As we close the final chapter of of our Centennial anniversary year and turn our focus toward the future, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas’ CEO Advisory Council is launching the next century of impact.

Hosted by Texas Instruments (TI) at its Richardson manufacturing facility, the December advisory council meeting brought together nearly 20 chief executives representing some of the region’s most influential companies and institutions. It was our largest CEO Advisory Council convening to date—a testament to the momentum we are building together, and to the unique role United Way plays in uniting business leaders around shared purpose and measurable impact.

A warm thank you to the chief executives who attended:

CEO Advisory Council Co-Chairs

• Jim Burke, President and CEO, Vistra
• Curt Farmer, Chairman, President and CEO, Comerica Bank
• Haviv Ilan, Chairman, President and CEO, Texas Instruments

CEO Advisory Council Members

• Antonio Carrillo, President and CEO, Arcosa
• Jay Hartzell, President, SMU
• Robert Kaplan, Vice Chairman, Goldman Sachs
• Michael Levy, CEO, Crow Holdings
• Lorie Logan, President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
• Alok Maskara, President and CEO, Lennox International
• Peter Matt, President and CEO, Commercial Metals Company
• Prabhas Moghe, President, UT Dallas
• Ross Perot, Jr., Chairman, Hillwood
• Scott Richardson, Chairman and CEO, Celanese Corporation
• Brint Ryan, Chairman and CEO, Ryan LLC
• Jennifer Sampson, McDermott-Templeton President and CEO, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas
• Jean Savage, President and CEO, Trinity Industries
• John Stankey, CEO, AT&T
• Sam Susser, Chairman and CEO, Susser Bank
• Rich Templeton, Retired Chairman, Texas Instruments

It was an honor to have Rich Templeton, the recently retired Chairman of TI, join us as he closed out 45 remarkable years at TI.

This Council is truly one-of-a-kind in North Texas. It is a powerful forum where top corporate leaders engage directly with United Way’s leadership to advise on philanthropic strategy, explore emerging community needs and shape solutions that strengthen our region for generations to come, as we all work together to improve access to education, income and health.

From a Century of Impact to a Future of Possibility

Opening the meeting, Jim Burke, President and CEO of Vistra and incoming United Way of Metropolitan Annual Campaign chair, reflected on the significance of the moment. Burke succeeds Steven Williams, CEO of PepsiCo North America, who led a record-breaking Centennial campaign that delivered unprecedented, unrestricted resources for North Texas.

“With almost 20 CEOs in the room, this is our largest CEO Council convening yet,” Burke said. “That alone says something about the momentum we’re building together.”

Burke emphasized that United Way’s Centennial was never meant to be a single moment in time—it was designed as a long-term platform for impact creation. Thanks to extraordinary corporate and individual leadership, the Centennial year delivered significant philanthropic value for North Texas, including major gifts and grants and new endowment commitments.

“This is what it looks like when the business community shows up together with purpose,” Burke said.

He also recognized Haviv Ilan and TI for hosting the gathering and for the company’s nearly century-long role in shaping North Texas as a global innovation hub, as well as Antonio Carrillo of Arcosa, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas Board Chair, for his steady board leadership throughout the Centennial year.

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Innovation—and Partnership

Texas Instruments Chairman, president and CEO Haviv Ilan welcomed Council members to TI’s Richardson facility, underscoring the deep and longstanding partnership between TI and United Way.

For almost 70 years, United Way has worked closely with TI to create meaningful impact across North Texas, with an emphasis on volunteerism, powering STEM initiatives and fundraising to fuel our impact in education, income and health. (Read our recent blog to learn more about TI’s incredible legacy of volunteerism and watch the TI volunteer video recap here: Aspire United Volunteer Series Video presented by TI ).

“We are proud of the connection between TI and United Way—it runs deep in our history and is strong in our culture,” Ilan said. “This connection is rooted in our long-standing commitment to build stronger communities and be a company that people are proud to have as a neighbor.”

As part of the convening, Council members received a behind-the-scenes look at TI’s semiconductor manufacturing operations, led by Mohammad Yunus, senior vice president of technology and manufacturing. The experience offered not only a primer on semiconductor manufacturing—playfully dubbed “Chips 101”—but also a tangible example of how global innovation will create opportunities for our future North Texas workforce.

Throughout the afternoon, a common theme emerged: when companies invest locally, align with community partners, and collaborate across sectors, the result is stronger talent pipelines, healthier communities and a more resilient regional economy.

Workforce as a Shared Imperative

For Burke, workforce development is a personal and professional priority—and one that sits at the heart of United Way’s strategy.

“At Vistra, United Way isn’t simply a philanthropic partner—it’s a strategic partner,” he said. “Our partnership opens doors for people who otherwise may never have access to the education, skills training, or support systems that lead to real, long-term opportunity.”

Burke highlighted United Way’s Pathways to Work initiative as a powerful example of what’s possible when business and community partners work together. Over the past decade, Pathways to Work has helped thousands of North Texans earn industry-recognized credentials that lead to living-wage careers, thanks to early investments from companies including PepsiCo, Caterpillar, Arcosa, Celanese, Trinity Industries and Beck Group.

But training alone is not enough.

“The training pipeline only works if there are jobs on the other end,” Burke said. “We have North Texas talent right here, ready to work, with the skills we need. Let’s hire them.”

Pathways to Work will be a central focus of Burke’s Annual Campaign chairmanship, reinforcing the connection between corporate investment and community mobility.

Launching the Next Century of Impact

Closing the meeting, Curt Farmer, chairman, president and CEO of Comerica Incorporated and Comerica Bank and co-chair of the CEO Advisory Council, reflected on the Council’s origins and its growing influence.

“When Jennifer and I launched this CEO Council, we wanted to create something lasting—a room where CEOs could learn from each other and leave with something valuable,” Farmer said. “Seeing nearly 20 of you here today tells me it’s working.”

Farmer framed United Way’s first 100 years as both an achievement and a launchpad. With deep relationships, trusted data and proven solutions, United Way is prepared to deliver impact at scale across North Texas.

“We’ve already seen what bold leadership looks like,” Farmer said, referencing the Centennial celebration where Rich and Mary Templeton received the J. Erik Jonsson Award—the highest honor United Way of Metropolitan Dallas bestows upon a volunteer—followed by the announcement of a $25 million gift from TI executives, past and present, in their honor. (Read more about this historic moment.) “When leaders have aligned energy and shared purpose, our impact doesn’t just add up—it multiplies.”

An Invitation to Lead—Together

As United Way embarks on its second century of service, the CEO Advisory Council will play an increasingly vital role in shaping the future of our region—helping ensure that business leadership remains deeply connected to community progress.

If you are a corporate leader interested in partnering with United Way of Metropolitan Dallas—through workforce development, strategic philanthropy, or broader community impact—we invite you to contact us to explore what’s possible.

Together, we can turn leadership into action—and action into lasting impact for North Texas.