Silver Fox Advisors - Graciela E. Martinez

CONTACT INFORMATION: Graciela Martinez 1911 Spann St., Houston, TX 77019 713.526.6516 281.460.2965 gmartinez@silverfox.org Back to Select Your Advisors
Graciela is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience in the energy sector and the information technology arena. During her professional career, Graciela has worked with Fortune 50 companies developing and executing their IT strategies. In her role as Sr. VP. and Chief Information Officer for El Paso Corporation (1987-2004), Ms. Martinez had responsibility for all global information technology solutions for nine independent business units operating under the corporate umbrella. This Shared-Services IT organization she led, managed a suite of over 400 applications as well as the global technical infrastructure and telecommunications network overseeing a combined annual operating budget in excess of $250 million. Graciela has a deep understanding of business strategy, operational efficiency improvement and organizational alignment. Business Experience EnerSection - Management Consultant and Business Advisor. 2004 – present Graciela launched her own consulting firm in 2004 – EnerSection, focused on delivering bottom line results to small and medium sized businesses. Graciela brings to the table a combination of both consulting and operational experience that ensures practical, implementable results for her clients. Today, in her consulting practice Graciela advises clients on: Management coaching and mentoring - management effectiveness improvement Development of corporate and “go to market” strategies - alignment and execution Operational Efficiency based on business drivers to enhance results Due Diligence – Investment opportunities Interim Management assignments Mergers and Acquisitions – Integration of platforms, networks, systems, organizations and cultures. Business & Technology Strategy Alignment Current IT capabilities assessment Governance and Organizational Structures Outsourcing vs. Insourcing decisions and implementation ROI -Technology Investment evaluations – O&M Budget and total spend Disaster Recovery/Business Resumption Plans TurnAround projects - Change management. Most recently Graciela led the effort to set up the DHAP Center (short for Disaster Housing Assistance) program for the Harris County Housing Authority. The DHAP program will replace the existing FEMA rental-subsidy program, which currently assists approximately 40,000 families affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita about 8,000 of which reside in Harris County. The project consisted of hiring & training all personnel, selection of application software and design and implementation of all processes and control points needed to administer the paying of landlords for the next 18 months. Sr. VP and CIO El Paso Corporation. 1987 -2004 From 1997 to 2003, El Paso Corp. achieved phenomenal growth through several multi billion dollar M&As, three of which doubled the size of the corporation at the time. El Paso’s asset base went from 2B in 1997 to 40B in 2003. Graciela led the integration of cultures, organizations, people, systems and networks for the global IT organization. Timely and significant cost savings were consistently delivered (20% to 48%) from the IT Budgets after each merger. These efficiencies came through establishing a Shared Services model that was based on avoidance of unnecessary resources through sharing and standardization. We established an organization that functioned on “negotiated levels of service” for each business unit based on their needs and their individual appetite to invest monies on IT services. Amid all the M&A activities Graciela led the design and implementation of a state-of-the-art platform of technologies and systems for the newly created Merchant and Trading organization, with full scale security mechanisms to protect the enterprise against any potential risks. During the Energy de-regulation period, El Paso’s business model became totally obsolete forcing the corporation to undergo a corporate wide transformation, from a rate base regulated utility to a lean corporation able to compete in the energy market. Graciela was one of six leaders chosen to manage and roll out this restructuring effort. The efficiencies achieved exceeded all expectations coming in at 38% (~$400M) of the total annual operating budget. Vice President of MIS – Farah Manufacturing/BTK Industries 1976 -1987 Vice President of Management Information Systems for an apparel manufacturing in El Paso Texas. Boards Recently appointed to the Harris County Housing Authority Board of Commissioners; serves on the University of Houston College of Technology Deans’ Advisory Board, a member of the Advisory Board of EMS Group LLC an energy services company, and a past Director of NrG Energy Services- Calgary 1997-1999. Community Involvement Graciela serves on the President’s Advisory Council for the University of Houston Downtown, is a member of the Endowment Committee for the Center for Mexican American Studies for the U of H, served as a member of the Capacity Building Campaign for the Community Family Center, serves on the Energy Collaborative/Innovation and Commercialization committee for the Greater Houston Partnership, is on the board of the Society for the Performing Arts, the March of Dimes, the University of Houston Arte Publico Press, a 2002 graduate of the Center for Houston’s Future, and a founding member of the Greater Houston Partnership – Executive Women’s Forum. Her community involvement extends to actively tutoring and mentoring emerging companies through the Houston Technology Center. Education and Professional Development: Ms. Martinez graduated from El Colegio Latino Americano – Chih., Mexico with a degree in Business Accounting. Completed professional development courses in the following areas: Executive Coaching & Development Networking and Connectivity Trading – Risk Management and Options Strategic Business Planning Financial Forecasting Management Sarbanes Oxley
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