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Lindemann Family Donation Launches Online MBA

Distinguished Alumnus Jim Lindemann and his wife Anna understand the impact regional business leaders can have on TLU.

With their recent leadership gift, the 1962 graduates have established the new online Master of Business Administration (MBA) program to begin Spring 2023. Their contribution will also support an endowed scholarship for MBA students.

As CEO of Industry Bancshares—a $5-billion company with six bank charters, 27 locations, and 450 employees in Central Texas—Jim holds the honor of being the first TLU graduate to receive a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.

He also served as a longtime member of the Development Board, and he and Anna, an Elementary Education major, have been generous supporters throughout the years. In addition to supporting endowed scholarships, in 2000, the Lindemann family donated property as part of the Becker estate, including Anna’s childhood home located across Court St. in Seguin, which TLU will use for additional revenue opportunities.

Prior to starting Industry Bancshares, Jim served in various financial positions during a 24-year career at Tenneco Oil, including treasurer.

“Anna and I believe it’s important for alumni and our regional business leaders to invest in TLU’s future, so the university remains a viable and valuable addition to the higher education landscape,” he said. “We also believe the establishment of the online MBA program will support TLU’s dedication to adding new academic programs that will enhance recruitment efforts.”

Business Department Chair Dr. Fernando Garza says the program will target students with varying levels of experience, from the recent graduate to the experienced working professional.

“Contrary to a widely held belief, one does not have to be a business major to earn an MBA,” he said. “The online MBA caters to a segment that values mobility and convenience, and believes that online programs fit their learning styles and life circumstances. We will also target our alumni network and encourage their enrollment. Ultimately, the program will supply meaningful faculty interactions, career services, immersive and experiential learning, and professional networking opportunities.”

The department’s mission is to produce interculturally aware, ethical, and technologically skilled graduates who think critically, communicate effectively, and understand business as a combination of theoretical concepts and real-world practice. The program also offers students access to
a network of experienced business professionals, including other students and faculty in other academic programs who are engaged in the community.

Generosity from donors like the Lindemanns is what Garza says will elevate the Business Department and its programs to a higher level of prominence across Texas.

“With the Lindemanns’ support, I am confident that we can increase the stature of our existing programs and opportunities for all TLU students, faculty, and staff while attracting new faculty to the department,” he said. “With help from donors, we can maintain a standard of excellence in the department, thereby attracting more students and business majors,” Garza added.

The Lindemanns’ commitment to education, their Lutheran faith, and TLU has become a family affair. Their son Brad is CFO of Industry Bancshares and graduated in 1992 with an Accounting degree, while their daughter-in-law, Trina Beardsley Lindemann, is a class of 1991 graduate with a degree in Business Management. Their daughter Jenna is currently a freshman at TLU, while her twin sister Lauren is at The University of Texas at Austin. Brad says he and his household have seen the vast difference in the TLU experience over multiple generations compared to larger state schools.

“While I strongly believe that any education can have value and the educational experience is what you make of it, my TLU education afforded me more hands-on opportunities, deeper faculty relationships, mentorships, and ultimately shaped my professional career,” he said. “For our family, supporting TLU is a deeply held value.” - Brad Lindemann '92