Executive Compensation at the Association of Former Students at Texas A & M (2022)

The alumni association at Texas A & M is formally known as the Association of Former Students of Texas A & M and informally known as the Aggie Network.  A tax-exempt, non-profit 501 (c), the Aggie Network’s mission is to strengthen the Texas A & M alumni network.

A relatively small non-profit, the Aggie Network has more than doubled in size (based on revenue) since 2020 when the organization raised raised about $30 million to 2022 when total revenue was reported to be $74 million, most of which came from contributions, gifts, and grants ($63 million).

Expenses were $53 million with the largest expense reported to be grants – specifically, one grant of $37 million to Texas A & M, followed by compensation ($8 million).

186 employees received $8 million in compensation which equates to an average of $44,000.  11 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation with the 7 most highly compensated reported to be:

• $1,195,374:  Porter S Garner III, President and CEO
• $  250,619:  Martin W Holmes, VP
• $  282,680:  Nicholas K Taunton, VP
• $  234,605:  Andrew Arizpe, VP an CFO
• $  266,511:  Cecilee Herd, VP
• $  208,275:  Paul A Lucht, Director of Info Services
• $  209,309:  Scot O Walker, AVP

The most highly compensated employee was Porter S Garner, the President and CEO who received more than $1 million in compensation. Over the past 4 years, Mr Garner has received more than $4 million in compensation:

Porter S Garner III:  Total Compensation 2017-2022:  $6.5 milli0n

• 2022:  $1,195,374
• 2021:  $1,037,406
• 2020:  $1,009,032
• 2019:  $1,240,384
• 2018:  $  927,500
• 2017:  $  996,397

Nicholas K Taunton:  Total Compensation 2017-2022:  $1.5 million

• 2022:  $282,680
• 2021:  $319,785
• 2020:  $208,464
• 2019:  $213,909
• 2018:  $208,684
• 2017:  $182,593

Cecilee Herd:  Total Compensation 2018-2022:  $1 million

• 2022:  $266,511
• 2021:  $252,581
• 2020:  $166,864
• 2019:  $176,546
• 2018:  $154,579

Martin W Holmes:  Total Compensation 2017-2022:  $1.5 million

• 2022:  $250,619
• 2021:  $223,621
• 2020:  $212,648
• 2019:  $218,257
• 2018:  $206,962
• 2017:  $199,888

Andrew Arizpe:  Total Compensation 2020-2022:  $0.6 million

• 2022:  $234,605
• 2021:  $199,613
• 2020:  $189,746

The five most highly compensated employees received $11 million in compensation from 2017-2022 (note: highly compensated employees in 2017-2021 but not in 2022 are not listed above).

It is also important to note the Aggie Network paid for first class or charter travel and companion travel from 2017-2019 and again in 2022.

The organization paid for a golf membership at Pebble Creek Country Club.  In addition, companion travel was also paid for.  For information on deferred compensation, see the Form 990, Schedule J, Part III, Supplemental Information.

14 independent contractors received more than $100,000 in compensation with the five most highly compensated reported to be:

• $28,648,386:  Midway Development Group, of Houston, TX for architect/Aggie Park development
• $ 3,382,864:  James R Thompson, of Dallas, TX for general contracting
• $  546,268:  Ruffalo Noel Levitz, of Cedar Rapids, IA for telemarking*
• $  484,825:  UC Innovation, Inc, of Irvine, CA for software consulting
• $  435,671:  Texas A & M, Division of FI, of College Station, TX for general services

“*” Ruffalo Noel Levitz raised $1.4 million through telemarketing and retained $550,000, or 39%. If you don’t want your donation to pay for telemarketers, don’t respond to these solicitations.

In addition, it is important to point out the Form 990, Part IX, Statement of Functional Expenses does not list $28.6 million in fees paid to Midway Development Group.  Part IX reports total expenses of $53 million, $37 million of which was a grant made to Texas A & M and $8 million in compensation expenses (those two expenses alone total $45 million so there appears to be an error).

In summary, the Aggie Network raised $74 million in 2022, spent $53 million with the largest expense reported to be grants ($37 million) and compensation ($8 million).  186 employees received $8 million with the largest compensation awarded to the President and CEO, Porter S Garner who received $1.2 million.  In fact, Mr. Garner has received $6.5 million in compensation from 2017-2022.  It is also important to note the association paid for first class or charter travel in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2022), click here.