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Aggie 100 group
The College of Engineering had 40 former students in the Aggie 100. | Image: Clay Taylor Productions

The Aggie 100 recognizes the success of Aggie entrepreneurs from around the world. 

Aggie engineers dominated this year’s Aggie 100 list, with 40 College of Engineering graduates — seven in the top 10 — among the 2019 honorees. Each year, the Mays Business School's McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship releases its list of the fastest-growing Aggie-owned or Aggie-led businesses in the state of Texas. Members of the exclusive club were recently honored by hundreds of attendees at a private event held at the Ford Hall of Champions at Texas A&M University's Kyle Field.

“The Aggie network is filled with entrepreneurs, and it is exciting to see so many of our former engineering students among the top 100 fastest-growing Aggie-owned businesses,” said Dr. M. Katherine Banks, Texas A&M Engineering vice chancellor and dean. “I applaud our former students for their success.”

College of Engineering alumni listed in the top 10 include:

#3: Mike Baker ’80 (civil and environmental engineering), president of LJA Infrastructure in Houston, Texas;

#4: Robert Sheets ’09 (mechanical engineering), founder, owner and vice president of Odin Heavy Industries, LLC in Bryan, Texas;

#5: Jeff Socha ’03 (mechanical engineering), founder, owner and managing partner of Ark Financial in Austin, Texas;

#6: Brett Witte ’99 (engineering technology and industrial distribution), founder and CEO of Premier Coil Solutions, Inc. in Waller, Texas;

#7: William Deupree ’83 (petroleum engineering), owner, president and CEO, and Andrew Ellis ’94 (petroleum engineering), founder, chief operating officer and executive vice president of Escondido Resources in Katy, Texas; and

#8: Travis Stice ’84 (petroleum engineering), founder, CEO and director of Diamondback Energy, Inc. in Midland, Texas.

The College of Engineering had a total of 27 alumni-owned or operated companies on this year’s list. To be considered for the Aggie 100, companies (corporations, partnerships, sole proprietorships) must operate in a manner consistent with the Aggie Code of Honor and in keeping with the values and image of Texas A&M, and must meet specific criteria. 

“As we mark the 15th crystal anniversary of the Aggie 100 program, we celebrate our success by raising up the newest class of Aggie 100 honorees,” said Blake Petty, director of the McFerrin Center. “Knowing how each member company of the class of 2019 has overcome their own adversities to reach astounding levels of growth and prosperity, we dedicate this significant milestone to the excellence exhibited by our newest additions to the Aggie 100 family.”

Visit here for a full listing of the 2019 Aggie 100 honorees with detailed ranking information.