TOM HAWES

Tom is excited to expand the C12 Group’s reach to Christian CEOs across North Texas. He has had the privilege to serve dozens of business owners since he became a Chair in 2011. Now he has the additional honor to lead a territory team that works together to increase the business and eternal impact of C12. Following a 28-year career at Texas Instruments, Tom founded a consulting practice for small-to-medium size companies focused on business strategy and competitive intelligence. He is the author of the Strategically Thinking blog. Tom’s experiences are deep and varied. He led product development teams, worked on business growth strategies and created a systems architecture team for a $500M business education technology firm. His key interests were examining how to effect change in a successful organization and how to mentor others through those changes. More recently, he spent several years in a $4B Wireless semiconductor business where the focus was on software strategy and competitive intelligence. Tom created a division-wide competitive intelligence (CI) program that tracked 15 major competitors, established standards for doing CI and completed many studies for senior management. Along with his wife, Gerri, Tom has a passion for learning and applying God’s lessons to all aspects of life. His entire family is involved in missions work around the world. Tom serves as a teacher at his church in Allen, Texas. His life verses are Jeremiah 29:11-13 (ESV): “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

JOE PETERSEN

As the Managing Chairman of The C12 Group (Tarrant County), Joe gets the privilege to work with many of the top Christian CEOs and business leaders representing the most respected and successful businesses in the DFW marketplace. Prior to C12, Joe had a three-decade career as a development, construction, and marketing professional in various facets of the real estate housing industry. He was also named “America’s Multifamily Builder of the Year” by the National Association of Home Builders. He has served as the Chairman of the Keller Chamber of Commerce and was named “40 Under 40” by the Dallas Business Journal for his work in his industry as well as his community. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Fort Worth Christian School. Joe has been blessed with eight children (five adult age and three newer miracles) and attends Gateway Church in Southlake (in person) along with virtual attendance at LifeChurch in Oklahoma and North Coast Church in San Diego.

TOM O’DWYER

After beginning his career in industrial sales with General Electric Company and Ling, Oliver & O’Dwyer Electric, Tom entered the commercial real estate business. His real estate career spans 29 years and association with Dallas based, national office and industrial real estate developers; Lincoln Property Company, Southland Real Estate Resources/Las Colinas, JPI Realty, Inc, and Argent Property Company.   Outside the office, Tom has devoted time and leadership to numerous civic and industry endeavors. He currently serves as District Chairman, North Trail District, Circle Ten Council, Boy Scouts of America and Advisory Board, C.A.R.E.   His true passion, which is to disciple and mentor business leaders to become fruitful followers of Christ, has led to involvement in multiple ministry activities in his local church, Northwest Bible (Elder), the community at large and internationally for more than 20 years. Tom and wife Mary currently serve in the ReEngage Marriage Ministry.   Tom holds a BS degree in Engineering Technology from Texas A&M. His wife, Mary, is also a graduate of Texas A&M. They have three grown children, two of which are married and all of which are followers of Christ and Texas A&M Aggies!

JOE GALINDO

Joe founded 6th Man Executive Coaching, a strategic management and consulting firm in Dallas, Texas where he has served as executive coach, professional facilitator, and management consultant.  Over the past 10 years, Joe has successfully facilitated thousands of strategic retreats, planning meetings, and small group forums for well over 500 organizations – both business and non-profit entities – ranging from local to global in scope.  The resultant strategies and action steps addressed organizational issues and processes, provided coaching and mentoring of executives (in both business and spiritual dimensions), and developed key leadership personnel for his clients. Joe’s unique ability to facilitate, listen, and then capture vital elements of an issue or meeting, reliably produce tangible, strategic direction proven to be of great value for his clients.   Earlier, Joe served as Vice-President of Operations for two different companies over a 15-year period, both of which were over $25 million in yearly revenues. This experience has given Joe great understanding of the processes and operations that are needed to effectively run small to medium size companies. In addition, he has built a multitude of solid relationships with business and non-profit leaders across America.   Joe and Kim, his wife of 35 years, have two adult sons, Zachary and Bart. Joe graduated in 1975 from SMU, where he played varsity basketball, and has resided in Dallas, Texas for the past 40 years. His interests include people, reading, travel, sports, and hosting/facilitating gatherings for people. His favorite quotes are:      – We need to be reminded more so than we need to be instructed. C.S. Lewis      – We are either green and growing or dead and rotting. Unknown – You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Jesus Christ   Joe’s greatest passion is to see the Kingdom of God advanced through business leaders and the businesses where God has strategically place them.

