Sherman, Texas -- Austin College will welcome Merrilee Kick, CEO and Founder of BuzzBallz/Southern Champion—the only woman-owned distillery/winery/brewery combination in the United States, as she presents the 2025 Posey Speaker Series: Women in Leadership.
The luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, October 30 in Wright Campus Center, Mabee Hall followed by a Q&A moderated by Executive Director of the Posey Leadership Institute and Associate Professor of Business Administration Dr. Martinella Dryburgh from noon to 1 p.m. This event, sponsored by the Austin College Posey Leadership Institute, is free and open to the public. Registration, available here, is required, and closes on Monday, October 27 at noon.
Kick has been ranked in the Top 50 DFW Businesses by D CEO Magazine and has received a myriad of accolades, including Dallas Business Journal’s Most Admired CEO, EY Entrepreneur of the Year, Enterprising Women's Hall of Fame, Top Women in Grocery, and the Distinguished Alumni Award from Texas Woman’s University. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Montana, an MBA from Texas Woman’s University, and is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 44 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.
