Under the direction of Chris Luna, who left a successful corporate career at T-Mobile to get into the nonprofit space, SPCA of Texas is working to secure funding and planning for a new 40,000-square-foot expansion at the West Dallas campus. “We can provide more resources in the community to keep more animals in their homes,” Luna says. The new building would have a surgery suite, forensics lab, 123 kennels for cats, and 116 kennels for dogs.
Birthplace: Houston
Education: The University of Texas at Austin (JD, BBA)
First Job: “I worked at a chain pharmacy retail store in high school. In addition to the usual lessons like being on-time, I learned the importance of customer service and customer satisfaction. Back then, we just knew to work to resolve any complaints and make the customer happy. Today, we follow these issues with better tools such as CSAT score, net promoter score, and customer surveys.”
Best Advice: “‘Put the frontline first’ because frontline employees are the face of the business and the closest to customers and clients. You win by taking care of the people that support customers and clients. I have tried to live and lead with a frontline first culture every day and all year long.”
Destinations of Choice: “I love to visit Nantucket for my summer vacations. It is so relaxing and unlike Dallas, has wonderful temperate summer weather. And I also enjoy New York City for Broadway shows, museums, and restaurants.”
Toughest Challenge: “By 2011, MetroPCS was experiencing such great success that Sprint came calling, seeking to acquire us. The MetroPCS board of directors approved the deal. The transaction was set to close in 2012 when the Sprint board of directors unexpectedly declined to approve the acquisition at the 11th hour. At the time, it was discouraging and viewed as a setback. But it quickly ended up being the best thing that could have happened. Six months later, T-Mobile initiated discussions with MetroPCS and in 2013, T-Mobile acquired MetroPCS. Fast-forward to 2020 when T-Mobile acquired Sprint and became America’s second-largest wireless provider. While I retired from T-Mobile in 2023, I am fortunate to have successfully navigated these business challenges.”
Hobby/Passion: “I enjoy the theater. I serve on the board of the Dallas Theater Center and have been a season ticket holder for almost 30 years. The Wyly Theatre and the Kalita Humphreys Theater are very different venues, but both are great for live theater.”
Industry Change: “We need more focus and investment in the humans who care for the pets, and less judgment of others, ourselves, and owners. We need to embrace people if we want to solve for animals. We can provide more resources in the community so that we can keep more animals in their homes.”
Local Fare: “At Al Biernat’s on Oak Lawn I get the flavorful prime rib. And of course I am also having Al’s Famous Coconut Cream Pie.”
Fun Fact: “I am an Eagle Scout and take great pride in that accomplishment.”
First Car: “A 1974 Volkswagen 412 with a stick shift”
TV Show: “I would love to be the host or ‘rufferee’ on Puppy Bowl. This show raises awareness about adopting pets from shelters and rescuing abandoned animals. And Willie Nelson, a SPCA of Texas alumni, was a starter for Team Ruff in the 2024 Puppy Bowl.”
A Better DFW: “I am concerned that many business leaders are shying away from diversity, equity, and inclusion. I have been working on those issues for almost 30 years and many times they tended to appear in business as an afterthought. I believe that recent lawsuits and legislation have negatively impacted the changes that are needed to make a better North Texas.”
Karaoke Song: “I am a pretty bad singer. I would pick ‘With a Little Help from My Friends’ because I would definitely need some help from my friends.”
Must-read: “Nuts!: Southwest Airlines’ Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success. I had two takeaways: Put your people (employees) first and have a great culture. And be creative and innovative, especially when you are the David against the Goliath. And Herb Kelleher gave me this book!”
Alternate Reality: “I have been an adjunct professor at SMU and the University of Texas at Dallas. So, I would be a full time college professor so I could play a part in developing tomorrow’s business and civic leaders.”
Key Strategies: “My leadership mantra is to be HOT. And I am not talking about the Dallas heat. I mean to be honest, open, and transparent.”
Interview Fail: “Two failures that I have observed come to mind. Once a candidate kept calling my ‘Tony.’ I tried to gently correct the candidate but had no success. At the end of the interview the candidate asked if I was related to Tony Luna. I said no and the candidate said that Tony was a best friend. It then made sense.
“Once, during a panel interview, the candidate stated that they liked to read and mentioned their favorite but esoteric author. One of the panelists loved that author and asked the candidate several questions about the author and their books. The candidate floundered for a while and it became clear that the candidate really did not know anything about the author. The rest of the interview was very awkward.”
My Legacy: “I am too young and healthy to be thinking about my professional legacy! Ask me again in 10 years.”
Comfort Food: “My late mother made the best layered chocolate pudding dessert. She would make it for all of the big family events. After she passed away, we photocopied that recipe and all of us kids got a copy. Now when we make it for family events, it is like she is there.”
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