Sixteenth Annual Fall Commencement Address by Paula Gold-Williams -- December 10, 2016
From Loretta Sanchez
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Paula Gold-Williams (B.B.A. ’84)
President and CEO of CPS Energy
Paula Gold-Williams, who graduated from St. Mary’s University with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting, is president and CEO of CPS Energy. In that role, Gold-Williams leads more than 3,000 employees focused on the company’s motto of “People First.” Under her leadership, CPS Energy is creating and delivering value to its employees, customers and community into a new age of energy solutions.
Gold-Williams has more than 25 years of leadership experience in San Antonio, including serving as a regional controller for Time Warner Cable and vice president of finance for Luby’s, before joining CPS Energy in late 2004. During her 12 years at CPS Energy, she has served in many roles before taking the top job, including as controller and assistant treasurer; vice president and chief administrative officer ; executive vice president; and chief financial officer and treasurer.
Outside of CPS Energy, Gold-Williams is chair of the Advisory Committee of Executives for the Greehey School of Business at St. Mary’s University. She also serves on numerous boards, including the board for the public television station KLRN. She is an advisory trustee for Southwest Research Institute and FM Global, and is a member of the San Antonio Medical Foundation.
Gold-Williams was recently honored with the San Antonio Business Journal’s Elite Executive CEO distinction as part of their 2016 C-Suite Awards. She also received the San Antonio Women’s Chamber of Commerce Constellation of Stars Award in 2015, was appointed as an Honorary Joint Base San Antonio Commander in 2014, and received Best CFO and Finance awards from the San Antonio Business Journal and La Prensa.
Gold-Williams has an Associate of Finance Arts from San Antonio College, a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from St. Mary’s University, and a Master of Business Administration from Regis University. She is also a Certified Public Accountant.
Gold-Williams is married and has two daughters.
St. Mary’s University, as a Catholic Marianist University, fosters the formation of people in faith and educates leaders for the common good through community, integrated liberal arts and professional education, and academic excellence.
Our mission statement is a reflection of the Characteristics of Marianist Universities. There are five elements that characterize the Marianist approach to education:
- Educate for formation in faith
- Provide an excellent education
- Educate in the family spirit
- Educate for service, justice and peace
- Educate for adaptation and change
The three Marianist universities have published a book, Characteristics of Marianist Universities, to better describe the Marianist approach to education at the university level.
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