Mary Scott Nabers
President / CEO
512.531.3900
Mary Scott Nabers is President/CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc. (SPI), a Texas-based government affairs, business development, procurement consulting and research company. SPI was founded in December 1994 and the company, boasting an illustrious team of professionals of diverse backgrounds holding credentials in both the public and private sectors, can point to contracts worth billions of dollars that SPI has identified and helped clients capture.
Mary has an extensive business background in both the public and private sectors. Between 1984-1993, she served as the Commissioner representing business at the Texas Employment Commission. In that position, she was a high-profile, proactive business advocate and founded The Texas Business Council. Commissioner Nabers wrote a weekly column for more than 100 Texas newspapers, hosted a weekly radio program on the Texas State Network and published a monthly business publication with a circulation of 160,000.
In 1993, Commissioner Nabers moved to the Texas Railroad Commission. At that time the agency regulated approximately $65 billion of the state’s economy annually. She was active on both the state and federal levels and represented Texas on numerous national boards. Mary developed a reputation for initiating innovative programs in government and was recognized throughout Texas as an advocate for the business sector, a friend to taxpayers and an accessible public servant.
Prior to 1984, Mary served as president and general manager of two media corporations. She is currently a regular contributor to business journals in Austin, Houston, San Antonio and Dallas. Mary is on the Professional Speaking Circuit.
Mary is a former chair of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Board of Directors for the St. David’s Hospital System, a member of the Austin Area Research Organization, active in fundraising projects for the Austin Children’s Shelter, United Way, the American Lung Association, the Dell Children’s Hospital, Health’s Angels and the Long Center for the Performing Arts.
EDUCATION
- · Bachelor of Science, Howard Payne University
- · Master of Business Administration, The University of Texas at Austin
- · Doctorate of Humanities, Howard Payne University
INNOVATIONS
- · Developed, produced and raised funds for televised statewide teleconferences that linked one million Texas students to national business leaders to discuss jobs, markets and competitiveness issues.
- · Founder of the Texas Business Council, a coalition of the largest Texas state agencies committed to reaching out to Texas taxpayers through statewide conferences.
- · Developed curriculum and initiated the first statewide ex-offender employment training program in Texas for parolees. The program is now credited with saving the state’s taxpayers $16 million a year in recidivism costs.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS/AWARDS/ACTIVITIES
- · Co-Chair, Ethics in Business Award Ceremony
- · Co-Chair United Way Capital Area Campaign
- · Co-Chair, American Lung Association Annual Fundraising Luncheon
- · Member of the Fundraising Campaign, Austin Children’s Shelter Building Project
- · Recipient, Austin Business Journal’s Profiles in Power Award
- · Delegate, Emerging Leaders World Conference
- · Spirit of Texas Award
- · Leadership America
- · Leadership Texas
- · Distinguished Alumna, Howard Payne University
- · The National Registry of Who’s Who (life member)
- · Who’s Who in Historical Society
- · Texas Leadership Council, World Congress on Information Technology
- · Co-Chair United Way, Distinguished Speakers Series
- · Member, Sam Houston Society
PAST AND PRESENT BOARD MEMBERSHIPS
National Petroleum Council · Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission · Austin Area Research Organization · Public Policy Dispute Resolution, The University of Texas School of Law · Paramount Theater · Advisory Committee to the Secretary of Energy · Southern Savings and Loan · Sustainable Energy Development Council · Labor Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills · St. David’s Hospital System Board · Long Performing Arts Center Advisory Board · Howard Payne University Board of Trustees · Women Executives in State Governments (National Board) · Advisory Board of Directors, San Antonio Spurs · Texas High Speed Rail Authority · Texas Literary Council (Statewide Board of Directors) · Communities-in-Schools (Statewide Board of Directors) · Texas Society of Association Executives · Executive Women in Texas Government · Vision 2010 Board of Directors · Chair, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce · Lower Colorado River Foundation · Texas Leadership Council, World Congress on Information Technology 2006 · Americans for Balanced Energy Choices · Advisory Board, Austin Community College · Advisory Board, Center for Public Policy and Political Studies.
