Stars, Stripes & Service
EMBA Alumnus Quentin Wiltz Applies Business Lessons to Mayoral Public Service
Just 20 miles from the University of Houston campus, alumnus Quentin Wiltz (EMBA ‘19) is making history in Pearland, Texas.
As the city’s first Black mayor, Wiltz is ushering in his tenure with a Fourth of July celebration in Independence Park that honors a legacy of leadership and freedom.
Wiltz is an alumnus of the Bauer College Executive MBA (EMBA) program and holds more than 20 years of business experience. His time at Bauer was transformative, he said, and helped him develop leadership skills that are now serving him in public office.
“The program helped give me a broad perspective on the different facets of leadership and financial acumen,” Wiltz said. “Both of those play into my role as mayor where in city council meetings it is up to me to ensure we’re having formative discussions that go toward quality of life for Pearland residents.”
His impact isn’t always direct, he said, but rather seen in small, everyday changes that influence public services, zoning and budgeting.
“Our form of city government is equivalent to a board of directors, and I represent the chair of that board,” Wiltz said. “In the community, I’m out giving proclamations and acting as the face of Pearland. At the same time, I advocate for the people in council meetings to make sure their voices are heard and we are delivering on what they are asking for.”
"Our form of city government is equivalent to a board of directors, and I represent the chair of that board."
He equates running a business to leading a city. Both involve delivering a product to a stakeholder and maintaining that stakeholder’s trust. For him as mayor, the “product” is the betterment of Pearland, and his stakeholders are those who elected him into the position to bring about a positive change.
“I feel I represent the city with grace, patience and a desire to really understand what people need,” Wiltz said. “I want to help build a future where we can look beyond whatever differences we have to coalesce around our shared values.”
Pearland’s upcoming Celebration of Freedom event offers just the opportunity to do that.
Every July Fourth, people across the city gather for a day of family fun in Independence Park. The event brings live music, games and a fireworks display that lights up the night sky. It is a tradition that Wiltz has enjoyed over the 20 years he has called himself a Pearland resident.
"What this offers people is a unique opportunity to get a hometown feel. We celebrate our democracy, as well as the ability to live and coexist with one another. It is a great community to be a part of."
Mayor Quentin Wiltz (EMBA '19)
This marks an especially important year, Wiltz said, as the 250th anniversary of America earning its independence.
As he reflects on his lineage and the history of emancipation in the United States, he said is honored to be sitting in a seat elected by the public. It is a privilege he does not take lightly, he added.
“Freedom means something different for so many people,” he said. “It is an everyday effort that is encapsulated in our rule of law and democracy. Our freedom was won not just by the people who put on a uniform, but those who work every day to uphold our country’s values.”
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