Uncommon Thinking
Meet the team
Chief Executive Officer
George is a CPA with more than two decades of high-level management and financial experience. He joined SMART Group Houston as President in 2009. He specializes in helping individuals and families, as well as executives and business owners, develop comprehensive solutions to achieve their long-term dreams of financial independence.
Learn more about George
Contact George at 713-984-8044 or gabboud@exponentx.net
President
Chris’ passion lies in meeting new people, learning about them and building strong long-term relationships built on a foundation of education, trust and a desire to help people achieve their financial goals.
Learn more about Chris
Contact Chris at 713-984-8044 or chris@exponentx.net
Founder/Executive Chairman
Ron Schutz founded SMART Group Houston in 1990. This was his third start-up but definitely not his last. His desire has always been to assist business owners realize their full potential for their business. Enjoying chess in his early years, he has a natural tendency to develop strategies and see workable solutions in preparing companies for transition. To Ron, transition means moving forward from today to where you want to go in the future.
Learn more about Ron
Contact Ron at 713-984-8044, ext. 7 or ron@ronschutz.com
SAMI E. ABBOUD
Vice President
As a proven executive with over twenty years of management experience, Sami offers a unique combination of skills and expertise including executive leadership, communications, strategic thinking, FP&A, M&A, treasury, working with private equity, and financial management.
Learn more about Sami
Contact Sami at 713-984-8044 or sabboud@smartgrouphouston.com
DOUG GIBSON
Vice President
Doug has 13 years’ experience as a financial advisor and has been helping individuals and business owners implement strategies to preserve and protect their wealth, and to live financially rewarding lives. Doug has been able to help clients successfully manage the factors within their control, to create customized solutions that address the complex needs of his clients.
Learn more about Doug
Contact Doug at 713-984-8044 ext. 110 or dgibson@smartgrouphouston.com
Vice President
After spending 16 years as a leader in the wellness and fitness industry, Jason Lee has taken his passion for serving others and moved from health management to wealth management. He joined SMART Group Houston in September 2017 and became a Vice President in 2018. He has a commitment to serving others in the community and for helping his clients to achieve their financial goals.
Learn more about Jason
Contact Jason at 713-984-8044 or jlee@exponentx.net
SHELBI ESPARZA
Client Service Manager
Shelbi has a passion for delivering excellent service to each and every client. Her background, prior to joining SMART Group Houston in 2022, includes working as a Financial Advisor and a Branch Office Administrator for Edward Jones where she helped clients achieve what’s most important to them.
Learn more about Shelbi
Contact Shelbi at 713-984-8044, ext. 103 or sesparza@smartgrouphouston.com
AILEEN CASTILLO
Wealth Strategy Analyst
Aileen has been with SMART Group Houston for the last 5 years. Her education and experience as an analyst allow her to be successful in assisting advisors to implement financial planning and strategies. Along with supporting in the client service functions, Aileen is also involved in Profit Picture®, a visual representation of data. She is the liaison between existing clients and our IT team.
Learn more about Aileen
Contact Aileen at 713-984-8044, ext. 108 or acastillo@smartgrouphouston.com
CHAD MASON, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Chad is a seasoned and accomplished CPA with over 18 years of experience serving clients in both the private and public sectors. Prior to joining Smart Group Houston, Chad served in a variety of roles, including. but not limited to: CFO, Controller, Project Manager, Auditor and Accountant. In fulfilling these roles, he gained the business acumen to assist clients in tackling the issues in all stages of their business life cycle.
Learn more about Chad
Contact Chad at 713-984-8044, ext. 102 or cmason@smartgrouphouston.com
TRACY MULVEY
Director of Insurance Services
Tracy’s passion of helping people find solutions to their challenges is a result of being a self-described “out of the box person.” Countless times, over the past 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, this has served her well. Her extensive background includes underwriting, case design, premium finance, contracting and policy service.
Learn more about Tracy
Contact Tracy at 713-984-8044, ext. 104 or tmulvey@smartgrouphouston.com
NICHOLAS PRANGNER
Director of Financial Planning
Nick entered the industry in 2006 working for one of the world’s largest mutual fund companies. In 2010 he earned the Certified Financial PlannerTM designation and began his career as a financial planner.
Learn more about Nick
Contact Nick at 713-984-8044 ext. 112 or nprangner@smartgrouphouston.com
GAIL SCHUTZ
Chief Operating Officer
Gail joined SMART Group Houston in 2002, following more than 20 years in advertising and public relations. She served as a spokesperson for the Shell and Texaco brands as a consultant to Shell Oil Products and spent nine years with Duke Energy before joining SMART Group Houston.
Learn more about Gail
Contact Gail at 713-984-8044, ext. 101 or gbs@smartgrouphouston.com
ADELA TISCHINA
Director of Operations
Adela Tischina is a teacher at heart. She previously worked in the Houston Independent School District as an educator for many years where she served as a leader in her school. Being diverse as she is, with an interest in finance, she joined SMART Group Houston in 2015.
Learn more about Adela
Contact Adela at 713-984-8044, ext. 102 or adela@smartgrouphouston.com
