Meet the Board
This issue, meet Board of Trustees member Charlie Amato
UIW Board of Trustees Chairman, Charlie Amato first became involved with the University of the Incarnate Word nine years ago. Amato, chairman of Christus Santa Rosa at the time, had close ties with the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word as well as with university president Dr. Louis Agnese. “In the process, Dr. Agnese and I became close friends, and he asked me if I would entertain the notion of joining the board. I gladly accepted,” Amato said.
Chairman and co-founder of Southwest Business Corporation (SWBC), Amato commented that the growth of the university has been even greater than any of the trustees anticipated. He noted that in the past three years alone, UIW has added the Feik School of Pharmacy, the School of Optometry, and currently has the only Division II Scholarship Football Program in San Antonio. “I think it’s due to the leadership of Dr. Agnese and his vision. Dr. Agnese, like any other successful CEO, has surrounded himself with many successful people. He has been able to generate a lot of quality growth,” Amato said.
Amato feels privileged to work so closely with the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word who remain very involved and hands-on with the programs at UIW. “They provide us more than spiritual leadership. They continue to be immersed in every academic program, and they truly care about the students. UIW wouldn’t be what it is today without the Sisters,” Amato said.
“It is just a great pleasure for me and all the Board of Trustees to play an active role in such a successful university that has added so many premiere programs and maintained some of the highest academic standards in the city of San Antonio. And Dr. Agnese along with the Sisters do a great job, in spite of the growth, in continuing to create a family atmosphere,” said Amato.
Amato graduated in 1970 from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration. Amato co-founded SWBC in 1976 to provide insurance and financial services to lending institutions. Today, SWBC is an international financial services company, providing a wide range of insurance, mortgage, and investment services to businesses, families and financial institutions.
Amato is an active member of the community. In addition to serving as chairman of the UIW Board of Trustees, he has also served on the boards of Christus Santa Rosa, the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, the Children’s Miracle Network, Cancer Therapy and Research Center, the San Antonio Spurs Foundation, the Carver Academy, and the United Way among many others.