The University of Texas at Austin   School of Law

Martha Smiley is a member of Enoch Kever PLLC’s administrative, energy, public law and appellate practice. She has extensive regulatory, legislative and administrative experience in public utility law, including communications, cable and private networks. She has represented a variety of competitive telecommunications interests before administrative agencies and legislature. In addition, Martha counsels clients on developing legal and legislative strategy, considering overall regulatory issues, and advising public entities in all areas of public law. Prior to joining Enoch Kever, Martha was of counsel at the Austin office of Winstead PC. She also served as executive vice president at a communications corporation and had her own law firm for 14 years after working as a regional counsel for the Environmental Protection Agency.  Martha is a Founding Member of The Center for Women in Law at The University of Texas School of Law.  Martha received her J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law in 1972 and her B.A. from Baylor University in 1969.

PERSONAL

 

Born in Mission, Texas, September 27, 1947

Two Sons:  Richard Seale Gentry and John Shadid Gentry

EDUCATION

 

B.A. 1969, Baylor University, Waco, Texas
Major, Sociology

J.D. 1972, University of Texas Law School

PROFESSIONAL CAREER

 

Present               Enoch Kever PLLC

To February 2011  Of counsel at the Austin office of Winstead PC

July, 2000             Member of Founding Team and Executive Vice President,

To May, 2006       GRANDE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

October, 1995       Principal, TRIAD, INC.  Providing strategic business and

To June, 2000       regulatory advice to communications companies

August, 1981         Partner,  BICKERSTAFF, HEATH & SMILEY, L.L.P.

To October 1995

July, 1979              Regional Counsel, Region VI, ENVIRONMENTAL

To August, 1981    PROTECTION AGENCY

September, 1973   ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL, Office of the Attorney

To June, 1979        General of Texas (John L. Hill 1973-78; Mark White 1979)

Chief of the Taxation Division

August, 1972          STAFF ATTORNEY, Law Research Corporation

To June 1973

SELECTED COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

 

Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, 1993 – 1999

• Vice Chairman  1995 – 1997

The University of Texas System Chancellor’s Council Executive Committee, March 2003 – present

Intercollegiate Athletics Council for Women, University of Texas at Austin (Ex Students Representative) September 2008 – present

Austin Community Foundation Board, 2007-2009

• Chair, Search Committee  2007

KLRU (Public Television) Board, 1998 – 2004; (second term) 2007 – present

• Chair  2001 – 2002

Capital IDEA Board, 2007 – present

• Executive Committee  2009 – present

Austin Area Research Organization (AARO), 2002 – present

• President  2010

SafePlace Foundation Board, 1995 – 2002

• Chair  2000

Foundation for Women’s Resources Board, 1974 – 2010

• President  2001 – 2006

Founder, Grande Communications Passion and Commitment Investment Club (employee giving program), 2000 – April 2006

• President  2000 – 2006

Texas National Research Laboratory Commission (oversight of the Superconducting Super Collider, a high-energy physics research facility under construction as a project of the United States Department of Energy), 1991 – 1993

• Vice Chair

Austin Area Urban League Board, 1976 – 79

Austin Women’s Political Caucus

• Chair  1974 – 75

Texas Women’s Political Caucus

• Chair  1975 – 76

SELECTED HONORS AND AWARDS

 

Woman of Distinction awarded by Girl Scouts of Central Texas, 2010

University of Texas Law Alumni Association recipient of the Law School’s Distinguished Alumnus Award for Community Service, 2002

Honorary Order of the Coif, awarded by The University of Texas School of Law, Spring, 1997

Profile in Power Leader awarded by the Austin Business Journal, 2001

Woman of the Year –Business Enterprise, awarded by the YWCA of Greater Austin, 2000

Woman of Merit, Omicron Delta Kappa, Baylor University, 1995

Outstanding Achievement, Travis County Women Lawyers, 1991

Outstanding Woman in Justice, American Association of University Women, 1978

One of Six Outstanding Women of Austin, Austin American Statesman, 1975

President of Student Body, Baylor University, 1968-69

President of Student Body, Mission High School, 1964-65

CURRENT PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

 

Founder, Center for Women in the Law, University of Texas School of Law, 2007 – present

CORPORATE BOARD MEMBERSHIPS, PUBLIC ADDRESSES AND PRESENTATIONS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST