Real Estate Investing in the Southeast | Bruce Blackwood | SMU Stories

Real Estate Investing in the Southeast | Bruce Blackwood | SMU Stories

This week on SMU Stories, we sat down with Bruce Blackwood, Managing Partner of Woodson Company, a real estate investment firm focused on value-add multifamily acquisitions in the growing suburban markets of Georgia and the Carolinas. Before founding Woodson Company, Bruce spent seven years at Greystar, the largest manager of apartments in the U.S., serving as Senior Director focused on capital formation and value-add investment strategies. He also brings experience from private equity roles at JLL Partners and The Carlyle Group in New York and Washington, DC. A 2013 graduate of SMU's Dedman School of Law with a B.A. in History, Bruce is a proud Mustang who has taken the lessons from his time at SMU into a career built on strategic growth and community-focused investment. He and his wife Kimbrell, who also attended SMU, now call Charleston, SC home with their three children. Tune in to hear how Bruce is shaping the future of real estate investment in the Southeast. #SMUStories #SMUAlumni #RealEstate #MultifamilyInvesting #WoodsonCompany #Greystar #MustangsForLife

The Art of Building Brands and Communities

Morganne Stewart is a creative strategist, entrepreneur, and marketing leader with more than a decade of experience building brands, leading high-impact initiatives, and connecting business, creativity, and community. She is the founder of Morganne Stewart Creative, where she partners with brands, founders, and organizations on brand strategy, creative direction, marketing, and storytelling. Her work spans industries including higher education, media, healthcare, hospitality, and consumer brands. She is also currently developing the note, a creative concept centered around connection, storytelling, and curated experiences. Previously, Morganne served as Director of Marketing and Business Development and Director of Programming at the SMU Spears Institute, where she led entrepreneurship-focused programs, strategic partnerships, executive engagement initiatives, and large-scale events connecting students with influential leaders across Dallas and beyond. During her time at SMU, she played a key role in expanding the Institute’s visibility and strengthening its relationships within the entrepreneurial ecosystem. She earned her MBA from SMU in 2024. Morganne has also worked with brands and organizations including D Magazine, American Airlines, Lucchese Bootmaker, and CNN+, bringing a strong background in branding, experiential marketing, and creative leadership. She remains actively involved in the Dallas entrepreneurial community and is passionate about fostering innovation, meaningful connections, and the next generation of business leaders.

Inside the Growing Ceramics Scene in Dallas | Marcello Andres Ceramics

This week on SMU Stories, we sat down with SMU alum Marcello Andres Ortega, founder of Marcello Andres Ceramics and a Dallas-based ceramic artist redefining functional design. After earning his degree in economics and finance from SMU, Marcello began his career in business before returning to the craft he first discovered in high school. Today, his work is featured in restaurants across Dallas, including Beverley’s—his first restaurant client—as well as Normans and Written by the Seasons. His Cedars studio also hosts “Kiln to Table,” a dinner series that brings chefs and guests together around custom, handcrafted tableware. Inspired by the family-style dinners of his Chilean upbringing, Marcello’s work centers on connection, community, and shared experience. He now creates artful dinnerware for homes and restaurants nationwide. His studio offers monthly workshops and a retail collection available both in-store and online. Visit the studio: Wed–Thu: 12–6 PM Fri–Sun: 10 AM–4 PM Visit marcelloandres.com to explore upcoming workshops, shop the collection, or book a private event. #smu #SMUAlum #1911Group #Dallas #DFW

Building Legacies That Last: Inside Boswell PLLC | Aubrey Boswell

This week on SMU Stories we sat down with Aubrey Boswell (’06, ’09), an alumnus of Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business and Dedman School of Law, and Founder of Boswell PLLC, to talk about estate planning, probate, and high level trust work. Based in Dallas, Boswell PLLC helps clients organize their estates, plan generational wealth transfers, and handle complex situations like blended families, business succession, and trust disputes. The firm represents clients with more than $5 billion in combined wealth. Aubrey chose this field after seeing how much these decisions affect families long term. He focuses on building clear plans and stepping in when problems arise, including litigation when needed. Before starting his firm, he spent over a decade working with top estate attorneys in Dallas and advising clients across a wide range of wealth levels. He is board certified in estate planning and probate law and is also both a licensed attorney and CPA. In this episode, Aubrey breaks down: -Common mistakes people make with estate planning -What actually goes into protecting a legacy -How disputes unfold and get resolved -Why his accounting background matters in legal strategy -What it takes to work with high net worth clients

Inside Shug’s Bagels: Building a Dallas Staple | Justin Shugrue

This week on SMU Stories we sat down with Justin Shugrue (’17), an SMU Cox School of Business alumnus and Founder of Shug’s Bagels, to discuss his transition from finance to establishing a Dallas staple. Originally from Westchester, New York, Justin grew up immersed in the local bagel and deli culture. While he initially pursued a traditional corporate finance path at SMU, he found those roles unfulfilling. After identifying a lack of authentic Northeastern "bodega culture" in Dallas, he spent his senior year developing the business plan for what would become Shug’s. Shug’s Bagels has grown by focusing on operational simplicity, product quality, and a strategy of slow, purposeful growth. By avoiding institutional investors, Justin maintains full control over food and service standards, ensuring each new location functions as a community asset. In the episode, Justin breaks down the realities of the startup phase—from the "fake it till you make it" approach of securing a lease while raising capital, to the importance of mentorship found through cold outreach to local leaders. He also discusses the brand’s expansion into New Orleans, Austin, and Fort Worth, and his commitment to mentoring the next generation of SMU entrepreneurs. Tune in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.