UHV business speaker series to feature city administrator
The day that Byron Hebert received his diploma from the University of Houston-Victoria, just so happened to fall on his 40th birthday.
More than two decades later, the alumnus is coming to UHV Katy to share his knowledge and wisdom with students as part of a business speaking series.
Hebert will be the keynote speaker in the UHV College of Business’s Fall 2024 Dean’s Distinguished Speaker Series held on Oct. 22 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at UHV Katy, 22400 Grand Circle Blvd.
“With the College of Business striving to shape future leaders, it is vital to reconnect with those who have already achieved success,” said Xavier Garza-Gomez, interim dean of the business college. “Bringing back alumni who have excelled in their fields offers current students a unique perspective – one that combines real-world experience with the values and education they received here at UHV. Alumni like Byron Hebert demonstrate that the knowledge and skills gained with our programs can be a powerful boost for a successful career. Their stories inspire current students to pursue their own paths with confidence, resilience, and a sense of purpose. It's also a wonderful opportunity to remind us all of the connection between UHV and the success of its graduates.”
Hebert, who serves as the city administrator for the city of Katy, will share his experiences and insights on the inner workings of city government and the importance of economic development. He received his Master of Business Administration with a specialty in finance from UHV in 2003 and has held the position of city administrator for the past 10 years. In that role, he assists the mayor in managing day-to-day operations of the city and helps implement strategic goals set by the city council.
“I was very pleased with UHV and all the education I received that helped me prepare for what I did for 14 years as a finance director, and having the MBA has helped me manage here in Katy,” Hebert said. “The skill sets you have to have to be a good manager, a good leader, you learn those in the MBA program.”
Hebert’s journey to becoming city administrator has been a winding one filled with diverse experiences that have all come together to shape his career. A native of Lafayette, Louisiana, he began his higher education journey on a football scholarship at McNeese State University. After earning his bachelor's degree, Hebert went on to obtain a master’s degree in education, initially planning to pursue a career in coaching, he said.
However, Hebert said his path took an unexpected turn when he moved to Houston and entered the business world. He worked in sales and management, eventually starting his own web-based business. It was during this time that Hebert’s interest in the public sector was piqued.
“One of my customers was someone from the city, and they had an opening in finance, and they asked me if I wanted to come in and run the finance department, because I had a minor in business,” Hebert said.
He embraced the opportunity and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the finance director for 14 years. Recognizing the need to further enhance his credentials, Hebert said he decided to pursue an MBA, which he earned in 2003. He was then appointed to the role of city administrator in 2014.
“UHV’s online MBA program was the perfect fit for me, being married with two kids,” Hebert said.
At the upcoming event, Hebert said he is excited to give the audience insights on how cities operate from a business perspective, focusing particularly on the often-overlooked opportunities for business-minded individuals, within a city government. He will also share his personal stories and experiences from his time with the city of Katy, highlighting the city’s growth since the early 2000s, which included the opening of Katy Mills Mall and negotiating deals with major companies like Amazon, he said.
“I hope the students can look back on this and think, ‘Hey, I learned something that I didn’t know,’” Hebert said. “If I can get them in that kind of mind frame, then we would say it’s a big success.”
The event is free and open not only to current students and faculty members but also to alumni and the community, said Kaveh McAdam, the college’s director of community engagements. The event will be a great opportunity for students to network with alumni, he said.
“For the UHV College of Business Dean’s Distinguished Speaker Series, we are particularly interested in inviting our own successful college alumni,” McAdam said. “Mr. Hebert received his MBA degree from the UHV College of Business, and it is important for our current students to know about our college’s successful graduates and look up to them as great role models.”
Prospective attendees may reach out to McAdam at the UHV College of Business or contact busadvisor@uhv.edu.
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 50 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.