From Service to Success: Ray Resendez's Journey Through EMBA
Hunt Insights · Executive MBA
Ray Resendez Connects Military Experience and Business
Ray Resendez (MBA ’20) has built a career across military service, entrepreneurship, corporate leadership and community work.
The Big Picture
Leadership built in more than one arena.
A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Resendez served more than a decade in the U.S. Army. He led teams of nearly 100 people and managed multimillion-dollar resources in settings where decisions carried immediate consequences.
He entered UTEP’s Executive MBA program in spring 2019 while running Ray’s BBQ. He brought deep experience in leadership and operations. He wanted a stronger command of the financial and strategic decisions shaping an entire organization.
A Wider View
The EMBA changed the altitude I was leading from. It taught me to see the whole business at once—the finances, the strategy, the operations, and how a decision in one area affects the others.
The cohort added another dimension. Classmates came from different industries, functions and stages of their careers, creating a place to test ideas against perspectives outside his own.
“Everybody is strong in some areas and weaker in others,” Resendez said. “The real value comes when you stop being intimidated and start supplementing each other.”
What Followed
A career that kept expanding.
After completing the program, Resendez continued moving across operations, entrepreneurship, corporate leadership and community work.
- Operations Resendez served as director of operations at Tigua Inc.
- Entrepreneurship He went on to launch REZ IV Solutions.
- Corporate Leadership He now serves as senior vice president of public sector at ELB Learning.
- Leadership Development Resendez also created the Mission Ready leadership-development program and podcast.
- Community He continues his community work as board president of the Community Resource Council, a nonprofit supporting the Shaeffer Halfway House for Juveniles.
The Through Line
Different work. A common purpose.
His work now reaches corporations, veterans, small businesses and community organizations. Resendez sees a common purpose across all of it.
“The through-line has always been faith, family, and leading with integrity. Being able to help other veterans and small businesses is what matters most to me.”
