Kimberly S. Bowers

Kimberly S. Bowers (also known as Kim Lubel,)[1] (born 1965) is the CEO, Chairman of the Board, Director and President of CST Brands, Inc. She is also the Director of WPX Energy, Inc and an Executive Vice President and Divisional President of Valero Energy Corp.[2] Bowers is one of only 26 women who are CEOs of Fortune 500 companies.[3]

Early life and education

Born Kimberly Smith,[4] Ms. Bowers is the second of four children.[5] She grew up in Kirtland, Ohio, a small town east of Cleveland. Her high school graduating class had 100 students. She planned to become a Spanish teacher like her mother,[5] and majored in Spanish and international studies[4] at Miami University in Ohio, where she received a Bachelor’s degree.[6]

During her senior year at Miami University Kimberly considered going into government service, and sought a job with the CIA. After completing two days of interviews the CIA said they would call her, but they never did. So Kim Smith, as she was known then, went to Texas for graduate school. She was offered a full scholarship to attend Baylor University in Waco. Right before classes at Baylor began the CIA called and explained that they had first called a different woman named Kim Smith, and now that they had discovered their mistake, they wanted to offer the correct Kim Smith a job. Because she had already made a commitment to Baylor to one of her professors who had helped her receive her scholarship, she decided to stay.[4]

While she was finishing her master’s degree in international relations a professor suggested that she study law. Bowers has a Juris Doctorate[6] from the University of Texas Law School.[5]

In 2009 Ms. Bowers graduated from the Stanford Executive Program.[2]

Career

Upon graduating from University of Texas Law School Bowers began to work for Kelly Hart & Hallman in Fort Worth, Texas. She became schooled in the “art of the deal” there while working together with fellow attorney Lisa Peterson in mergers and acquisitions.[5][2]

In 1997 Bowers left Kelly Hart & Hallman and began to work for Valero.[5] She was the Managing Counsel and Vice President of Legal Services until January 2003. In that year Bowers was promoted to Vice President of Legal Service where she remained until April 2006. She then served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Valero, beginning in April 2006 until November, 2012. In November 2012 she was elected as Executive Vice president of Retail Marketing. During the six years prior to joining CST Bowers served as Lead Attorney for all of Valero’s major acquisitions. In November 2012 she became the Chairman and a member of the Board of CST Brands, and on January 1, 2013 she became the CEO and President.[2]

Awards, honors and recognition

Ms. Bowers was ranked 38th on Fortune Magazine’s list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business.[5]

Social responsibility and charitable activities

Ms. Bowers is the chairwoman of the United Way of San Antonio’s Partnership for Community Change Coordinating Council.[5]

Personal

Ms. Bowers loves to cook and read cooking magazines.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "CST Brands Completes Nice N Easy Acquisition". Convenience Store Decisions. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Kimberly Bowers". Forbes. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Leahey, Colleen (14 November 2013). "CST Brands' Kim Bowers on balance: Wobbling can be kind of fun". Fortune. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Bryant, Adam (5 April 2014). "Kim Bowers of CST Brands, on Managing Up vs. Managing Down". New York Times. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Nowlin, Sanford (15 November 2013). "Kim Bowers: Minding the Corner Store". San Antonio Business Journal. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Kimberly S. Bowers". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved 23 December 2014.