The 1911 Group | SMU Stories

This week on SMU Stories, co-founder of the 1911 Group Lindsey Marsh Brown sits down with Kerrie and Ross Forbes, proud members of the SMU Class of 1993, partners in both life and law, and longtime leaders in their fields. From Kerrie’s move from Boulder, Colorado to Dallas and the culture shock that came with it to cheering on the Miracle on Mockingbird football comeback, their story is steeped in the traditions that define the SMU experience. They share favorite campus memories and reflect on how Greek life, sports and professors helped shape their paths.

Three decades later the Forbeses are still building on those roots in Dallas. Kerrie began her airline career in 2007 at Southwest and now serves as Chief Legal Officer at JSX where, in addition to managing the company’s legal work, she manages real estate, airport affairs, government affairs and aviation security. Ross is head of litigation and a partner at Jackson Walker and serves on the firm’s management and compensation committees. He has built his career in the courtroom while also mentoring the next generation of lawyers. Married for more than thirty years after meeting as SMU freshmen, Kerrie and Ross show how the connections made at SMU extend far beyond graduation, shaping careers, family, and community.

This week on SMU Stories, we sit down with Carrie and Ross Forbes — proud members of the SMU Class of ’93, partners in both life and law, and longtime leaders in their fields. From their first days on the Hilltop, navigating the Texas heat and the culture shock, to cheering on the “Miracle on Mockingbird” football comeback, their story is steeped in the energy and traditions that define the SMU experience. They open up about their favorite campus memories, the friendships that became family, and the way Greek life, sports, and professors shaped the course of their lives.

Three decades later, the Forbeses are still building on those roots in Dallas. Carrie, now Chief Legal Officer at JSX, and Ross, a partner at Jackson Walker, reflect on demanding careers, raising a family, and staying connected to SMU through mentorship and service. Their journey is a reminder of how the relationships and opportunities found at SMU extend far beyond graduation, shaping not only professional success but also a lifelong commitment to community.

This week on SMU Stories we sit down with Jerad Romo, former Mustang quarterback and proud member of the class of 2006. Jerad currently serves as Vice President of Sales for Sewell Automotive Companies, where he leads with a commitment to excellence and relationship-driven growth. He reflects on his time leading the SMU football team, sharing how lessons from the field—discipline, resilience, and accountability—shape the way he approaches everything that comes after. His pride in representing SMU hasn’t faded, and that experience continues to anchor him both personally and professionally.

After football, Jerad’s path carried him through publishing, the automotive industry, and leadership roles that kept him closely tied to the SMU community. He speaks about the importance of relationships built at the university and how they open doors long after graduation. For Jerad, success is about more than career milestones—it’s about staying grounded, giving back, and carrying the Mustang spirit forward in every venture. Watch now to hear about his journey from SMU to Sewell.


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This week on SMU Stories, Bill Rowe sits down with Stephen Benotti and Matt Ayres from the SMU Sack Club.

The Sack Club is a fantastic way to support Mustang Football. What began as a grassroots donor program has now raised over $750,000 from more than 100 members in just six seasons — including six consecutive years of surpassing $100,000, with all proceeds directly benefiting the SMU football program.

When you join, you pledge $50 to the Mustang Excellence Fund for SMU Football every time the Mustangs sack an opposing quarterback. Your support goes directly toward meeting the needs of our nationally ranked team.

Members enjoy a range of exclusive perks, including invitations to post-season happy hours with Defensive Coordinator Scott Symons and the defensive coaching staff, Mustang Club priority points, a 100% tax deduction on all Sack Club gifts, branded Sack Club merchandise, and entry into a season-long drawing for those who correctly guess the total number of sacks. Most importantly, members enjoy the satisfaction of knowing they are making a direct impact on the future of SMU Football.

Tune in to learn more about the Sack Club and all they have accomplished for the SMU Football team.

On this week’s upcoming SMU Stories episode, we sit down with SMU alumnus Jordan Miller, Co-founder and CEO of Yendo, a fintech company redefining access to credit by leveraging vehicle equity. Yendo’s mission is rooted in the belief that equitable financial opportunities should be available to all Americans.

Jordan earned both his BBA (2014) and MS in Management/Finance (2015) from SMU’s Cox School of Business and was a member of the varsity football team during his time on campus. He remains deeply connected to the Dallas professional landscape, serving as a member of Dallas’ YPO Mustang Chapter.

Tune into the full episode to hear Jordan’s journey from SMU to entrepreneurship, along with his insights for students and young professionals.

On this episode of SMU Stories, we sit down with Haynes Strader.

Haynes is a proud SMU alumnus from the Class of 2011 and currently serves as Chief Development Officer at Skybox Datacenters.

With over 11 years of experience in the data center industry, both domestically and internationally, Haynes has become a trusted leader known for his mission-critical market expertise. He’s been involved in more than 200 data center transactions totaling over $3.5 billion in value. Before joining Skybox, he served as Vice President at CBRE’s Data Center Solutions platform.

In addition to his professional success, Haynes remains deeply involved in the SMU community—serving on the SMU Dedman College Executive Board, the 21st Century Council, and the SMU Folsom Institute Board.

This week on SMU Stories, we sit down with Drew Buckley.
A proud Mustang, Drew earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and Latin American Studies from Southern Methodist University in 1993. He now serves as Group President and Chief Operating Officer, at Propagate Content, a leading independent content studio specializing in scripted, unscripted, and documentary television and films. In his role, Drew oversees the company’s overall business operations and holds board positions at Propagate Content LLC and its related to investments in talent management and feature films. 

This week on SMU Stories, we sit down with AJ Krow, owner of OPW Commercial Services LLC.

AJ is a proud SMU alumnus with a strong background in small business acquisitions and facilities management. He currently owns and operates OPW Commercial Services, a leading facilities maintenance company serving Oklahoma and the DFW area, with specialties in snow removal, ice control, pressure washing, and landscaping.

Before acquiring OPW in June 2023, AJ built a diverse career in sales and operations, serving as VP of Sales for a subsidiary of Sysco and working in strategic growth at Compass Real Estate.

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This week on SMU Stories, we sit down with Lisa Rawlins. Lisa Rawlins was promoted to Associate A.D. for Student-Athlete Success in 2023 after serving in various roles in academic support and football, including Director of Player Development and founder of the Life After Ball program.

She joined the Hilltop in 2010 following positions at UCF and Oklahoma. Over the past 13 years, Rawlins has made a lasting impact at SMU, serving as Director for the Center for the Academic Development of Student-Athletes (ADSA) and Football Academic Advisor for more than a decade. She built the academic support units for football and both men’s and women’s basketball, helping all three programs reach record GPAs year after year.

In 2020, she launched Life After Ball, a professional development initiative that began in football and now serves all SMU sports.

Rawlins holds a B.A. in Psychology from Fresno State and an M.Ed. in Higher Education from the University of Oklahoma. A former collegiate basketball and equestrian athlete, she’s also an avid runner and marathoner—including the Boston Marathon. Lisa lives in Dallas with her husband, Reggie, and their daughter, Teal.

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This week on SMU Stories, we sit down with twin brothers Esteban and Manuel Mariel ('09), former SMU soccer players who turned their passion into purpose by launching City Futsal in 2011. 

After their father, Federico, encouraged them to explore futsal as a training tool for youth development, the brothers shifted their focus from traditional soccer training and began hosting sessions at local gyms — eventually growing into a full-fledged business.

What started with one location has grown into multiple facilities across Dallas, introducing the fast-paced game of futsal. 


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