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Houston Business Journal Honors Bauer College Professor, Alumnae
Saleha Khumawala Recognized for Work in Social Engagement, Urban Renewal
Published on Septemebr 10, 2020
The Houston Business Journal has named a faculty member from the C. T. Bauer College of Business among the honorees in the publication’s 2020 “Women Who Mean Business” list.
Robert Grinaker Professor of Accounting Saleha Khumawala, who is founder of the Stimulating Urban Renewal through Entrepreneurship (SURE™) program at the Bauer College, is included in the academic category for her work with the program.
“I am honored and humbled to be recognized as a ‘2020 Women Who Mean Business honoree’ by the Houston Business Journal,” Khumawala said. “Along with UH students and the executive volunteers from the business community, the SURE™program has been instrumental in providing one-on-one consulting to the under-resourced entrepreneurs in Houston, so this honor belongs to the SURE™Program and its supporters.”
SURE™is an innovative educational model that creates a value-added partnership between Bauer students, under-resourced entrepreneurs from the local community, and business thought leaders. Since its inception in 2012, SURE™has educated more than 1,300 current and aspiring Houston area entrepreneurs, trained more than 300 Bauer College students, and been instrumental in the launch or expansion of about 300 local businesses.
The HBJ awards honor women across nine industry categories, along with special recognition in the “Woman to Watch” and “Woman Who Inspires” categories. The criteria for selection included career achievement, contribution to company and city success, community involvement and leadership.
“On behalf of everyone at the Bauer College, we congratulate Professor Saleha Khumawala on this impressive recognition from the Houston Business Journal, which recognizes the extremely important contribution that Saleha is doing in engaging the community and providing opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs in traditionally-disadvantaged communities to succeed and to thrive,” Dean Paul A. Pavlou said.
All of the honorees will be recognized in a special section of the Houston Business Journal's Oct. 16 weekly edition and during a live, online awards event on Oct. 15. To see the full list of recipients, click here.
Bauer College Alumnae Included in 2020 Women Who Mean Business List
The C. T. Bauer College of Business will be well-represented when the Houston Business Journal (HBJ) honors the area’s leading women in business.
Robert Grinaker Professor of Accounting Saleha Khumawala, who is founder of the Stimulating Urban Renewal through Entrepreneurship (SURE™) program, will be recognized during the event in the education category.
Three Bauer alumnae will also be recognized in the categories of Finance, Nonprofit and Professional Services. Amanda Beabout (BBA ’09, MSACCY ’10), Julie Caggiano (JD/MBA ’83) and Darcie Champagne Wells (MBA ’03) will be honored as 2020 Women Who Mean Business in HBJ’s Oct. 16 weekly edition and at a virtual event via a live stage on Oct. 15.
Amanda Beabout (BBA ’09, MSACCY ’10)
Amanda Beabout is an audit senior manager with Whitley Penn LLP in the firm’s office in Houston. In her capacity as an audit senior manager, she has served clients in the energy, construction, manufacturing, distribution, and ERISA industries. Beabout’s client responsibilities have included companies of various sizes from private startup companies to multinational public corporations with over $100 million in annual revenues.
She has experience working with private equity portfolio companies and closely-held businesses. She also has extensive public company audit and accounting experience. Her work with both private and public companies has provided extensive and diverse experience dealing with technical matters such as SOX 404, foreign currency matters, stock-based compensation, international operations (including IFRS), new accounting standard implementation and purchase accounting.
Beabout serves on the Women's Finance Exchange Board of Directors and has served on the Bauer College Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Julie Caggiano (JD/MBA ’83)
Julie Caggiano is the chief legal advisor to the senior management team and drives the strategic evolution of the legal function and internal compliance process for Envoy Mortgage, a residential mortgage banker with operations in 48 states and over 900 employees. Julie is also a member of Envoy Mortgage’s Executive Committee.
Darcie Champagne Wells (MBA ’03)
Darcie Champagne Wells is the senior executive director of Market Impact for the March of Dimes. In her role, she is responsible for leading largest state revenue portfolio in nation. Lead team of executive directors charged with galvanizing supporters, building mission awareness and growing sustainable revenue.
Before her time at the March of Dimes, Champagne Wells served at the University of Houston as the Director of External Relations for the Bauer College, and as Director of Marketing.
She is a board member for the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance and is a member of the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Greater Houston Partnership.
