High Tide Podcast

In 2011, and at the young age of 22, Sara Helmy '11 founded Tribu, an advertising tribe with some serious digital marketing capabilities and a deep love for stellar design.

Today, Sara serves as the CEO of Tribu, manages a growing tribe of talented marketing and creative professionals, and develops digital strategies for some of the fastest growing brands in America. To date, Tribu has received over 100 industry awards for its work from organizations such as the American Marketing Association and the American Advertising Federation. Tribu’s work has been featured in prestigious publications and media outlets such as Good Morning America, Yahoo!, Buzz Feed, The Economist and E! Entertainment News.

She has been recognized as the 2015 Entrepreneurial Spirit Rising Star from National Association Woman Business Owners San Antonio and was present on the 2015 San Antonio Business Journal’s 40 under 40 list. In 2016 she was honored as TAMU-CC's, as the Young Distinguished Alumnus and most recently, she was honored in San Antonio Business Journal’s Women’s Leadership Awards.

Steve Lutz, the head coach for the Islanders Men’s Basketball team. 

A San Antonio-native, Coach Lutz played basketball for three seasons at Texas Lutheran and served as the team captain as a senior. He earned his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology with a minor in Secondary Education/Business Administration from Texas Lutheran in 1995 and his M.Ed. with a Concentration in Physical Education, at Incarnate Word in 1997.

Coach Lutz had assistant coaching stops at Incarnate Word University, Garden City Community College, Stephen F. Austin University, SMU, Creighton, and purdue before being named head coach at TAMUCC on April 6, 2021.

It didn't take Steve Lutz long to make a significant impact on the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi men's basketball program. In his first season, the Islanders earned an automatic bid to the 2022 NCAA Tournament after more-than quadrupling the team's win total from the year before.

Mitra Khan is a Corpus Christi native who attended Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi for her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (2006) and went on to obtain her Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University-Kingsville.  Upon graduating with her Master’s in 2008, she worked as a technology licensing engineer for Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR) for 7 years, where she managed global licensing activities for KBR’s heavy oil refining technologies.  She then worked for 3 years as a Senior Account Manager for Arkema’s Sulfur Chemicals division where she assisted in startup activities at various domestic refineries. 

In 2018, she moved back with her family to Corpus Christi and acquired Highway Barricades and Services, LLC (HBS).  HBS is South Texas’ most prominent traffic control provider. 

Jesse Gilbert '07, '14, '22 was recently was named the President and CEO of Corpus Christi’s Texas State Aquarium (TSA) in December of 2021. 

Jesse has spent nearly two decades with the Aquarium, beginning his career in the Coastal Bend in 2003.  He worked full-time while obtaining his bachelors degree in biology & marine science, and eventually, a masters in fisheries & mariculture. He’s held multiple roles throughout his career at TSA, starting as an Aquarist, working alongside fish and other animals, to eventually playing a large role in the organization’s newest 71,000 square foot expansion, the Caribbean Journey, in 2017.

Joey Carson '89 is a 25-year veteran of the television industry and considered a pioneer in reality programming and an innovator in digital and mobile entertainment. He is the former CEO of television industry leader Bunim Murray Productions, known for its hit shows The Real World, The Simple Life,  and The Challenge. He also served as a founding board member and Executive Producer of the ground-breaking company and show The World Poker Tour.

Today he currently serves as the CEO of powerhouse social media agency Elevator Studio and he received the Outstanding Alumnus Award from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for his service to his industry in 2021.  

To kick-off season two of the High Tide Podcast, we have Elena Flores, class of 2003 and 2007. Born and raised in the border town of Eagle Pass, Texas, Elena earned a bachelor’s degree in health science, and eventually a masters in counseling. 

In addition to her full-time job as a Case Manager in adult healthcare, her hobby of sewing, led her to the creation of Sew Bonita, an online storefront, featuring everything from clothing and fabric, to accessories and gifts, which all take inspiration from the colors and traditions of her Mexican culture. 

In honor of National Beer Day, we're joined by husband and wife Cory Mathews '09 and Jessica Golden Mathews '08.

After a Tuesday night ritual of brewing beer in their garage with friends, Cory and Jessica took the small business plunge, and opened Corpus Christi’s first dedicated brewery, Lazy Beach, in 2014. Today, Lazy Beach beer can be found in over 100 bars and restaurants around the Coastal Bend. 

Their local taproom is a favorite among locals, with a menu featuring their classics like the Texas Bock or Corpus Christi Blonde, their signature Kombucha and a rotating list of specialty and experimental brews.

In addition, they added the lazy café in 2020, serving tasty sandwiches and brunch each Sunday. 

Lydia Blanco Garza graduated from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in 1997. After earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication (with emphasis in Theater, Television and Film), she headed to Austin, got her first agent and began her professional on-camera career. After a short two years, she moved to Los Angeles where she spent a decade guest-starring in television and film. She eventually moved back to the Coastal Bend, where she began The Blanco Agency, the first talent agency in Corpus Christi to submit actors for mainstream opportunities in feature films, television shows, commercials and print.

Mayra Zamora, class of 2010 and 2014 was raised in the small town of Tivoli, Texas. After graduating at the top of her class, eventually found her way to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Art, and a Master's Secondary Education, with Art certification (EC-12)

Her art is widely known is south Texas, which  takes inspiration from her Mexican heritage, drawing on bold colors, vivid patterns, and strong lines. In addition to creating our new ‘Los Islanders’ tee, Mayra was honored with the Young Alumnus award in February 2020.