Spring Branch ISD Featured News

Elson Perez, a 2011 graduate of Stratford High School (SHS) in Spring Branch ISD (SBISD), credits the discipline and character development he gained through the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps at the Guthrie Center for shaping his career at Texas Gulf Bank.

“I have many great memories of personal growth and countless learning moments, most of which were involuntary, that shaped my character, fortified my discipline and expanded my threshold for panicking,” said Perez, who is vice president of process improvement at the bank in the Spring Branch area.

Perez speaks highly of his two JROTC instructors, Master Chief Mark C. Heuser and Lt. Col. Ken Sluis. He values the leadership lessons they instilled, as well as the balance they provided allowing him to learn from mistakes within firm boundaries of accountability.

“They provided a balance for me that let me push the boundaries but still kept my feet on the ground,” Perez said. “I still have dinner with the colonel and his wife a few times a year, and he’s still the same bright beacon in my life now that he was then.”

Post-secondary journey

After graduating from Stratford, Perez attended Texas A&M University. In May 2015, he earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial distribution. His JROTC experience led him to join the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M, where he served in several leadership roles during all four years.

In 2023, Perez earned an MBA from Rice University while working full time and attending classes at night.

“In my second year at Rice, my focus was on entrepreneurial endeavors and machine learning and AI, and I had the opportunity to travel to Portugal for a week to help a startup expand its exporting company to Brazil,” Perez said. “I chose my capstone project to partner with a local nonprofit organization, Houston Angels, to help strengthen its mission of supporting children and families in the foster system.”

Finding a better way

In his current role at Texas Gulf Bank, Perez focuses on answering a simple but powerful question: “Isn’t there a better way to do this?”

“I employ a methodical approach to dissecting our business challenges piece by piece until an answer becomes clear enough to be actionable,” he said.

Perez likens business challenges to “cluttered noise.” By analyzing processes and applying data-driven solutions, often through root cause analysis, he helps transform that noise into what he describes as “music.”

“Once the music flows, our efficiencies increase, our business costs are reduced and we have a new baseline to start from when we need further improvements,” he said. “You can’t improve what you can’t see, and if you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.”

When Perez receives input from employees at all levels of the bank, he works to translate their boots-on-the-ground ideas into measurable improvements. He relies on his Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification for technical expertise.

Paying it forward

As Perez prepared to leave for college after his time in JROTC at the Guthrie Center, he received a new laptop donated by a couple who were former students in the program.

“It was a wonderful gesture of faith and support,” Perez said.

In 2022, once established in his career, Perez created the Reyes-Sims Award, named in honor of the married couple who supported him. Each year, the couple and Perez visit the JROTC program to present a $1,200 check to a deserving student selected by Commander Breland, the senior naval science instructor.

“Each one so far has been an absolute slam dunk, ambitious young men and women with bright futures that inspire me,” Perez said. “I am hopeful this award will inspire others to do the same or help me multiply the reward for more students.”

Do it now

The character lessons Perez learned through the rigor and discipline of JROTC have remained foundational in his life. He encourages current students to take full advantage of the career-building opportunities available in SBISD.

“Do it now or do it later, but if you do it later, you’ll start behind those who start now,” Perez said.

Inspiring Minds. Shaping Lives. is the district’s promise to every family and student it serves. SBISD is proud of the many ways alumni like Elson Perez continue to live out that promise.

#SBISDProud