non-profit organizations and foundations. When time permits, Lamar consults with select companies, providing expertise in strategic planning, sales/marketing, HR/recruiting and board development, as well as occasionally providing interim CEO and ‘turn around’ services. Email Lamar
Shelby Scarbrough, President, Practical Protocol
Biography
Shelby Scarbrough combines an entrepreneurial background with the pride and responsibility of public service to bring new perspectives to each endeavor. Her skills and experience blend protocol with practicality for business and government executives alike. She demonstrates a diverse background, with experience in small business, entrepreneurship, government affairs, international relations, public relations, marketing, fundraising and philanthropy and often speaks on such topics as customer service, civility in Society, relationship building across cultures and entrepreneurship.
Shelby founded Practical Protocol, an international special events management and business protocol training organization specializing in custom-designed plans that address the unique needs of high-profile clients.
She served on the global board for the Entrepreneurs’ Organization – a global business network of 9500+ entrepreneurs in 40 countries. She finished her three year term as Board Chairman. During her tenure, she traveled the globe evangelizing entrepreneurship. Email Shelby
Partners
Winnie Hart, Founder and CRE
(Chief Right Engine) of TwinEngine
Biography
At the head of TwinEngine is the company’s owner and principal, Winnie Hart, who has built a reputation as an inspired, award-winning designer and savvy interpreter of business brand and personality. She has collaborated with the largest public and privately held corporations in the region, helping them to define their positions in the marketplace through communications, and winning over 200 industry awards and recognitions. Winnie is a past president of the Art Directors and Designers Association and has served as Internal Communications Chair on the Global Communications Committee for the Entrepreneurs’ Association (EO) – a global business network of 9,500+ business owners in 131 chapters and 40 countries. She defines her business style as collaborative and relationship-based, and brings a left-brain approach to the visual organization of ideas combined with the right-brain efficiencies of real-time brand management. Email Winnie
Carolyn Matula, Rice MBA and Former Risk Manager at Shell
Biography
A native Texan, raised in New England, Carolyn Matula has worked extensively in both the downstream and upstream segments of the energy industry during her 14 years with Shell. During her tenure, she performed a wide range of duties. For the downstream market, she lead the Toxicology Analytical Support Group and was the Product Safety and Compliance manager for the industrial solvents market where she represented the company on various trade association groups working with both national and state regulatory agencies. Upon transitioning to Shell’s upstream business, Carolyn became the Export Control Compliance Officer for all proprietary technology associated with deepwater drilling in the United States. As the company globalized, her role expanded to include establishing a business management system to ensure compliance with corporate guidelines. Carolyn’s final assignment for Shell involved brokering a multi-national corporate credit card transaction and implementing its rollout to 100,000+ employees worldwide.
Prior to joining Shell, Ms. Matula executed pharmaceutical research for Warner-Lambert/Parke-Davis. She developed standard operating procedures for analytical testing equipment and performed chemical validation studies for the dementia work group. Her skills in the analytical chemistry laboratory were honed initially while working for the New England Power Company.
Carolyn graduated magna cum laude from Boston College receiving a B.S. degree in Chemistry, where she distinguished herself as Scholar of the College. She also earned a M.S. from the University of Michigan in Analytical Chemistry and a M.B.A. from Rice University. Ms. Matula has held various volunteer positions at a number of private schools in Houston. Email Carolyn
Marie Myers, Vice President and Senior Financial Executive at HP
Biography
Marie has a Bachelor’s degree in Art and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from The University of Queensland, Australia. She also earned a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in Marketing and Finance from the University of St. Thomas, Houston, Texas.
Upon the separation of Hewlett-Packard Company, Marie became V.P. of the Finance Separation Management Office for HP Inc. She was accountable for standing up all major financial processes, including an auditable financial history. Additionally, she was a key contributor in establishing an end-state vision for HP Finance.
She is also a board member of the Houston Chapter of the National Association of Women MBA’s (NAWMBA), the University of St. Thomas Advisory Board, the Girlstart Council for Houston and The University of Queensland in America, Inc. (TUQIA). Marie also founded the Anti-Gray Market Alliance (AGMA), the first global technology industry association to address gray marketing, and serves as its President Emeritus.
Pilar Stillwater, Counsel at Crowell & Moring
Biography
Pilar Stillwater is a counsel in the Intellectual Property and Litigation groups in Crowell & Moring’s San Francisco office, with a background in molecular and cell biology. Her practice focuses on intellectual property litigation, with an emphasis on patent infringement disputes. Pilar has litigated patent infringement cases involving a wide range of technologies, including pharmaceuticals, prefabricated concrete slabs, and wireless LAN technology. Pilar also counsels clients on patent infringement and licensing issues in the medical device and biopharmaceutical areas.
Pilar is actively involved in pro bono work and has represented clients in debt-collection and copyright disputes. She was the first attorney at Crowell & Moring to successfully take a third-party debt collection case to trial in collaboration with the East Bay Community Law Center. Pilar also supervises students participating in the University of California, Hastings’ Startup Legal Garage, a legal clinic providing services to startup organizations in the Bay Area.
Pilar earned her B.S. in molecular, cell, and developmental biology with highest honors in the major and college honors from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2004. She received her J.D. from the University of California, Hastings, cum laude, in 2008, where she was the executive production editor of the Hastings Law Journal.
Barbara Burger, President Chevron Technology Ventures
Biography
Barbara Burger, Ph.D., joined Chevron in 1987 and is currently the president of Chevron Technology Ventures, an organization that champions innovation and the integration of emerging technologies into Chevron. Barbara holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Rochester, a doctoral degree in chemistry from the California Institute of Technology and an academic honor MBA in finance from the University of California, Berkeley.
She joined the University of Rochester Board of Trustees in 2015 and is a member of the University’s River Campus Libraries National Council and the George Eastman Circle, the University’s leadership annual giving society. In 2012, she established the Barbara J. Burger Endowed Scholarship in the Sciences to support students pursuing degrees in biology, chemistry, earth and environmental sciences or physics.
Among her many civic and industry affiliations, Barbara serves as an executive director for the Houston Technology Center and is a governing board director, member of the Executive Committee and chair of the Finance Committee of the Houston Symphony Society. She is also a member of the external advisory council for National Renewable Energy Laboratory, on the governing board for the MIT Energy Initiative and is a member of MIT’s Visiting Committee.
Linda Giuffré, CCO for Bridgeway Capital Management
Biography
Linda leads compliance in her role both as chief compliance officer for Bridgeway Capital Management and Bridgeway Funds- roles that she has held since 2004. She also serves as the treasurer for Bridgeway Funds. Linda is responsible for the design and implementation of the compliance program, including the annual review and testing. She has over 25 years of experience in the investment management industry in operations, compliance and accounting.
Linda holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi and is licensed as a certified public accountant in Texas. Linda supports educational opportunities for underprivileged children.
Jody Lee, MD, Radiologist at United Northeast Radiology
Biography
Dr. Jody Lee is a practicing physician and a medical real estate entrepreneur. She earned her BA from Rice University, her MD from the University of Texas Health Science Center – Houston, and her MBA from George Washington University.
A board-certified radiologist, Dr. Lee is a Diplomat of the American College of Radiology. An accomplished scientist, she is credited with authoring numerous scientific presentations, posters, abstracts, and peer-reviewed articles. Her research results were published in prestigious scientific journals such as the American Journal of Roentgenology, the Journal of Emergency Radiology, and the Journal of Thoracic Radiology.
Dr. Lee is passionate about promoting healthcare issues in the community and leads radiologists in political discussions by serving as the Texas Radiological Society Political Action Committee Chair.