MIKE GULLATT

Throughout his career, Mike has had a passion for integrating faith and business, which ultimately led him to his role with C12. Previously he enjoyed a successful career in strategic marketing communications and operations management, most recently with one of the country’s leading energy conservation companies. During this time Mike led the marketing and public relations efforts to increase the value of the company brand and promote the energy savings success of clients nationwide. This included working with a variety of national media outlets including the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and Newsweek. He has provided executive media training, developed and managed crisis communication strategies and processes, as well as spoken at conferences across the country on improving strategic communications. Most recently, as SVP of Client Operations, Mike led teams directly responsible for improving energy savings performance, resulting in average client energy consumption reductions of 20% – 25% and annual revenue exceeding $36 million. Mike and his wife Beth, a teacher, have been married 38 years and are extremely blessed with two grown children. Having a passion for young couples, together they helped establish a pre-marriage ministry in their church and for over 25 plus years have “coached” hundreds of couples in God’s plan for marriage. Mike’s life verse is Matthew 5:16 – “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

KEVIN PATE

Kevin Pate most recently served as the Executive Vice President at Lakeside National Bank, Rockwall Texas. He led in all aspects of the bank including management, loans, compliance, and more. He began at the bank in 2016 and has earned his certification as a Community Bank Compliance Officer (CCBCO). For nine years beginning in May 2007 Kevin served as the Director of Marketplace Missions for Global Advance, Dallas, Texas, USA. His mission there was to train and equip business leaders worldwide in the best business practices and impart biblical and spiritual concepts of business. In nine years there he directed about 170 international business events and personally lead about 70 of those events. He has worked in over thirty nations Kevin began his professional journey by working 13 years in the Certified Public Accounting firm of Pate and Parmer CPA’s, Inc. in the areas of accounting, tax, auditing, and business consulting. He then was the Chief Financial Officer for two organizations over the next eight years. He graduated from Baylor University, in Waco, Texas with a Bachelor of Arts degree. While at Baylor he served as the student body president 1983-84. Kevin serves as an advisor on the board of several ministries and is an ordained minister. He has been married to his wife, Diana, for 35 years and they have three married children.

SHAWN YATES

Being a member of C12 for the past 10+ years, Shawn has benefited greatly from the education, accountability, and wise counsel found in the business forums he’s attended. Ranging from healthcare operations to running a small business, Shawn has experience in multiple business settings large and small. He has learned that strategies apply differently to larger organizations with hundreds of employees than they do with lean small businesses with only a few.  Seeing the challenges of implementing faith into the marketplace, Shawn has been called to advance the Kingdom of God by sharing what has personally benefited him both professionally and personally. With a strong passion for discipleship, Shawn believes that a mixture of accountability and encouragement is needed to advance the mission to build great businesses for a greater purpose. Shawn has been an ambassador for C12 in his professional roles and looks forward to sharing his experience with business leaders as they strive not only to implement best practices in business but to also influence those in their charge for Christ.

JEFF BESSA

As a C12 chair, Jeff has the privilege of leveraging over 30 years of business and ministry experience. Most recently, Jeff was General Manager of multiple profit and loss centers at Texas Instruments including Battery Management Solutions, an $800M business with 250 employees. Before that, he was a nuclear power submarine officer in the US Navy. He has a wealth of experience in leadership development, executive communications, marketing and sales strategy, business analysis & operational excellence. He’s been married to Gina for 25 years, with two daughters in college. Jeff leads small groups at his church and has a passion for men’s discipleship. He has led mission trips to Uganda and currently serves in prison fellowship. Jeff enjoys working with CEOs and owners to integrate their faith with their business to drive significant results in the marketplace and God’s Kingdom. His life verse is Ephesians 4:1-2, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”