Committed to Excellence

Thanks to a lead $7.5 million gift from Wayne Roberts ’85 ’86, Mays Business School students will soon learn in a new state-of-the-art building.

By Dorian Martin '06

Lead photo provided by Mays Business School

January 17, 2023

Wayne Roberts ’85 is passionate about Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School. In addition to appreciating the school’s role in his successful career, the recently retired Abrigo president and CEO is excited about Mays’ commitment to become the nation’s preeminent public business school.

Dedicated to supporting the school’s promising future, Roberts is the lead donor and namesake for a state-of-the-art building that is the centerpiece of the new Business Education Complex (BEC) on West Campus. His $7.5 million lead gift is supporting construction of the Wayne Roberts ’85 Building, which will open in 2025. “Wayne is an exemplar that all Aggies should aspire to emulate,” said Mays Interim Dean Ricky Griffin. “His myriad contributions have made—and will continue to make—a profound impact on Mays students, faculty and staff.”

The Wayne Roberts ’85 Building’s construction, which expands Mays’ footprint beyond the Wehner Building and Cox Hall, marks a key milestone in the school’s quest for preeminent status. Mays is already ranked among the Top 10 Best Colleges for Business Majors by Money, as well as 22nd by U.S. News & World Report and 35th in Entrepreneurship Studies by The Princeton Review.

Wayne Roberts '85 is supporting Mays Business School's future success as the lead donor for a new state-of-the-art building. (Photo by Leighton Jack '14)

“This exciting new addition to the Mays Business Education Complex will have a transformative impact on how we help develop and educate students and how we partner with our stakeholders,” Griffin said. “From the next-generation learning studios and the public spaces to the collaborative educational facilities, this structure will be a wonderful learning environment and gathering place for our students.”

A Collaborative Environment

Serving as the business school’s “front porch,” the Wayne Roberts ’85 building will become an epicenter of activity on Texas A&M’s West Campus. “It’s going to be beautiful from an aesthetic and architectural standpoint,” Roberts said. “As we continue to grow, it will be the first thing people see as they enter campus from the north entrance across from the veterinary school.”

A longtime member of the Dean’s Advisory Council in Mays, Roberts also pointed out that the building’s open and flexible design will meet the educational needs of future Aggie generations. “The way people are learning is changing, and we need to augment fixed and traditional classroom models with more adaptable, open and modern options,” he said. “This building will create more opportunities for social interaction and collaboration.”

To that end, the new building will include a variety of flexible spaces, including a grand atrium, café, and collaboration and huddle spaces. High-energy, flexible learning studios will have the latest technologies, which will allow faculty to create engaging instructional experiences through teaming and hybrid learning environments. The building will also house one of Mays’ premier assets, the Center for Executive Development, furthering Mays’ commitment to lifelong learning.

These aspects will create a welcoming space primed for connection, learning and innovation. “What helps make Mays students unique and successful is their ability to work with others and solve problems,” Roberts said. “This building’s environment will encourage working on case studies and team projects, making presentations, and interacting with former students, speakers and professors. These opportunities will help students be better prepared for today’s work world.”

“Wayne’s generous support of the Business Education Complex was the key that turned our vision into a reality,” said Dr. Nate Sharp, Mays Business School dean-designate. “His generous giving has benefited so many aspects of our beloved university, and he is a role model for all of us who have ever been affiliated with Mays Business School.”

The Road to Success

Looking back, Roberts—a first-generation college graduate—never expected to have the level of professional success that he’s enjoyed. “I didn’t dream big early in my life because I came from very modest means. I thought if I could be a middle manager at IBM like my dad, that would be success,” he explained. “Of course, success is not all about money and title, but the art of what was possible felt limited until I got to Texas A&M.”

Contemplating the current and future generations of Aggies who will eventually use the new building, Roberts appreciates how much both Mays and Texas A&M have developed over the years. “I probably couldn’t get into Texas A&M these days,” he laughingly noted. “I wasn’t the most serious student. I focused on the ‘other education’ quite a bit and was involved in extracurriculars, but I eventually buckled down and learned how to study at Mays while making lifelong friends and acquaintances.”

