Y'all Street Panel

Join us for the Y’all Street Panel: The Texas Stock Exchange: Reshaping Capital Markets, Business, and the Future of Finance

The ESD Alumni Association and Dads’ Partnership invite you to join us on Thursday, December 3, 2026, from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. in the Bray Performance Hall at ESD for the Y’all Street Panel. Enjoy breakfast, coffee, and conversation, followed by a panel discussion on the Texas Stock Exchange, from its origins and launch to its vision for the future of finance. Hear firsthand how TXSE is reshaping capital markets and what it means for business, for Dallas, and for the next generation of leaders.

Seats are limited, and an RSVP is required to attend. Please RSVP as soon as possible to reserve your place. We hope you will mark your calendar and join us!

Meet the Panel

Elaine Agather P’05,’08, GP’38,’41 Global Vice Chair, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Chairman of the Dallas Region, JPMorganChase

Elaine Agather is a Global Vice Chair at J.P. Morgan Private Bank and Chairman of the Dallas Region for JPMorganChase. Previously, she served as the Central Region Head for J.P. Morgan Private Bank.

Elaine joined Chemical Bank of New York in 1979, working in London, San Francisco, and New York until she relocated to Dallas in 1984. After the 1986 merger of Chemical Bank and Texas Commerce Bank, Elaine was promoted to Chairman of Texas Commerce Bank in Fort Worth in 1992 and joined the Private Bank to manage client advisory groups across the state in 1997. In 1999, she was elected Chairman and CEO of Dallas.

Elaine is the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Performing Arts Fort Worth, serves as a Board Member for the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, and is the Secretary of the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show. She is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Dallas Citizens Council and serves on the University of Texas McCombs School of Business Advisory Council. Additionally, she is a Strategic Advisor and a member of the Texas Stock Exchange Listing Standards and Governance Advisory Council.

A native of Sherman, Texas, Elaine graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a B.A. in history and economics and received her MBA from The University of Texas. She and her husband, Neils, have two daughters, Bradley and Lorene, her son-in-law, Coley Means, and two grandsons, George and Hunter.

Roy Bailey P’05,’09 CEO, Bailey Deason Capital Interests, LLC

Roy Bailey is CEO and co-founder of Bailey Deason Capital Interests, LLC., a private equity firm that focuses on growth-oriented investments in middle-market companies and provides strategic business development for a select group of clients. He previously served as a founding partner and managing director of Giuliani Partners in New York City, where he helped structure the firm in partnership with Ernst & Young and led major business initiatives in the U.S. and the Middle East. Roy began his career in the insurance and finance industry, founding Bailey Insurance Associates and later co-founding Premium Finance Holdings, which was acquired by Texas Capital Bank. Roy has held senior national finance roles for several presidential campaigns, including those of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Texas Governor Rick Perry, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and President Donald Trump. He also served as finance chairman for Texas Governor Rick Perry, Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions, and the Republican Party of Texas. Roy holds a degree in business administration from Southern Methodist University. He is serving or has served on numerous civic and nonprofit boards in the Dallas area, including the Baylor Hospital Foundation, Victim Relief Ministries, the Texas Safety Association, DFW Airport Chaplaincy, SMU Athletic Forum, the SMU Mustang Club, the Dallas Athletic Club, and the Park City Club.

Drew McKnight P’26,’28 Co-Chief Executive Officer, Board Member & Managing Partner, Fortress Investment Group

Mr. McKnight is Co-Chief Executive Officer and a Managing Partner based in Dallas. He serves on the Board of Directors, the Leadership Committee, and is a member of several investment committees. Prior to joining Fortress in February 2005, Mr. McKnight worked at Fir Tree Partners where he was responsible for analyzing and trading high yield and convertible bonds, bank debt, derivatives and equities for the value-based hedge fund. Prior to Fir Tree, Mr. McKnight worked at Goldman, Sachs & Co. in Leveraged Finance and the Distressed Bank Debt trading group. Mr. McKnight serves on the Board of Trustees for the American Enterprise Institute and Board of the Overseers at the Hoover Institution. He is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas’s Financial Sector Advisory Council; the Board of Advisors at UVA’s Center for Politics and SMU’s Cox School of Business Alternative Asset Management Center; and the UT Southwestern Medical Center President’s Advisory Board. In addition, Mr. McKnight is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Mr. McKnight received a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia.

Ray Waddell P’30,’32 Founder and Principal, Firefly Capital Group

Ray Waddell is the founder and principal of Firefly Capital Group, the Waddell family’s private investment office. He is an early investor in the Texas Stock Exchange (TXSE) and has publicly supported it since before it began trading in July 2026.

In 2009, Ray founded CEC, which designs and builds the electrical, mechanical and technology infrastructure behind data centers, semiconductor plants and other mission-critical facilities. Over 15 years as CEO, he grew it from a start-up into a national company of more than 1,500 employees. In 2025 he sold CEC to Sterling Infrastructure (NASDAQ: STRL), where he remains a Strategic Advisor. Through Firefly, he now invests in artificial intelligence, technology, infrastructure, real estate and private operating businesses. Ray is also the principal owner of Atlético Dallas, which begins its inaugural United Soccer League season in 2027, and serves on the board of directors of Raiven, a procurement platform for building-trades contractors.

Ray earned a BA in English from the University of Mississippi, where he played Division I basketball as a point guard. He is an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® Southwest Award winner and a member of YPO. Ray lives in Dallas with his wife, Angelique, and their three children, including Charlie (Class of 2030) and Madeleine (Class of 2032).

Meet the Moderator

Kyle Waldrep ‘12 Co-Host, Intersections Podcast

Kyle Waldrep is the Co-Host of the Intersections Podcast and the Founder and former CEO of Dottid, an all-in-one asset management platform built for commercial property owners. In November 2024, JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle) Inc. acquired Dottid, and Kyle now leads the Dottid business within JLL.

Kyle founded Dottid shortly after graduating from Southern Methodist University. Over eight years, he assembled a world-class team of software developers, technologists, and industry experts united by a single mission: to transform the way commercial real estate conducts business. Under his leadership, Dottid grew into a venture-backed company, attracting investment from public companies, venture capital firms, family offices, and prominent leaders across the commercial real estate industry.

Following the acquisition, Kyle launched the Intersections Podcast — a multi-generational conversation tackling the critical issues facing America today. Through long-form discussions with some of the most recognizable names in finance, politics, sports, and faith, Intersections has amassed millions of views and established itself as a destination for meaningful dialogue.

Beyond his entrepreneurial and media pursuits, Kyle is deeply committed to his community. He serves on the Alumni and EagleSpark Venture Boards at The Episcopal School of Dallas, mentors students through the SMU Spears Institute for Entrepreneurship, is a member of the SMU Impact Lab Investment Committee, and sits on the regional board for North Texas Young Life. His work has been featured in Business Insider, The Dallas Morning News, and other leading publications, and he was named one of Dallas’ 20 Under 40 by Park Cities People. Kyle lives his faith actively as a member of Watermark Community Church and, in his free time, enjoys tennis, golf, and following the world of politics.