XL Fortunate 500

Business and high-tech stars

People who put the ka-ching in the social scene

By Michael Barnes
Thursday, May 11, 2006

'I'm not in the see-and-be-seen business," says Donna Van Fleet. "I don't get any charge out of the Paris Hilton life."

Yet the retired IBM executive sees and is seen through her extensive network of contacts in not only the business and high-tech worlds, but also through a swelling circle of philanthropy.

"I do enjoy connecting with movers, shakers, activists, people of ideas," she says serenely from the couch in her wood-accented West Austin home. "They stimulate me. They inspire me."

Serving on seven boards of directors and three advisory boards, Van Fleet divides her energies among thematic zeals, what she calls her "three-legged stool."

1. Basic human needs (United Way).

2. Education and development of young people, especially helping girls to become more "self-possessed and self-sufficient" (Girl Scouts, Girls Empowerment Network, St. Edward's University, Jane's Due Process, UT Center for Women's and Gender Studies, Association of Women in Technology).

3. The arts (Ballet Austin, Long Center for the Performing Arts, Austin Circle of Theaters).

Growing up in a two-career family, the Pennsylvania native announced one day that she wanted to study art.

"Art is a hobby," she said her mother told her. "Math is a major."

She ended up as executive vice president for product development at IBM. But she never lost her deep respect for the arts.

"You use the arts to celebrate good times and to lift you up in bad times," she says.

Her management skills come in handy during her philanthropic ventures.

"I never met a problem I didn't want to solve," she says, dismissing those who think they are doing enough just keeping their noses to the grindstone. "You have to connect. Socialize with a purpose."

Van Fleet is currently single — her son Jon, 24, graduates soon from Texas Tech University and plays poker professionally — and she already tells people she's older than her very young 59.

"I feel 60 is a good age," she says. "I wouldn't want to be any other age. By the time you are 60, what you see is what you get. No more posing or posturing."

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Molly Alexander
Downtown Austin Alliance

Charles Barnett
Seton Healthcare Network

Danielle Boggiano
PureAustin gym, Andrew's Toy Box

Suzanna Caballero
Wachovia Bank, Leadership Austin

Marjon King Christopher
King-Tears Mortuary

Amy Chronis
Deloitte & Touche, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce

Randy Cohen
TicketCity

James David and Gary Peese
Gardens

Susan and Michael Dell
Dell Inc., Dell Family Foundation

Fidel Estrada
Estrada Cleaners, United Negro College Fund

Karen Fabbio and Rick Hawkins
LabNow

Gary Farmer
Heritage Title Co. of Austin, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce

Gay Gaddis
T3

Regan and Billy Gammon
Texas Book Festival, William Gammon Insurance Agency Inc.

Jeff Garvey
Austin Ventures, Lance Armstrong Foundation

Juan Garza
Austin Energy, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce

N. Rudy Garza
G-51 Capital, Children's Medical Center of Central Texas

Chris Greta
Ad Ranch, Herobracelets.org, Austin Lyric Opera

Joe Holt
JPMorgan Chase

Gail and Bob Hughes
Austin Community Foundation

Robena Jackson
Group Solutions RJW, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce

Gail and Jeff Kodosky
National Instruments, Ballet Austin, Austin Museum of Art

Cindy and Greg Kozmetsky
United Way, Austin Community Development Corporation

Lucy Leatherwood
Compass Bank, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce

Greg Marshall
Capital City African American Chamber of Commerce

Perry Lorenz
Nokonah, Pedernales Lofts

John Mackey
Whole Foods Market

Don Martin
Martin & Salinas Public Affairs

Michel Mayer
Freescale Semiconductor

Bertha Means
Austin Cab Co.

Rosie Mendoza
R. Mendoza, Greater Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Bobby Nail
Austin City Lofts, Bridges on the Park

Mary Pat Mueller
Door Number 3, People's Community Clinic

Vickie Roan
The Menagerie, Long Center for the Performing Arts

Hector Ruiz
Advanced Micro Devices

Rossanna Salazar
Ross Communications

Jeff Sandefer
Acton MBA in Entrepreneurship

Selena Souders and Dylan Robertson
Big Red Sun

Roy Spence
GSD&M, University of Texas

Tom Stacy
T. Stacy and Associates

Rusty Tally
Morgan Stanley, Long Center for the Performing Arts

Carol Thompson
Thompson Group

Gary Valdez
Focus Strategies, Leadership Austin

Jennifer Vickers and Lee Walker
Capital Metro

Cheryl Warren Norton
Sac N Pac

Thurmond B. Woodard
Dell Inc.

Diana Zuniga
Investors Alliance