Success is based on your grit, perseverance, the will to win, your drive and how you treat others. The Aggie Network also played a huge part in any success I’ve had.
Wayne Roberts ’85

He also remembers being in awe of previous generations of Aggies. “As I walked around campus 37-plus years ago looking at the names Zachry, Albritton, Blocker and others, I certainly wanted to be successful like that and give back—but I never thought it would actually happen,” he said. “I paid my own way through school, and I worked hard to put myself through graduate school. Grit and the Aggie core values are what got me through.”

Yet, that time also opened his eyes to his potential. “Texas A&M helped me realize, ‘Wow! Many of these folks have similar backgrounds as me, and they’ve found success. Maybe I can, too!’” said Roberts, who also earned an MBA from Texas A&M in 1986. “It’s not about being born into money; success is based on your grit, perseverance, the will to win, your drive and how you treat others. The Aggie Network also played a huge part in any success I’ve had.”

Putting Lessons Into Practice

Those lessons quickly translated into professional triumphs. After starting his career at Accenture (formerly Andersen Consulting), Roberts worked at Trammell Crow Company, returned to Accenture, and then joined Dell.

Earning a reputation as someone who coached and built people, teams and companies, Roberts joined Rackspace Hosting in 2007. He quickly climbed to the executive team of Rackspace and served in several roles including global head of human resources and senior vice president for fanatical support, where he oversaw customer support and operations.

Another opportunity for advancement came in 2014 when Roberts joined Accruent as chief operating officer. During his tenure, the company more than doubled its revenue as well as its number of employees and customers.

Roberts then moved into the president and CEO role for Banker’s Toolbox in 2016. After acquiring and integrating five other companies, Banker’s Toolbox was rebranded as Abrigo and quickly became a market leader in helping community financial institutions with compliance, portfolio risk, lending and credit, and data solutions. Thanks to his leadership, the company increased its revenue more than 10 times and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) by more than 20 times. Customer counts grew five times and the number of employees by eight times. Abrigo was also recognized among the best places to work in financial technology and in the Austin and Raleigh, North Carolina, areas during every year of his tenure as president and CEO.

Based on these stellar results, Roberts received numerous honors, including the 2021 E&Y Central Texas Entrepreneur of the Year Award and the 2019 Mays Business School Distinguished Alumnus Award.

A New Type of Commitment

Recently retired from Abrigo, Roberts remains actively engaged in helping education and health care related causes he’s passionate about. “I joke that I still work—but I’m working mostly for Texas A&M now,” he said, adding that both his late wife and his daughter are former students. “Any income or wealth that I can create is going to get donated. I have set aside what I need to live, and I’m motivated to give back strategically, particularly to Texas A&M because it has played such an important role in my life.”

Roberts is a prolific donor at Texas A&M. In addition to supporting Mays, Roberts—who recently completed a term as a trustee on the 12th Man Foundation’s Board—provided a lead gift for Aggie Park in memory of his late wife, Shannon Lia Roberts ’86. He was also a lead donor on the recent Centennial Campaign for the Athletic Department, using his naming rights to honor R.C. Slocum on the Bright-Slocum Football Complex.

He has also supported the historic redevelopment of Kyle Field, prior improvements to the Bright Football Complex, and Texas A&M’s basketball, baseball and golf programs. As he has done in other instances, Roberts used his naming rights for basketball to honor someone else with the recent naming of Gary Blair Court.

“Wayne Roberts has been a truly great friend to Texas A&M,” said Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp ’72. “His support of Mays, Aggie Park and Texas A&M Athletics has been invaluable and will leave a permanent impact throughout campus.”

Ultimately, Roberts wants to use his philanthropy to help Texas A&M and Mays continue to foster a culture of excellence. “I want Texas A&M to be great in everything we do. I have this passion for greatness—I’m obsessed with it in everything,” he said. “If Texas A&M is going to compete in 19 different sports and the uniform says ‘Texas A&M,’ I want those individuals to have everything they need to win and to get the most out of themselves as players and coaches. I feel the same way academically. For Mays to be the nation’s preeminent public business school, they need the appropriate people, talent, facilities and support services—and I want to make sure they have what they need.”

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