Texas Tech University

Arcilia Acosta

CEO, Carcon Industries
BA, Political Science, 1989

2021 Jerry S. Rawls Excellence in Business Award

Arcilia Acosta is the CEO of CARCON Industries and Construction, a full- service construction firm, and she is also the Founder and CEO of Southwestern Testing Laboratories (STL Engineers), a geotechnical engineering and construction materials testing firm – both companies are based in Dallas, Texas. The oil & gas division is located in Midland, Texas.

In February 2020, Ms. Acosta was elected to the board of Vistra Energy Corporation (NYSE:VST), a retail and power generation company located in 12 states across the US. She also serves on the boards of Magnolia Oil and Gas Corporation (NYSE:MGY), Veritex Community Bank, the Dallas Citizens Council, the Communities Foundation of Texas, and is a member of the National Women Energy Directors Network.  Prior board service includes ten years as a Board Director of Energy Future Holdings Corporation, six years as a Director of Legacy Texas Financial Group, N.A., and ONE Gas, Incorporated (NYSE:OGS). 
In March 2016, Texas Governor Greg Abbott appointed Ms. Acosta to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for a three-year term. In March 2020, Governor Abbott appointed Ms. Acosta to the Strike Force to Open Texas for COVID-19. Ms. Acosta is one of 40 members from across the state appointed to the Special Advisory Council to Governor Abbott. In April 2021, Governor Abbott appointed Ms. Acosta to the Texas Tech University Board of Regents for a six-year term.

Ms. Acosta was recently elected to be the Chairwoman-Elect of the Dallas Citizens Council making her only the 2nd woman to be chair in the 84-year history of the organization. Her term will begin in 2023 through 2026.

Ms. Acosta graduated from Texas Tech University and completed the Harvard University Business School- Corporate Governance Program. 

Arcilia Acosta, 2021 Jerry S. Rawls Excellence in Business Award