Every year, we select alumni who have made a marked difference in their industry or community. These illustrious individuals exemplify the McCombs spirit through their innovation, drive, and determination. We congratulate this year’s inductees on receiving this prestigious honor.

The Honorable John Carona

BBA Insurance/Real Estate, ’78
Chairman and CEO, Associa

John Carona is the founder and CEO of Associa, the world’s largest manager of community associations, serving more than 7.5 million residents through 325 offices across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Spain. A recognized leader and innovator in the industry, Carona founded the company in Dallas in 1979 and has guided its growth from a small property management firm into a global enterprise with more than 23,000 employees.

Carona’s commitment to service extends well beyond business. He  represented Dallas in the Texas House of Representatives from 1991 to 1996 and the Texas Senate from 1996 to 2015, where he was elected president pro tempore of the 80th Legislature. During his public service career, he authored or sponsored more than 900 bills that became law and received numerous honors recognizing his legislative leadership.

Carona is also the author of three books exploring community association management, customer service, and the importance of building stronger communities. His commitment to others is reflected through initiatives
including Associa Cares, which supports victims of natural and man-made disasters; Associa Supports Kids; and a program he and his wife, Helen, established to create paid internships and employment opportunities for youth aging out of foster care.

A proud graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, Carona earned a BBA in insurance and real estate in 1978. He and Helen live in Dallas and have five children and eight grandchildren.

David Druley

BBA Finance, ’88; MBA Business Administration, ’03
CEO, Cambridge Associates

David Druley is the chief executive officer of Cambridge Associates, a global investment firm with more than $650 billion in assets under advisement and 14 offices worldwide. The firm’s more than 1,400 professionals build and manage custom investment portfolios for institutional investors and family offices.

With more than 30 years of investment experience, Druley has spent much of his career helping shape Cambridge Associates’ investment strategy and growth. He joined the firm in 2003 and founded what is now its Retirement, Insurance, and Government business, where he developed innovative portfolio management frameworks for institutional clients. He later served as president and head of Global Investments before being named CEO in 2016. Before joining Cambridge Associates, Druley founded and operated Druley Investment Management for nine years.

A dedicated alumnus of Texas McCombs, Druley serves on the McCombs School of Business Dean’s Advisory Council as well as The University of Texas at Austin’s Development Board. He also serves on the Boston Youth  Symphony Orchestras’ Advisory Board and was recognized with the McCombs alumni Rising Star Award in 2018.

Druley earned both a BBA in finance and an MBA from Texas McCombs and is a chartered financial analyst.

Douglas M. Hickok

BBA Finance, ’78
Managing Partner, Marquis Group

Douglas M. Hickok is the managing partner of the Marquis Group. Established in 1992, the business is a Dallas-based, full-service real estate investment company that specializes in multifamily housing. Hickok began his career purchasing student housing adjacent to The University of Texas at Austin and at one time was the largest private landlord that housed students attending the University. Today, Hickok oversees all Marquis investments, development, construction, and property management.

After graduation from UT in 1978, Hickok began his professional career with a Dallas bank. This led him to New York-based Citibank, where he served as vice president in the real estate investment division. In 1987, Hickok became a partner with Dallas-based Hampton Partners, a real estate investment and advisory firm.

The Hickok family philanthropic efforts are focused on children’s health, student education, and the Christian faith. Hickok serves on the UT Chancellor’s Council and the DeLoss Dodds Leadership Team of the Longhorn Foundation Advisory Council. He is a proud member of the Texas Exes.

Hickok and his wife, Lisa, have been married since 1986 and divide their time between Dallas, Montana, and Austin. They have two boys, Carter and Kramer, who also attended UT and now reside in Dallas. The Hickoks have four grandchildren.

Raj Subramaniam

MBA Business Administration, ’91
President, CEO, Board Member, FedEx Corp.

Raj Subramaniam is the president and chief executive officer of FedEx Corp., as well as a member of its board of directors. He has served as president since 2019 and succeeded the company’s founder in June 2022 as the second CEO in FedEx history. He has also held other leadership roles in operations and marketing during his more than 30 years at FedEx.

Subramaniam’s international leadership experience, keen business insights, and focus on globalization have contributed to the success of the company, and they will help it revolutionize the transportation and logistics industry. He is responsible for spearheading the current global transformation of FedEx.

Outside of FedEx, Subramaniam serves on the board of directors of the Procter & Gamble Co. He is also committed to using his industry experience to advance economic growth and trade around the world through Business Roundtable, the Center for Strategic and International
Studies, the U.S.-China Business Council, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s China Center Advisory Board, and the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum.

Subramaniam is a proud recipient of the 2023 Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, the highest civilian award presented by the president of India to the Indian diaspora in recognition of outstanding achievements. Originally from Trivandrum, India, Subramaniam lives in Memphis, Tennessee, home of FedEx’s global headquarters. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Syracuse University, and a master’s degree in business administration from The University of Texas at Austin.